“Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology” - Yours Truly on how the “Jesus is my boyfriend” sounds of Doerksen & the Vineyard gave way to the rock ‘em sock ‘em militarism of top-selling worship music today: religionnews.com/2026/07/30/b...

Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology

(RNS) — Today's evangelical worship culture often reflects a very different vision of God than the one Doerksen’s songs proclaimed.

religionnews.com

Yes, the revivals in Toronto and Pensacola had very different outcomes

Stephen@stephenwaldron.bsky.social · 6d ago

This article touches on something I'm writing about in my book: the charismatic dominionism of the NAR and adjacent circles should be understood against the backdrop of 1990s revivals that did not lead to the right-wing sociopolitical changes that many Pentecostals and charismatics had hoped for.

This article touches on something I'm writing about in my book: the charismatic dominionism of the NAR and adjacent circles should be understood against the backdrop of 1990s revivals that did not lead to the right-wing sociopolitical changes that many Pentecostals and charismatics had hoped for.

Leah Payne@drleahpayne.bsky.social · 6d ago

“Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology” - Yours Truly on how the “Jesus is my boyfriend” sounds of Doerksen & the Vineyard gave way to the rock ‘em sock ‘em militarism of top-selling worship music today: religionnews.com/2026/07/30/b...

“Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology” - Yours Truly on how the “Jesus is my boyfriend” sounds of Doerksen & the Vineyard gave way to the rock ‘em sock ‘em militarism of top-selling worship music today: religionnews.com/2026/07/30/b...

Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology

(RNS) — Today's evangelical worship culture often reflects a very different vision of God than the one Doerksen’s songs proclaimed.

religionnews.com

@drleahpayne.bsky.social Can I safely assume you know about this? www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...

The Songs Live On: Music of the Jesus Revolution

Double LIVE album (20 songs), concert documentary DVD celebrating the pioneers of Jesus Music on CD, Vinyl & Digital Download.

kickstarter.com

Why are there so many Christian Metalcore Bands? I enjoyed speaking with Laura Bradley of @thefringeblog.bsky.social about Xian Metalcore, American politics & gender - check it out here! www.thefringe.blog/p/the-story-...

Why Are There So Many Christian Metalcore Bands?

How bands like Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, Norma Jean, and more conquered a corner of the hardcore scene.

thefringe.blog

Tomorrow! @drleahpayne.bsky.social in conversation with Dr. Lerone Martin on SWAJ.

🔥 Extra, Extra! The 2027 Summer Institute for Global Charismatic & Pentecostal Studies invites scholars, journalists, artists, faith leaders, & students to gather @ Candler School of Theology, May 27–28, 2027, for “Tongues of Fire, Winds of Change: Pentecostalism, Politics, & Transnational Powers.”

🏔️❤️

@drleahpayne.bsky.social is the best explainer why this resonates so deeply. CCM is derivative, yes, but add powerbrokers, “worldview”, & economics behind it. What @kkdumez.bsky.social's Jesus and John Wayne does for masculinity, she does the same for music. www.drleahpayne.com/god-gave-roc...

God Gave Rock and Roll to You — Leah Payne

drleahpayne.com

Danielle@as-per-danielle.bsky.social · 4w ago

Introducing this xennial classic to my buddies

kinda want to find a place that does a Christian Rock Karaoke for ex-evangelical millennials just so I can scream-sing WISDOM ALWAYS CHOOOOSES THESE BLACK EYES AND THESE BRUISES at full volume

Dex Anderson@dexanderson.com · last mo.

i am now listening to this whole goldang album

Thanks, Austin! Yes, God Gave Rock and Roll to You argues that American evangelicalism has been "Pentecostalized" through song. In the aughts, this was a source of frustration for Reformed folks like John Piper. www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Roc...

Michael "Austin" Kamenicky@kamenickyma.bsky.social · last mo.

This is actually in many ways a story about music. Reformed evangelicals started listening to and singing Pentecostal and Charismatic music. This had observable effects on their theology and ecumenical attitude. @drleahpayne.bsky.social is the real authority here.

Passion was in many ways an attempt to harness the power of Charismatic music, and infuse it with Reformed ideas. The effort had mixed results!

Thanks, Austin! Yes, God Gave Rock and Roll to You argues that American evangelicalism has been "Pentecostalized" through song. In the aughts, this was a source of frustration for Reformed folks like John Piper. www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Roc...

Michael "Austin" Kamenicky@kamenickyma.bsky.social · last mo.

This is actually in many ways a story about music. Reformed evangelicals started listening to and singing Pentecostal and Charismatic music. This had observable effects on their theology and ecumenical attitude. @drleahpayne.bsky.social is the real authority here.

This is actually in many ways a story about music. Reformed evangelicals started listening to and singing Pentecostal and Charismatic music. This had observable effects on their theology and ecumenical attitude. @drleahpayne.bsky.social is the real authority here.

Sharon 🪳🌹@sharonk.bsky.social · last mo.

what's funny is that up till fairly recently the Reformed wing of evangelicalism absolutely fucking hated the Pentecostal wing of evangelicalism. but Trump has been closer to the Pentecostal wing via Paula White-Cain over the Reformed, so guess which wing shapes the admin's faith expression

Really enjoyed my conversation w/ Will Wright and Josh Burtram on the Faithful Politics podcast as part of their Church & State: 250 years of Faith in America series. We talked CCM & American politics from Nashville to DC - Amy Grant & DC Talk & Carman and the worship music biz were all in there!

No thank you! I’ve been trying to pull a project together about deconstruction music, especially on the perimeters of Christian metal and post hardcore, and when I found your book it felt like a miracle lol.

Wow, thank you so much!

Jordan Wood@thecrossoverappeal.com · 2mo ago

Cracked open God Gave Rock and Roll to You by @drleahpayne.bsky.social this morning. Feel like I’ve been waiting for a book like this for years.

Cracked open God Gave Rock and Roll to You by @drleahpayne.bsky.social this morning. Feel like I’ve been waiting for a book like this for years.

PRRI Affiliated Scholar and former Public Fellow @drleahpayne.bsky.social reflects on how PRRI's research has supported her research into American charismatic and Pentecostal Christians. Join us in strengthening the future of data-driven public scholarship: prri.org/data-democra...

Worship music is everywhere these days! I spoke with @bmietana.bsky.social for this segment of NPR’s All Things Considered about how songs like How Great Is Our God give political gatherings spiritual significance: www.npr.org/2026/05/27/n...

Why an apolitical worship song has become popular with conservative activists

A Christian worship song has turned up everywhere from prayer services at the Pentagon to the Charlie Kirk memorial service. The song is apolitical, so what accounts for its use at political events?

npr.org

Tomorrow on SWAJ - @drleahpayne.bsky.social speaks with Dr. Jonathan Calvillo about rupture and realignment among Latine people of faith in the US:

“The Nicolae Carpathia character is really helpful because that character is a proxy for a certain evangelical critique of cosmopolitan European culture“ - I enjoyed speaking w/ @miguelpetrosky.bsky.social for his @therevealer.bsky.social piece on the Euro Antichrist therevealer.org/european-ant...

European Antichrist — The Revealer

Why many right-wing evangelicals disdain Western Europe

therevealer.org

This RTDR ep is probably one of my most favorite podcast episodes of all time. I am absolutely the target audience here. I had no idea about Brecht, Mahalia Jackson, Ari Up, & so much more. Strap in. Thank you, @drleahpayne.bsky.social and @andrewgill.biz. Well done. rtdrpod.com/episodes/onl...

Only Visiting This Punk Planet via Germany (ft. Nina Hagen)

Nina Hagen is a true legend. She's considered an icon of German culture. And she's known as "the Godmother of German Punk." But our interview with her...

rtdrpod.com

Mother’s Day weekend is a great weekend to think about a Mother of CCM

Leah Payne@drleahpayne.bsky.social · 3mo ago

“Her legacy is secure as a CCM icon, and so I don’t think it’s surprising that we’ve seen her over the last few years continue to have a mind of her own.” - Amy Grant, queen of CCM, challenged evangelical norms, even as she was marketed as the epitome of Christian womanhood. wpln.org/post/amy-gra...

“Her legacy is secure as a CCM icon, and so I don’t think it’s surprising that we’ve seen her over the last few years continue to have a mind of her own.” - Amy Grant, queen of CCM, challenged evangelical norms, even as she was marketed as the epitome of Christian womanhood. wpln.org/post/amy-gra...

Amy Grant grapples with the Trump era and her own mortality in "The Me That Remains"

Amy Grant steers her new album, "The Me That Remains," towards social consciousness.

wpln.org

“Her legacy is secure as a CCM icon, and so I don’t think it’s surprising that we’ve seen her over the last few years continue to have a mind of her own.” - Amy Grant, queen of CCM, challenged evangelical norms, even as she was marketed as the epitome of Christian womanhood. wpln.org/post/amy-gra...

Amy Grant grapples with the Trump era and her own mortality in "The Me That Remains"

Amy Grant steers her new album, "The Me That Remains," towards social consciousness.

wpln.org

“Regardless of the outcome, this lawsuit illustrates why many news outlets are reluctant to break stories of abuse, and why many industry insiders were/are reluctant to speak publicly about what was, according to reporting on the subject, an open secret in CCM" www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

What Newsboy founder's MercyMe lawsuit reveals about Christian music

After sexual abuse allegations against Michael Tait rocked contemporary Christian music, a new suit could further disrupt the Nashville-based industry.

tennessean.com

This week on Rock that Doesn't Roll: THE @timdillinger.bsky.social! substack.com/home/post/p-...

The lessons of 1985

Plus, order some coffee to support the show

substack.com