And I must say that I've been very interested in it because I haven't really listened to "Christian" music (or any music at all) within the last couple of years... just talk radio or sermons. I just got tired of the same old weak stuff that I heard on the radio.
Then, the other day I read the post, Samson and the Evangelical Community, by JD Greear. Here's the quote I posted on my blog.
So, there it is again... Christian music. Have y'all thought much about this along with other media (movies, tv, books, other lit.)? What have you concluded?Rather than engaging the culture, they retreated from it; rather than confronting the culture, they absorbed it. In other words, they were of the world but not in it.
Sadly, I think this describes our American evangelical Christian community. We are separated from the world, living in Christian enclaves reading Christian literature, watching Christian TV, listening to Christian music and talking with only Christian friends. We are separated from the world.
6 comments:
I have a hard time understanding Christians making sweeping statements about the poor quality of Christian music. Sure, some of it is poor. Some of it, however, is good.
If some of these individuals think so poorly of Christian music, what in the world are singing in corporate worship gatherings?
I believe we are all biased when it comes to what we like personally, but we need to get beyond our own personal tastes and use what is good and true and right.
Good question Jim.
Why are they not listening to Christian music?
1. Secular music is better.
2. They want to interact with non-Christians.
3. They just want to say they don't listen to it because that sounds cool to say.
I have heard a lot of people make the point that Greear is making (I did not read the whole article). I don't see that as the problem. I think the problem is that we are too worldly and don't know it. Yes, lets engage the culture. However, what is the best way to engage the culture? By being saturated with the culture? Or, by being saturated with God? I propose the second option is the best.
J.M. is right - to declare all Christian music as low quality is unhelpful and inaccurate. Music is a powerful medium, and there are examples of great lyrics and great music in both Christian and secular music (BTW, I have questions about the labels "Christian music" and "secular music").
As for the cultural question, clearly a balance should be pursued. In my own heart, I know that I could justify worldliness by claiming that I'm just trying to understand the world I'm in. Justin's point is well taken - we should be mainly encouraging people to become more engrossed in God, not the world.
The other extreme is to act as if there is no such thing as common grace in the world, and as if there is no goodness or beauty to be found apart from things labeled "Christian". If a Christian didn't write it, sing it, draw it, produce it, invent it, sell it, approve it, etc. it cannot be good or beautiful. This just simply isn't true. (Mohler, as you probably know, as done a lot of thinking and writing on the subject of true beauty - you can find a lot of his thoughts on the web.)
The other aspect of this, of course, is that we do need to be aware of the culture we live in if we are to evangelize effectively. But we are not missionaries in America who have come from a foreign land with a different culture. We are Christians who grew up in this culture and I am sure are well-enough acquainted with it that we do not need to listen to 50 Cent or Rascall Flatts to know the people we are ministering to. Things that are praiseworthy, etc. - think on these. Shouldn't that be our standard?
"O, like April showers on the slick cement; when I consider how our light is spent; we're keeping the candles inside the cathedral;
hold on tight, don't go into the night, so full of evil"
Speaking of Christian music, this is part of a song Ceadmon's wrote years ago about Christians huddling together in their "Christian culture", looking down on the world around them, refusing to engage and reach the lost. The end of the song says.
"And the sacred cows / Feed on the green / While the least of these /
Are dying on the streets"
JM, good points. What songs are they singing in service? Hymns. Some of it is about taste, but some of it is more than that, about quality of creative lyrics and instrumentation. I do agree that much of so-called Christian music is weak in those areas (specifically repetition and cheap cliches). But you're right, some of it is good, too.
The same goes, I think, for so-called secular music. Some poor quality, some good quality.
I also like JN's point about common grace. Don't we see this evident sometimes in books, movies, newspapers, written by non Christians?
One more thing about the labeling issues (another good point by JN)... I read an article the other day in Patrol Mag reviewing JOC's latest "Good Monsters." Here's the conclusion:
"Despite it’s occasional meandering, Good Monsters still feels cohesive, and at least matches Jars of Clay’s best work to date. It is unfortunate that the record has received little attention outside the CCM world, which is just reason number four-hundred-fifty-three-billion that there shouldn’t be a Christian music industry. While not exactly groundbreaking, Good Monsters represents Christian music done right, and is far superior to rock acts dominating the mainstream (The Fray, Nickelback, or even Augustana, for example)."
Jars is definitely one of the diamonds in the rough of CCM
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