Music for the Glory of Christ

More on the "secular/Christian" music issue. Here's Bob Kauflin on Can Christian Musicians Play Secular Music for God's Glory?

Here are his main points to consider:

1. What is my motive for wanting to be involved in secular music?
2. A Christian's success in the secular music industry is not necessarily a sign of God's blessing.
3. Secular music doesn't necessarily mean godless or anti-Christian.
4. We can't judge musicians motives from a distance.
5. Being involved in secular music doesn't justify abandoning the church or minimizing faith.
6. The world needs to see people who've been changed by the gospel in every arena.
7. Not all music by Christians needs to expound the full gospel.

Christians Who Don't Listen to Christian Music

Hey guys, what do y'all think about this? I've recently read of some Christians who say they don't listen to "Christian" music (meaning those with Christian labels or in the Christian music industry). I don't have the links readily available for you but I read Derek Webb say it in an interview, Reformissionary (Steve McCoy) write it in a post, and another couple of bloggers who were "up" on music in the mainstream.

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.

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.

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?

I Really Like This Album

I happened across the album Glory Revealed while surfing through iTunes. I just bought a few of the songs at first, but then later when back for more. Here's the website and the story behind the album/tour.