Christian music? Do you know what your kids are listening to?

christian-news-in-maine.com ^ | March 3, 2005 | Larry Austin

[newsgatherer]

... Michael W. Smith. His album Change Your World has 2819 words. His second album I'll Lead You Home has 2046 words. Not once is Jesus Christ mentioned in either album. Yet they both carry the Contemporary Christian label. Compare this to the first thirty verses of I Corinthians chapter I. Jesus is spoken of fifteen times. Read it. It is so uplifting.

Michael W. Smith - "You're always going to have those very, very conservative people. They say you can't do this; you can't do that…. You can't drink …. You can't smoke. It's a pretty bizarre way of thinking."

I guess I need to listen to the music my grandchildren are plying on their headphones. I thought that if it were by Amy Grant it was safe, maybe not.

[JenB]

Bah. Christian contemporary music is good. Maybe it doesn't belong in church, certainly I'd rather sing "A Mighty Fortress" than the latest MercyMe hit. But if I'm doing homework, running errands, or scrubbing my tub, I want something uplifting that I can have fun with.

Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay, Andrew Peterson, Carolyn Arends, Smalltown Poets. Ever heard any of them? You should...

[Stopislamnow]

Guessing that Cartman isn't the only who saw $$$ signs...

[opus86]

I don't listen to contemporary Christian music, at least the stuff they play on the stations here. Pathetic lyrics, mediocre musically.

[dubie]

Christian music does not have to say "Jesus" in the song to be a Christian song. I am big on Christian music, and though the word "Jesus" may not be in every song, there is a message. There is an understood reference to God. They may say "Him" or "Lord" or generally refer to a higher authority. If you are a Christian, you know who the song is pointed at.. God. I stopped listening to secular music in 1995. I would take a Christian song that does not have the word "Jesus" in it over the trash that is on the mainstream airwaves...Just my take on it..

[dubie]

try www.wordfm.org they play some good music. Live internet stream.

[RaceBannon]

The message leaves out Jesus, so, it aint Christian, and that message speaks more than the melody

[newsgatherer]

Ok, no probelm while scrubbing the tub, but, Jen hen you are doing your homework, turn the music off and concentrate.

Now, I might confess, I am listening to Fiddler on the Roof while I type.

[Spiff]

I have noticed the lack of emphasis or even a mention of Jesus Christ in a number of allegedly Christian-themed movies, TV Shows, and music mention God or Him or the Father but never Jesus Christ. Not to say that those shows and things are bad, but that they aren't really "Christian".

[newsgatherer]

Now, I am not trying to be argumentative, but how do you know it is Christian if it doesn't mention Christ?

[JenB]

Heh, music helps me concentrate! I can't work properly without it. Wish I could listen to music while taking tests!

Another thing is, even if Christian music doesn't mention Jesus in every song, it's not talking about "shootin' ho's" or doing drugs or murder, either. It's wholesome. A lot of it is crap, of course, but there are ten or twelve bands and singers I like very much.

[DJ MacWoW]

Try listening to Desperation. My favourite is Rescue

Recue

You are the source of life
I can't be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of you

I need You Jesus
To come to my rescue
Where else can I go
There's no other name by
Which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow you

This world has nothing for me
I will follow you

[maestro]

Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................

1....'O'

3 million....'ms'

Tain't christian....is it?

[newsgatherer]

Not bad, listening now, not bad at all. Thanks, there is a man talking now about the odds of Jesus fullfilling evn a few of th OT prophecies.

[-YYZ-]

To quote Hank Hill: "Can't you see you're not making Christianity better, you're just making rock n' roll worse."

I find uplifting messages in lots of different songs by many different bands, none of them so-called Christian rock groups.

[opus86]

Thanks, I'll check out the link.

I will recant somewhat and say that Nicole Nordeman (sp?) has some pretty good lyrics. My wife has one or two of her CDs. Additionally I respect your decision to shun secular music. Many of my friends have done the same.

That said, I agree with RB in that Christian music ought to be about Christ. There may be good artists who are Christians and they sing positive, uplifting songs. However IMO that is "positive message" music if it doesn't explicitly bring honor to Christ.

[Psycho_Bunny]

This reminds me of something that happened years ago:

I was sitting in my dentist's office, waiting for the Novocain to numb-up and talking with the woman dental assistant.  

There was music playing and when the next piece came up it was the Pie Jesus from Faure's Requiem.

I casually mentioned that it was one of my favorite pieces of music, to which she replied "I prefer Christian music".

I know she meant the modern genre of "Christian music" but it still struck me as being the most ironic sentence I ever heard.

[dubie]

Day of Fire
Newsboys
TobyMac
Pillar
Third Day
Jeremy Camp
Mercy Me
Creation Festival (huge Christian music fest)

[TheBigB]

how do you know it is Christian if it doesn't mention Christ?

Same way you can argue that a movie that has a character scream "JESUS CHRIST!" in an angry way is -not- a "Christian" film. Context.

[newsgatherer]

I like that too.