Stryper!!
Posted on 10/07/2004 8:47:53 AM PDT by nypokerface
NEW YORK (AFP) - Mocked by followers of mainstream pop music, evangelical rockers have kept the faith and become a huge business in the United States.
More than one billion dollars worth of gospel records are sold each year, and its market share of seven percent of all discs sold is more than for classical and jazz discs combined, according to industry figures.
Christian rock has become a force that even the US presidential contenders cannot ignore.
John Kerry has got heavyweight rock backers such as Bruce Springsteen and the group Pearl Jam backing him on a Vote For Change tour.
But at the Republican convention last month, Christian rock band Third Day and singers Gracie Rosenburger and Donnie McClurkin were star entertainers.
The convention's entertainment director, Frank Breeden, is a former president of the Gospel Music Association.
And the unusually pious beat heard in New York reflects President George W. Bush's drive to win the votes of the estimated four million religious conservatives who strategists believe failed to vote in the 2000 election.
It has been a long struggle for Evangelical rockers to win acceptance over the past two decades however.
Reverend David Wilkerson, a New York City priest, wrote in one book "The Cross and the Switchblade": "There is no doubt in my mind now -- rock music, as used and performed in Christian circles, is of the same satanic seed as that which is called punk, heavy metal, and is performed in devilish rock concerts worldwide."
But many Christian churches have now accepted rock, rap and even punk to get their message across.
"The Christian community has come to embrace all styles of Christian music, and appreciate that Christian rock in particular presents a great alternative for our young people," said Tricia Whitehead, a spokeswoman for the Gospel Music Association.
"With much of mainstream music continuing to push the envelope in terms of sexual and violent lyrical content, Christian music's inspiring and hopeful and wholesome lyrics stand in stark and refreshing contrast," she added.
According to industry figures, 47 million gospel pop and rock records were sold in 2003, up 10 percent from 1998.
The Christian Music Place directory has 3,241 registered groups, 115 of them punk and 71 rap.
Kanye West has been the first big Christian rap star who has had Evangelical chart hits such as "Jesus Walks".
He raises the discrimination felt by Christian rockers in the lyrics of the song:
"They say you can rap-about-anything except for Jesus
"That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
"But if I talk about God my record won't get played, Huh?"
Now it does get played however. There are almost 1,500 Christian radio stations across the country and at the end of October Christian rockers will have their own MTV.
Gospel Music Channel, a cable network, plans to put out 24-hour-a-day videos of Christian pop stars like Third Day, Amy Grant, Point of Grace, Jaci Velasquez and Switchfoot.
Gospel music has "hit a maturity level that will support doing a cable channel," said Charles Humbard, president and chief executive of Gospel Music Channel.
"The music that (fans) love and enjoy has not been really treated as entertaining in an entertainment showcase such as the GMC will do."
He is already considering extending broadcasts to Europe and Africa.
But some un-Christian events are also happening, such as illegal downloading of Evangelical hits.
The Christian Music Trade Association has led complaints.
"Most of us would never even consider stealing something, say, a picture or a piece of clothing, from a friends house," said the group. "Yet when it comes to stealing digital recordings of copyrighted music, people somehow seem to think the same rules dont apply."
If the salvation message is scriptural, the rest is just human stuff anyway.
John 14:6 is where the "rubber meets the road".
Michael W. Smith rocks!
This new Christian music channel sounds good too. My family has gone 100% Christian music - I'm still throwing away some of my old CDs and cassettes as I find them - and has stopped listening to what we call "worldly" music. It works and my kids have a LARGE selection of good groups, albums, and songs to choose from and I, as a parent, don't have to worry much about what they're listening to.
Bob - Where's Larry? lol
Big fan of Deliriou5?, Matt Redman, and Mars Hill myself. Newsboys, ReliantK, and Jars of Clay are also really good.
I'm eternally grateful that Christian music has been finding its way out into the open. I've been able to use a lot of it to reach the Youth of my church, and as one poster here said, it's a LOT better than the alternative garbage they'd otherwise be listening to.
Personally, if this sort of music had been more "available" when I was a teenager, I probably wouldn't have fallen off the path. It DOES help keep people focused on their faith - especially the young and easily distracted.
I just wish there were more festivals/revival concerts locally. We had SoulFest2004 in NH this summer, but that's all I've heard about.
Kanye West has been the first big Christian rap star who has had Evangelical chart hits such as "Jesus Walks".
He raises the discrimination felt by Christian rockers in the lyrics of the song:
"They say you can rap-about-anything except for Jesus"That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes"But if I talk about God my record won't get played, Huh?"
Oh, but it miraculously does get played (including often in this house, LOL). And that was West's hope as the above verse goes on to say:
Well let this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope it take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreamin bout
Next time I'm in the club everybody screamin out
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the devil's tryna break me down
(Jesus Walks)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
Corrections:
1) Switchfoot is not pop, Switchfoot is alternative rock.
2) Third day is not pop, Third day is rock.
3) Amy Grant is Pop but she is not a Chr...... Well, I'd better let God be her judge.
True, dct were doing rap a long time ago, starting in 1989, but when they broke through on mainstream radio it was after they'd migrated to a more pop, rock, R&B sound. Their rap stuff never got on radio.
Favorites:
MercyMe click here
Third Day FROM ACWORTH and ROSWELL, GA
Steven Curtis Chapman
Michael W. Smith GWB's favorite
Jars of Clay
Switchfoot
Avalon
Good music with good news and safe for the family! And, they can ROCK! Some great 'ballads/anthems' too, like "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe.
I wrote a rap tune once called "Jesus is one phat mofo"
I am curious about Usher? My son (12) has asked for permission to listen to him and I dont know anything about the fella.
No Usher Is not the best thing for a kid to listen to. Just reading the lyrics is bad enough. He talks about sex and Drugs.
Wow, fifty plus and counting. Must be a furious debate raging somewhere on whether the Apostles worn striped ties to synagogue or stuck to earthtone solids.
Stryper!!
BTTT
Those bands are great and on fire for the Lord in their own personla lives. My teens and their friends love them. Here's one for you to try. Casting Crowns. Their lyrics are "in your face" to Christians and most definately needed among some circles.
Kerry has Pearl Jam.
W has Third Day.
Third Day is to Pearl Jam as Beethoven is to The Brady Kids.
Yes Casting Crowns is a very good band.
He's still around, and still preaches the Gospel. World Challenge.org is his ministry site.
He is pastor of Times Square Church in Manhatten. His website has many of his sermons in mp3, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. His books are also excellent.
I just checked out the Drowning Johah website. That is too cool that your son is in that band. I wish him and the band the best. Looks like they have a good start already.
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