Posted on 12/07/2004 12:06:09 PM PST by LouAvul
The growing clout of America's 100-million evangelical Christians is being heard loud and clear. Just turn on your radio, and you'll notice that a seismic shift in American culture is taking place.
Before, you could tune into different stations, which offered different music and different messages.
But now, as Correspondent Bob Simon reports on 60 Minutes Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT,, evangelical Christian music is flowing into mainstream media -- and changing it. In fact, Christian entertainment now brings in $4 billion a year.
Rappers and rockers are making hits and making money while spreading the gospel to national audiences. Christian groups can be heard on secular radio and seen on "The Tonight Show." Earlier this year, the group Third Day even played at the Republican National Convention.
"The fact that there are Christian themes now emerging in rock and that Christians are in rock is just representative of a spiritual desire or a spiritual hunger in our culture," says Cameron Strang, publisher of Relevant Magazine, a religious publication.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
What does "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" mean to you?
Unfortunately, there are many (esp. new Christians) who do get their doctrine from song lyrics.
Frankly, I am not impressed when Flood from Jars of Clay or (what many mistakenly believe to be a Christian band, Creed) hit the secular airwaves.
Nor when Switchfoot does so (though Switchfoot rocks, any Christian message they carry is really really veiled).
POD just is a bunch of apostates pretending to be Christians.
We should not be impressed when such groups make it into the secular airwaves.
Why? BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT ON BECAUSE THEY ****COMPROMISE*** A CLEAR PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FAVOR OF A VEILED, PUZZLE SONG APPROACH IN WHICH YOU HAVE TO GUESS WHAT THE HECK THE SINGER IS TALKING ABOUT.
They could be seen just as easily as referring to secular love half the time as the love of God.
The only time I am genuinely impressed is when a CLEAR AND NOT WATERED DOWN VERSION OF THE GOSPEL MAKES IT ON THE SECULAR AIRWAVES.
About the only example I can think of is MercyMe's "I Can Only Imagine." I hear it on several secular radio stations around here quite a lot.
It has made a major dent in the secular airwaves, which is amazing.
So has "More to this Life" by a female artist whose name I have forgotten.
But, for the most part, CHRISTIANS ARE MAKING IT ONTO THE SECULAR AIRWAVES ***BECAUSE THEY ARE SELLING OUT***.
You might not want to listen to a pastor who welcomes rock musicians into his church, but I'll betcha you won't find a lot of kids who would get excited listening to J. Vernon McGee. That's not a reflection on him, but again, you might take into consideration that not everyone is like you. Far from it.
Oh dear Lord....
Creed is not a Christian band; they denied even being Christian when asked in an interview once.
"OH GOD YES! YES! YES! OH GOD YES! DON'T STOP!"
Just kidding ;0)
LOL!
Because He first loved me, I am now able to say that I love Him more than my life and am anxious to see Him, face to face.
Take a poll of young people and see how many realize Switchfoot is Christian.
No doubt NONE will answer they knew that.
You cna't sense any Christianity in their songs, just bit of spirituality that can't be pegged down really.
It is part of the trend of Christian bands watering it down to get on secular radio.
And don't get me wrong, I like Switchfoot...listen to their songs all the time. But, I would not call them a Christian band because I really don't hear the gospel in their songs usually.
Yep. That's why it's our responsibility as older Christians to bring our younger brothers and sisters along. It's also why we have to define, very carefully, what we want our "Christian" music to do. Do we want it to be a sermon in three and a half minutes, or do we just want an alternative to the crap coming out of the secular labels?
Neither position is wrong. There are bands and labels who *do* write 3 1/2 minute sermons, and those guys are great. There are also bands who simply write songs from a Christian worldview, and those guys are fine too.
Then there's me. I'm just a hack guitar player. :)
He danced NAKED before the Lord. NAKED. NAKED. NAKED. He CLAPPED his hands. My God, David was an ass. /sarcasm
Well said.
I think I agree with that post 100%.
(Another hack guitar player, who on many occasions accompanies soloists and such in church)
I've been following this thread wih interest.
You've been rather quick to opine as to what is or is not acceptable, yet not nearly so quick to respond to the requests to back up your assertions with scripture, nor to reply to those who do.
To this point, I am left with the distinct impression you are prescribing your personal preferences while criticizing those that don't share them.
You ask, Are you capable of discernment? I would gently suggest applying discernment to differentiate the spirit of David from that of Michal.
Readers are leaders
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1296372/posts?page=182#182
Evangelism is not about tricking people. If you can't get people to come with the message, you are just frankly, a bad evangelist.
Unfortunately, as a college student myself, I am aware of just how out of touch many older Christian ministers can be. When I first came to Christ, I came not becuase of fancy music. I came because I realized I was a sinner, that God chose me to be saved, that his grace was in Christ Jesus...and I needed to place my trust in him.
Rock music didn't help me at all....in fact, it HINDERED when I would go to a church in which it was clear they were trying desperately to be seeker-friendly.
It turned me off. And I have talked to a lot of others....you would be surprised just how many feel the same.
They do not like being pandered to.
BTW, I suggest you talk to the people who make Indelible Grace...they take old hymns and put new tunes to them.
They say it is incredible how much young people long for deeper music than contemporary music/praise songs etc. offer.
www.igracemusic.com
Amen!
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