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 ...
One of the things that really hurt contemporary Christian music (I'm showing my age with the CCM acronym) in the 80s was the demand that every "Christian" band be, first and foremost, ministers of the Word in the same sense that a pastor is a minister. In essence, the demand was that Christian bands had to be preachers first, musicians second. Anybody remember when Amy Grant did that song with Peter Cetera? You'd have thought she joined a deathmetal band from the outcry.
Nowadays, I think folks are starting to realize that a band can be Christian and not necessarily have every song about their faith. I write *tons* of songs, three of which are on my profile page (insert shameless self-plug here) and none are overtly Christian. However, if you were to listen to all my music, you'll find it's written from an undeniably Christian perspective.
It all depends on what you are actually looking for in your music.
Whether or not you hear a message of Christianity in Switchfoot's lyrics isn't the point, really - kids like them (I like them too) and they are publicly open about their Christianity. If a kid who is a fan finds out they are Christians, they may become curious about developing a relationship with God - and they may abandon any notion they may have had that Christianity is only for people who act like the Church Lady.
What's so bad about that?
I agree with that. Christianity is more than scripture and reciting scripture - it's a lifestyle and a worldview.
Beat ya to it. Check out #204. :)
Replied to this earlier.
I have no problem clapping to God, it's clapping for man in Church.
I agree.
I read in an article about some African Christians who heard the so called "Christian Rock/Rap" music and asked why Christians were listening to the Devil's music.
The idea that you can add the Gospel message to aggressive, violent sounding heavy metal tunes, or fleshy sexual rhythms and attract new converts is a contradiction.
Perhaps you could tattoo the name of Jesus to the butts of strippers to get the message out?
I'm not going to say all rock or rap music is the wrong spirit for the Gospel message, but I think most of it is. And these so called "ministers" are exactly as you say, sellouts.
I don't know what young people you polled but here they all know that Switchfoot is Christian. Those that don't are told by the others. They love it. I love it that they are getting positive messages from the Christian musicians. Dear Lord, there is enough evil in this world to fight but yet some folks are so busy fighting and tearing down each other that they can't get the job done when it comes to reaching the lost. It is probobly a stench in God's nose that instead of encouraging each other to use what talents we have to reach this dying world we are using RELIGION to tear each other down and cripple ministries.
I've seen Audio A twice in concert, and RRWC once, and I am 47! My teen daughters have their CDs and love the words as much as the music.
Heh.. my best friend is a killer guitarist, *way* better than me. He and I had a contest to see who could come up with the most self-centered guitar solo, hence the name.
Certainly you are correct that a Christian should not have to product Christian music. Christians make an impact according to God's purposes anywhere they are just by being salt and light...and Scripture does not make any kind of distinction between Christian and non-Christian music etc...it is all part of God's world.
However, this story is framed WITH THAT AS THE FOUNDATION......Christian singers impacting secular music.
It really bothers me if Christian singers WHO CLEARLY HAVE A CHOSEN MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHRIST...they aren't just a singer who is a Christian...but a "Christian singer"....water down the message.
If these were just singers who believe in Christ, there would be no problem with their content. But, they are bands who supposedly are out to impact the world by spreading the Gospel, I won't sit back as they PREACH ANOTHER GOSPEL instead of the one taught by the Scriptures. They preach a wishy-washy, watered down Gospel that rarely even mentions Christ.
Scripture makes it clear any person claiming another Gospel will be accursed.
I like the Les Paul Goldtop... I have a Les Paul Pro...
I actually just sold the gold top and got a Peavey Wolfgang. My next LP will be a reissue '59.
The bible contains more than the gospels. It deals with every aspect of life. For bands to do this with their lyrics doesn't make them unscriptural.
I'm thinking of writing some Christian Death Metal just to tick off some blue-haired old ladies... ;0)
This brings up an interesting point. I really dislike most of the praise music that has come out in the last, say, ten years, but not because of the music. I dislike it because it's all what I call "sunny side up" Christianity. One of my favorite Christian albums is Russ Taff's eponymous disc, where he ends one song just screaming to God, "Save me, save me, save me..." over and over again. That's far more honest, IMHO, and certainly more like my Christian walk.
Porn reaches people as well.
Let's have porn in churches! Hell, let's film porn videos.
Your opinion is characteristic of the ignorant, lazy modern American church.
You think that anything we do short of outright sin is acceptable to get people to come to Christ.
All the while you fail to understand that being lukewarm, that failing to give simple, unashamed declarations of the Gospel, is just as much a sin as if we did film porn in church to try to bring in the lost!
WHEN WE FAIL TO DO WHAT GOD COMMANDS, IT IS JUST AS BAD AS IF WE OVERTLY DO SOMETHING FORBIDDEN!
When we sit back and think that WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE GOSPEL TO THE CULTURE INSTEAD OF STANDING APART FROM IT AS SALT AND LIGHT, WE ARE SINNING!
Your attitude is sinful....I pray you will understand that.
One of the best posts on the thread, imo. Thank you. I would applaud, but people might think I'm praising you, and that would suck. ; )
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