Check out the tesimony of this guy (video online at the linked site). It is truly amazing:
Day of Fire - Joshua Brown
Yes. So are other cross-over artists on Top 40: Creed, Jars of Clay, Switchfoot.
My concern is that the bands water down the Gospel and it becomes more of a "feel good" message than a salvation message.
"What about wrong, what about right, what about glory, what about Christ...i'm found and I'm heaven-bound" -- Cleansed by Fire, Alice Cooper
I love Switchfoot. Very good band.
I have to say I don't really share your concern. Reaching people for Christ takes on many different forms. There are people who still think an organ and a seventy-two year-old soprano are the only legitimate forms of worship music - but you'll never reach a kid with that stuff.
If young people can get the message that becoming a Christian doesn't instantly turn you into someone very uncool, that's a good thing, imo.
My concern is that the bands water down the Gospel and it becomes more of a "feel good" message than a salvation message.
I think this comment of yours is on the mark. When so much of this world is based on Rock Music, enjoy going to Church to get away from it, not to hear a Christian version of it.
The one group that I am really wild about is Pillar. These guys are really walking their faith. The founder's dad is a soldier in Iraq and he is a former soldier too. They don't water nuthin down. They tell it like it is.
"My concern is that the bands water down the Gospel and it becomes more of a "feel good" message than a salvation message."
Agreed. If I walk in to a church and see a drum and/or an electronic keyboard, I'm outta there. Am church pianist and refuse to play the insipid, inane, shallow, droning, whiny choruses that are popular now. (Mom calls them "7-11 songs -- 7 words repeated 11 times.) It's just the religious verion of dumbing down that's prevalent in all area of society and education. God help us (so to speak) if we should sing hymns that are theologically substantive.
You'd prefer that Rock 'N'Roll be strictly the province of Guns & Roses, Metallica, & AC/DC?
How do you feel about ancient hymns played in a "modern" way?
David Crowder Band has done a version of "All Creatures of Our God and King" that sends chills up my spine everytime I listen to it.
Correction: Creed has said they are not a Christian band - although lead singer was raised Pentacostal.
Great observation and dead on! That's exactly what's occurring in large measure. Generally speaking, it is in large part simply another effort by man to conform God to man's desires and machinations instead of the opposite. Far too many people get their information about God from others including music due to intellectual laziness and no desire to read and arduously study the Bible themselves. There is far too much emphasis on "what God can do for us" in a material sense and not nearly enough on the same focus spiritually.
Anyhoo, at the risk of digressing... :D
Yep. You have to be discerning, don't you? Some lyrics in 'Christian' music wouldn't get a passing grade when it comes to doctrine.
Creed is not a Christian band; they denied even being Christian when asked in an interview once.
Check out the tesimony of this guy (video online at the linked site). It is truly amazing:
Phillipian 1: 15-18
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.[c] 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.