Comments on: Flogging A Dead Horse

By: John Beeler

John Beeler — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 22:33:49 +0000

I think Christians should stop citing U2 as the quintessential “christians in the world” band.

YAWN.

By: Zach

Zach — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:57:05 +0000

I think it’s pretty obvious why Cherone-era Van Halen didn’t win any music awards.

By: Donald S

Donald S — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 21:58:33 +0000

I read on Christian Connect (http://www.ChristianConnect.com )that Bono was a Christian and got saved back in the Jesus movement in the 1970’s.

I think that there are Christian bands and then there are Christians who are in bands. I think that both are justified. As long as you are praising God with what you are doing and living in His will, who cares about the genre of what you “do” for a living?

You can be a janitor, teacher, artist, athelete, park ranger, anything you want and serve the Lord God.

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:09:25 +0000

On the flipside of the coin, I get irritated when songs that are not “Christian” (they have no biblical reference, no spiritual point, they don’t really point you to God, and the author doesn’t even mention God on their album or website) gets promoted as “OH SO Christian” and plastered all over the Christian airwaves. It’s not that I’m anti-anything-else, it’s that I’m anti-calling-something-it’s-not. Again, that all a part of marketing. “Hey, let’s take this song that kinda-maybe-sorta sounds Christian and could pass for one and market it to the Christian market, make more money that way.” Imagine the irritation when someone buys the cd for the one song and dicovers that the others are all about a boyfriend and ‘getting it on’ and who-knows-what-else. I agree with the point that music should be judged by it’s content mainly, and secondly by the artist and their intent, and that labels (which aren’t always accurate) should be tossed out the window.

By: Carey D

Carey D — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 17:31:16 +0000

As always, Brent — I agree with your viewpoint on this issue. Things always get muddied when we use the word “Christian” as an adjective or label.

By: Rhett Smith

Rhett Smith — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 04:39:05 +0000

Brent,

I’ve never beaten a dead horse before…so you should stop as well :-)

By: Brent

Brent — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:56:40 +0000

Chris, you say that you “don�t adopt such a philosophy because it leans heavily on a crutch of Calvinism.” I’m not sure what you mean, please elaborate.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:42:17 +0000

I think that having a strict cutoff line for which bands are considered Christian is more for the Christian community to have control over what is okay and what’s taboo. In reality, one of the unspoken rules of conduct for a Christian band is that they have to live a “Christian” lifestyle. I myself don’t adopt such a philosophy because it leans heavily on a crutch of Calvinism, but I can understand that concerned parents would want their children’s music to be played by musicians who have a relatively “clean” record and don’t use language, etc.
If Eminem had one song that focused on God as sovereign in his life, would that make it worthwhile to listen to the rest of his endlessly bitter rhymes? Of course not. I don’t judge anyone who listens to Eminem as being ungodly, but I prefer to listen to music that focuses on God, because that’s where my focus is.

By: The Hosh

The Hosh — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 20:27:21 +0000

“Because it�s a marketing question, not a content question.”

Excellent point. It is frustrating to me, because Christian society today, would rather settle for something generally mediocre and unemotional as long as it says basically what they believe and think already than to accept anything or anyone that would possibly disagree with them.

Christian music is very closely knit with consumer Christianity that we hear so much about. People would rather pay for music and support artists that play a plain brand of music as long as it reaffirms and justifies their sense of ‘I am a Christian, because I listen to Christian music and none of that devil music.’ It plays right into a self-centered, isolated religious walk. Overall, it is unhealthy.

However, I don’t completely knock the Christian Music Industry, because one thing it has done is bring some sort of legitimacy to the industry. It creates accurate ways for bands to ‘compete’ musically. It helps foster better bands, better concerts and ultimately better music. But, it is self-serving, because it does not compete with everything else in the world.

By: Steven Patrick Morrissey

Steven Patrick Morrissey — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:26:53 +0000

I left the North
I travelled South
I found a tiny house
And I can’t help the way I feel
Oh yes, you can kick me
And you can punch me
And you can break my face
But you won’t change the way I feel
‘Cause I love you
Oh …