Christian Music & the Beauty of the Church Part 1



I love music. I once worked for a major christian record label, I'm not a big fan of christian music. I don't think that there is such a thing.

I've had the opporunity to visit with some of the people who make Christian music happen and frankly I was impressed. They are great people with great motives and great stories to tell. The folks I met genuinely care about artists who work with them and are willing to spend significant amounts of money to take care of them. It's not as dog eat dog as I once thought.

But I don't believe in Christian music.

I spent 5 solid weeks with a group of teens who were amazingly gifted and... well words don't do these kids justice... they are just fun to be with. They have an honest transparency to them as they follow Jesus.

But I don't believe in christian music.

I've had conversations with a guy at BVC who is the Program Director for a local "christian radio station". Though I don't know him well, he seems generous, passionate, intelligent and curious about life and his work as an employee of a christian radio personality.

But I don't believe in Christian music.

Music can not be christian.

The term Christian has always refered to a people who were like Christ. Until recently this has been the case. We like having christian music because it's another way to stop thinking for us as christians. If someone else declares for something to be "christian" that must mean that it's safe. If it's sold a a "Christian Bookstore" then it must be ok to give to my kids. If it's played on the local "christian radio station" then it's safe. In fact, they tell me it's safe for my family there.

I toured with the J5 kiddos for just a short time, but I learned a lot. I learned that, though they might play for 10,000 people several times a day in the name of ministry (those are our words not theirs by the way), nothing (and mean nothing) compares to the relationships those 5 kids have with all the other teens on the tour backstage. How do you exchange anything for real relationships? Fame. Celebrity. Safety's a myth and "christian music" isn't real.
Oh and you can read as much CCM as you desire. You can google band names, and read about them in dozens of websites, you can collect posters, and even read the liner notes on the cd, but recognize that you don't know the first thing about them. You know their names, and how many kids they have and if they are the "real thing" or not. But know this... you don't know them. You don't love them. You love an image. You love an idea. you love the feeling of being caught up in the wave of hype. We all do at times... (just ask jimmy about U2 or Stephen about Gillian Welch or me about Wiggles) But it's not real. It's hype and image that we use to make ourselves feel good. But nothing is better than relationship.


Before you brand me as a music hater, I'll remind you that I love music. I love good music. So listen to any music that you want to call good. But don't call it christian, because it's not.

posted by riddle at 11:30 AM | |