“Christian” or Not?

I recently read a post on Facebook by a Christian radio station which got me thinking about “Christian” music, particularly “Christian Rock/Metal” music. The post basically stated that there were certain bands they were no longer playing on their station and they went on to name them and give reasons as to why they would not be played anymore.

The station starts off by explaining their definition of a “Christian” band first, saying they believe it is a band whose main goal is to win converts to Christ or to encourage believers and sets an example of Christ in their behavior. Their idea is that if you don’t have these goals as a conscious agenda, but still make references to spiritual things, then the band is a “spiritual band” not a “Christian band” which to some extent seems logical.

One of the bands was August Burns Red and the reason was because one of the members had been seen in a video stating that “not to believe in evolution is silly”. Upon viewing the video in question, I find that he is acting kind of goofy and doesn’t really answer any of the questions posed to him. He does not say anything about Darwin’s theory. I believe in evolution myself, but not in that nut case Darwin’s theory! I believe in the evolution of man from man, not a monkey! I believe that Adam and Eve were created by God as early man or “cave man”, in the beginning and we evolved from them into what we are now, although I do struggle with whom Cain, Abel and their little brother Seth could have married, their sisters?

Another was the band As I Lay Dying, which at one point I never thought of as a “Christian” band anyway, but somehow found its way into the genre. After they heard about the lead singer admitting to his dwindling faith and later he was caught trying to have his wife killed instead of just divorcing her! They dropped them and I can understand why.

Next it was P.O.D. who started out on mainstream radio, my son and his friends were really into them when they first came out, had I known at that time that they were really a “Christian” band, I would have gotten behind them too! They were dropped because on one song they had used the F-word.  Unfortunately they have made several songs for movies using explicit language, but again they were never billed as a “Christian” band, although they seem to have cleaned up their act considerably over the years, their music seems to be less tainted these days! I have also heard Sonny, the lead singer, talk about his faith before and it appears to be very genuine.

I was really disappointed when I learned that Derek Webb, of the well known “Christian” band Caedmon’s Call, had gone solo and had used the S-word in a song on one of his albums. I have an earlier album of his that I like, but was really put off when I saw him live at a Christian music festival performing the song in a tent full of adults and young children and he did not omit the word, I had to get up and leave! I don’t believe that those kinds of words belong in any song, Christian or otherwise, so I can see having to preview a song's lyrics and possibly the meaning before playing a song. I don't believe that Christian radio stations should have to "bleep out" or sensor songs to play them on the air, if that is necessary then it shouldn't be played at all!

 

Lastly was Jars of Clay. Jars of Clay! Can you imagine that Jars would not be considered a “Christian” band? Why, you say? All because Dan Haseltine made a comment about “gay” marriage! I’m sure that Dan knows it’s wrong, but he understands that those kinds of people need love too! We are told to love the unlovable. In the Bible it says to set aside our differences and show respect and kindness to others even when we don’t like or agree with the things they do or how they live. We should still be able love them without condoning their lifestyles, how can we disciple them if we shun or ignore them?

I am all for having some kind of filter for the music that gets played on “Christian” radio or any other for that matter; I don’t want to hear foul language on mainstream radio either. To me those days are over, I have moved on. But then again if we filter it by Unchristian like behavior or the fact that everyone in a band isn’t a believer, aren’t we drawing a thin line between Christianity and Legalism? I read an article by Reese Roper of Five Iron Frenzy in which he acknowledged the fact that two people in their current lineup are not believers, does that make their music less relevant? The fact is, I think it’s an amazing thing that they can all work together as a unit; maybe there is a lesson in that!

Then, also what happens when Christian bands cover music by mainstream artists? Does that make them less Christian? So many “Christian” bands have covered mainstream music, when I heard the song “Ordinary World” by Red, I thought it was theirs, but it’s actually by Duran Duran! Reliant K has covered lots of songs by mainstream artists also, like “I’d Like to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears. On the new Seventh Day Slumber album “We Are the Broken”, they covered a song called “Skyscraper” that had been released by mainstream artist Demi Lovato! I told Joseph Rojas, the lead singer, my girls recognized it right away and he said the reason they had chosen it was because the lyrics fit in so perfectly with the rest of the album. The list goes on forever, so many Christian artists have covered so much non-Christian music, but it does not make them believe any less in Christ! Does that mean they shouldn’t be played on Christian stations even if the lyrics are clean and the message is sound?

The Jewish religious leaders in the Bible criticized Jesus for spending all of his time with the lowliest of people and not with those they considered worthwhile, but that is what He came for. There are some musical groups made up of believers who have decided to try to reach the unreachable by going to play in bars and clubs instead of Churches, they also have a podcast show and blog where they get down and dirty, discussing all types of issues, from pornography to homosexuality. Emery is one such band. I believe there are bands that are spurred on by their hope of communicating with the lost generation by getting down on their level, by giving them the kind of music that will appeal to them with a message that is truth in biblical terms.

There are mainstream bands too, like U2 with a similar need to make music that has a purposeful meaning, encouraging and up lifting, another such band is Collective Soul. Their hit song “Shine” is about asking Heaven to shine a light on man! Lead singer, Ed Roland’s father was a preacher and Ed writes music that shows his love for his father and for his father’s faith! Even going so far as to write a song called “Hymn for My Father” in which he states he will follow his father’s teachings, I believe Ed is referring to both his earthly father (now in Heaven) and his Heavenly father.

There might even be such things as “closet Christian” bands that don’t label themselves as Christian, but actually have Christian beliefs that they openly share in their music. I believe its ok to not have to label ones music, just to be honest and make sure whatever music you are presenting, is edifying and glorifying to God or at least presentable to the rest of the world!

So although I will miss hearing August Burns Red, P.O.D and Jars of Clay playing on their station, I will still listen to it along with many others in order to get my fix of “Good Christian” music!