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 ...
Ya know, I've been on these Christian music threads before and there seems to be a huge misunderstanding by some that those of us who enjoy rock music can't appreciate traditional praise music. Or if you listen to Contemporary or "different" Christian music than they, then you are somehow watering down the message or less of a Christian than they are.
I'm soooo thankful that when I'm in the mood for some rock or for that matter, Country, I can reach into my pile of Christian Cds and listen to something that I don't have to repent for later .. lol.
I love lots of different music types and it is WONDERFUL to be able to listen to most of them with lyrics that my kids can even sing along to.
It's also exciting to see a church-going Christian who maybe used to play in a secular band, be able to pick up that instrument, be it bass guitar, drums, or horn, and use their talent to praise the Lord.
Not EVERY song is meant to be a Worship song, per se. Some are songs expressing personal feelings or experiences or just about something totally un-related to the church. At least they are CLEAN.
Rock on, Christian Soldier! You will not be judged by me.
Merry Christmas!
Third Day is great. I went to high school with their guitarist Brad Avery. Their new album "Wired" rocks.
It has been really satisfying to notice this. I recall walking into a mall in the late 1990's and hearing DC Talk on the music system.
And to think the lame stuff that was circulating on cassettes in the late '80s. Yikes!
Here's hoping artists who record this type of music don't get fat and sassy.
I agree so much with that statement. I have often said that it is pitiful that some of the talents we have nowdays don't realize that they could do so much to honor the Lord. Take someone like Whitney Houstaon. God blessed her with a tremendous voice. She could use it to praise Him and draw others. Even Barbara Streisand has a song out called "On Holy Ground". It is absolutely beautiful. What a waste.
I've heard of them, but I haven't picked them up yet. I heard Dave Mustaine from Megadeth did a song with them. What's their sound like?
My prison ministry band does only juvenile centers because our drummer is only 19. I'm 51 and play bass while the guitar player is 47. We have become virtually a switchfoot cover band. The lyrics of the songs we do are incredibly powerful to the demographic of our audience.
And the last time we did "Thief" by Third Day, there was at least one boy (they're all under 21) that was obviously tearing up.
The music is a powerful tool.
Please don't patronize me. I'm a born-again Christian, and I know that. I simply don't think that clinging to one style of worship that seems bent on convincing young people Christ ISN'T cool is a good thing either.
It is important that we keep the Gospel message in the music and not water it down.
I don't know what you mean by "water it down". Are you saying all the lyrics should be straight out of scripture? That they should sound like hymns?
Salvation only comes through belief in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and THAT message doesn't come through enough in Christian and Cross-Over music.
The point of this music is to draw people into curiosity about Christianity. It is for the musicians to witness with their lives. That's not a bad thing. People - particularly older people whose musical traditions are rooted in old-style church music - have to understand that their music turns young people off.
In fact, I'm a 45 year-old professional musician, and much of it turns me off.
I believe God uses music of all kinds to speak to hearts, and He is not limited to using "How Great Thou Art".
If you can't make a joyful noise, then make a righteous racket! (that's me, as I can't carry a tune in bucket)
www.pillarmusic.com
I think that you will like them if you like Megadeath.
Please see my post #15. Her respone implied I was judging Christian Rock, when that was not the case.
OH, one more thing, you MUST read their lyrics. They are awesome.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! YOU ARE SO RIGHT. Music is one of the most powerful tools of ministry, and this blue-haired my-way-or-the-highway attitude is one of my biggest pet peeves.
Preach it girl!! I agree.....1000%
Absolutely right.
The problem I have with this mentality is that you think that EVERY song has to have the salvation message. That's not necessary anymore than a preachers EVERY conversation having a salvation message. His attitude should reflect Christ and he should not act,drive,talk etc in such a way as to detract from Christ, but it's unrealistic to think that a preachers EVERY conversation has to have the salvation message any more than a songwriter has to put that in EVERY song.
What I like about the Switchfoot songs is that they don't give the message of Christ. They ask the questions, loud and clear, that point to answers in Christ.
Remember, as a painter you don't see primer as "watered down paint." You see it as a step in the process of laying a solid foundation for paint. It makes sure it sticks.
The music is one element of the primer...
I have a lot of passion for this topic. : ) (Thanks for the encouragement.)
I am passionate about it too. I get tired of the "my way or hell" bunch.
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