As a Christian artist, I often struggle with defining Christian Music. I have come to the conclusion that Christian Music
can be anything that promotes the teachings of Christ. It does not have to overtly state its case. One must be able to discern
in the song if there is a Christian, or Christ-like teaching. Music can be "Christian" even if the artist is secular, or puts
out mainly secular music.
Often times those involved in Christian Music want to put that music in a box. They want
to state that only a certain "kind" of music is Christian. On my
CD Baby site I purposefully left a negative review on my site because it shows how many people have a preconcieved notion as far as
what is "Christian" music. The writer of the review states that the music must be "soothing" and that my music is almost "angry-like."
She claimed that she was unable to meditate to it because it was unsettling. What she did was miss the point.
Mainline
Christian Music suffers from the "dulls" these days. As it becomes slicker and more commercial, the content becomes "safer."
The image of the Christian Artist seems to be a sqeaky clean popster who writes feel good songs about how we are saved by
Christ's love. The songs rarely offer solutions to problems other than the basic rhetoric you always hear. For example, messages
like the fact that if you keep your "eyes on Him" and "trust Him" things will be just hunky dorey do a disservice to real
life. Yes, faith can help you through hard times, and faith is an important componant to the makeup of the Christian person,
but to quote Bad Religion, "faith alone won't save us anymore."
There are very few Christian artists I really like.
It seems that many are preaching to the converted. The people that go to the concerts are Christians, the people that buy
the records are Christians, and there is a built in audience that keeps all this going. Most Christian artists are overly
concerned about image, and they rarely take chances. I will allow that there is some need to keep the "converted" supplied
with music they like, but that is not my mission.
I want my music to be heard by Christian and non-Christian alike.
I tend to take a very social-activist stand in my music, and I know I lean somewhat liberal. But Christians are about taking
action and being involved. Christians are about mingling with the "unclean" and ministering to others if not in faith then
in loving acts of kindness.
There are some things I can't abide as a Christian. I can't abide the death penalty. Killing
is wrong. I can't stand people who put money ahead of humanity. As Christ said, it is very difficult for a rich person to
gain Heaven. I can't stand people that shut those who are different from them. We are all God's children and all worthy of
love. As a Christian, I sing about my thoughts and take a stand. My stand is usually opposite the Christian Right.
Christian
Music is music that calls us to action. There have been a lot of praise songs written. I don't see the need for me to write
any more. And Christian Music should say more than how great and powerful God is. It should call us to action. It should call
us to become involved in our communities to make things better. It calls us to give of ourselves not because we want to be
saved, but because Jesus commands us to.
Bruce Cockburn, the Canadian singer/songwriter epitomizes the Christian artist. Even when his language becomes
salty, he never speaks truer words. He focuses on the dark side of life and brings attention to the atrocities of the world.
He comes the closest to true Christian Music than a thousand Ray Boltzs or Sandi Pattis combined.
Christian Music
should make you think. Kind of the opposite of the Beatles who preached: "Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream."
Christian Music should say, "Get up, get out of the house, and do something before its too late."
