In my view many singing artists and Christian people (those that considered themselves so) have abandoned Christian music in a bid for popularity, many times leaving their Christian faith behind in the midst – a la Guy Sebastian, Beyonce and Katy Perry.
But was it worth it? Or is selling out to the world what God wants from us to reach the world?
If you think Christian music is cliché or boring you need some serious schooling. No, all of Christian music is not Carrie Underwood and Casting Crowns and in fact many Christian songs have claimed worldwide secular success (as I wrote about before - www.101arguments.com).
Don't expect to hear a Christian song in a secular club? You'd be wrong, as the remixed version of You've Got the Love is played in many nightclubs. The problem is that we're not owning these songs and letting people know about their Christian roots. We're letting the world steal them.
Christian artists give us options
The diversity of the kinds of music in the Christian genre are just amazing. You like Owl City (who also are Christian, though less overt)? Listen to An Epic, No Less. You like One Direction and other boy bands? Listen to Anthem Lights. You usually listen to spacey, New Age type of music? Go for Falling Up. Down with Heavy Metal? There's Fireflight, Pillar, Flyleaf and Manafest. Listen to Eminem? Then you've got KJ-52, Tripp Lee and Lecrae. That's just to name a few. When someone sells out to the world and doesn't claim to be a Christian any longer there's no reason to keep supporting them with so many other options!
I am of the opinion that Christians should support Christian artists who are making great music and not give their money (that belongs to God) to the secular artists that make a living off of endorsing sin. But some have bought into the faulty idea that God and the Bible make for boring conversation and uninteresting music! Oh how wrong that is. We will forever be singing the praises of God in any genre and sound so we may as well get down with the creativity that God gave man and appreciate it.
Christian music saves, secular music doesn't
Let me tell you what makes me so passionate about this. Before I was a Christian I got into listening to two brilliant albums – one by a band called Jars of Clay and another by Switchfoot (this was over ten years ago when Switchfoot were still proudly proclaiming Christ). At the time I had no idea it was Christian music that I was getting stuck in my head day after day… and it was subtly changing my heart to become open to Christianity.
That's what music with a Christian message can do. It can inspire, and it can convert. And then later when I became a Christian and found out those bands I had become so fond of were actually singing about God it opened up a whole new dimension to me with the music I knew and loved. And now I prefer a God-centred message tenfold to a trite, ambiguous song about non Spirit-filled emotions.
God is no secret, He's our joy
If you are amongst those out there who think Christian music just doesn't compare to the secular stuff topping the charts then I wonder what influences you're listening to.
What's stopping you from supporting Christian music? Is it the candid devotion to the One who deserves our tributes? Is it the openness to declare how awesome our Saviour is? Is it that you would prefer "Christians" to be like Justin Bieber and hide Jesus to sing instead about love, lust and booty shaking?
I have to stand firmly with the Newsboys (the classic Newsboys that is) on this one. God is NOT a secret to be kept. "If the cross offends you, find another voice." Christian musicians you are doing Christ proud. Shout it from the rooftops! Shout it loud!
And:
"If we keep silent…
These very rocks will scream
God is not a secret to be kept."
Bridget Brenton has been researching apologetics, philosophy and the paranormal for years. You can check her apologetic effort out at www.101arguments.com.
Bridget Brenton's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/bridget-brenton.html
