The label of “christian” is not something that meaningfully can be assigned by either a band, or its label or other management. When they are the assigners, then the term is going to mean whatever they want it too – and of course, there’s no telling how the consumer is going to interpret that label.
Instead, the most meaningful thing, to the consumer, is what _they_ want the term “Christian” to mean. For instance, what I am always seeking are artists/bands whose members are practicing Christians who are putting Christ first in their life. If that is truly the desire of their hearts, then the music they write and perform will be something that is meaningful to me.
If the artist/band do not truly embrace the Christian lifestyle, then pretending to be Christians will only influence for a short while, and the truth of their lifestyle will be revealed, if not within their lyrics, then in the way they act with their fans, each other, the media, and so forth.
what an artist stands for is more important than his message.A tree is known by its fruits. Action they say speeks louder than words.What makes a song,album,band,etc.. christian is not the lyrics,but christian value lifestyles and the totality of their faith in Chrit Jesus.
Comment by precious david — October 8, 2006 @ 11:07 am
To be a christian is to be “CHRIST LIKE”. I can’t imagine why anyone who claims to be a christian would be embarressed or shy away from writing lyrics pertaining to christian values, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The music should glorify and edify God as did the old hyms that are still sung today. Telephones have changed since the day they were invented and music has progressed as well. But, even though there have been some physical changes, they still do the same thing they were invented to do. To communicate. As a christian musicians, our job is to communicate about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. To spread the Word of God. It’s true that we cannot save souls but it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to direct souls towards Him. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. We can both entertain and strengthen christians as well as reach out to the lost and hurting. I don’t believe we should be concerned about “offending” anyone. The only one I worry about offending is God. Because in the end we answer to Him for everything we have done. I will never say, “Lord, I was wishy-washy about my christian values and faith” or “I was afraid of what people would think of me”. I will never be ashamed of the Gospel. As christians, our music should reflect that, ALWAYS. Otherwise it is just to make money and we all know what the love of money leads to. We can not serve 2 masters.
Sincerely,
monica j fox
band manager of “SAVED” monicajfox@hotmail.com
Thought this was a great article. Too often, when people think of Christian music, they think the genre is restricted to gospel with truly evangelistic lyrics. There are plenty of Christian bands out there with great messages, and have the desire to reach mainstream audiences. “It is not the well who need a doctor, but the sick.” Bands like Chevelle and Flyleaf are great examples of what Christianity is all about. There is nothing wrong with mainstream music, God created it! They are simply using it as a tool to reach out to those in need of a savior.
Comment by Michelle San Jose — October 13, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
I loved what Julie said-”"What makes a band Christian?” would be their walk with Christ and the example they lead. I would rather them sing clean lyrics and lead by example in behavior than sing “obviously Christian lyrics” and live like the devil.”
It should be the “clean” lyrics going along with the life they lead.
Take Clay Aiken for example, he will sing only clean lyrics, no nasty stuff. And he leads his life the same way. He is humble, gracious, treats everyone with kindness, love, and as an equal no matter what kind of life they lead. He shows empathy for others and puts others first before himself.
One of the songs on his new album is a good example of a song that could be on Christian radio. It’s called, “Broken Wings”. It was originally done by Mr. Mister, a group that I would consider similar to MercyMe, a crossover band. Mr. Mister also recorded “Kyrie Eliason” back in the ’80’s and Clay covered that song on one of his tours.
A song from Clay’s previous album, “I Will Carry You” made it onto a Dallas Christian Music station’s nightly countdown almost every night last year.
I think he would do an awesome job on many Christian songs. He interprets songs, lyrics, and music so meaningfully.
Great subject! We’ve discussed this many times with our indie artists on Indieheaven. How many JPMs (Jesus’ per Minute) does it take to make a song Christian? I think that doesnt matter. What does matter is that the song either points the way to salvation or gives the listener hope in a situation that may be hopeless. We can’t throw out the salt.. its the salt that will change a life. That salt is salvation through Christ. A song isnt Christian.. but the person who crafted the song is important. Is their life indicitive of a relationship with Jesus? We cannot make that judgement call, but we can see the fruit of a life dedicated to serving Christ through the medium of music.
Keith Mohr
President
Indieheaven http://www.indieheaven.com
Im really thankful that there are bands out there like switchfoot and Amberlin. I am a mother of a teenage son and I would rather have him listening to clean music with clean lyrics regardless of whether the bands openly sing about their faith. Some of the secular music today is filthy and depressing so it helps to have these bands that play music that sounds like the music today with clean lyrics for our teens and kids
I love contemporary Christian music- it’s what drew me back to the Lord- what is driving some people away from churches however, is the VOLUME and DANGEROUS decibles we are using- that is literally defening people when the Word of God tells us plainly, “for those who have ears to hear”- and we won’t have!!!!!! we need to take down the volume many notches, this is just playing into the enemie’s hands to do the LOUD thing in church with electric instruments, etc. People with disabilities and service dogs are not able to participate either with the noise being too much for the dogs to be in the service!!!!!! I have witnessed this first hand. Let’s put the “joyful” back into “joyful noise” while we can still (barely) hear.!!!!!!
Comment by Trish Kindberg — November 7, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
I agree with Keith Mohr above (#6), however I would go further. I started listening to CCM when the bands Love Song and Second Chapter of Acts first came out. (I’m an oldie but goodie!)
I think there is an unseen side to todays CCM that most fans don’t know. Alot of these major labels such as Sparrow are owned by secular companies (such as EMI). I believe that the major labels are having too much influence in dictating what music is put out by the artist based on sales alone. When Christians become a “market” you’ve lost the salt in my view. You’re at that point no different than the world. I therefore only buy CCM directly from artists themselves now or from an very indie label. I don’t go near the major labels or hometown chain Christian bookstores.
This is something I’ve been thinking about since I’ve started my discovery of Christian Music. Thank you for giving me a place to let this out.
So far, I’ve found that Christian music is not at all what I expected. You see, I had a naive stereotype of Christian Music as the hymns that are sung during church services. That’s all that I knew. When I started listening to Christian music recently, I was surprised and pleased to hear how modern it is. It seems that any style of music you’ll find in today’s Popular music is also represented in today’s Christian music. The modern styles have made my switch from Popular to Christian music much easier to handle.
When listening to Christian music, I get such a feeling of joy and pleasure that I never got from Popular music. To me, as long as the songs are about religion or living right, that is what Christian music is about regardless of the musical style.
Two songs by Mark Schultz come to mind: “He’s My Son” and “Walking Her Home”. I’d consider these to be great songs of faith and living right. “He’s My Son” is about a father whose son is suffering from some fatal illness. The father is praying to the Lord to let him take his Son’s place so his son can live a normal life. “Walking Her Home” follows a man and his girl on their first date, walking her home to her father; then through his life with her, to her last night when he again is walking her Home, this time to God. Mark Schultz did great work on both songs, powerful expressions of emotion.
As for what Bob Scott said in # 9: “Alot of these major labels such as Sparrow are owned by secular companies (such as EMI). I believe that the major labels are having too much influence in dictating what music is put out by the artist based on sales alone. When Christians become a “market” you’ve lost the salt in my view.”
I understand that you’re worried about the worldly powers entering into the music, but I can see a good side. The secular labels may be a way of getting more youth exposed to Christian music. As I see it, Christian music needs to compete with today’s Popular music. If a person, looking to a music change as a way to get closer to God, had to choose between Popular music and the hymns of old school Christian, that person might chose to put off the change and stay with Popular because they find it more entertaining. However, that same person, given the choice between Popular Music and Christian music done in the same styles, might make the Christian music choice. And if there’s one thing these secular labels know, it’s the styles of music that the youth like. The use of Christian subsidiaries to make the music should keep the music clean.
I believe it would be nice to have these Christian artists played on Popular radio stations in order to present a Christian alternative to Popular music fans. The song “Gather at the River” by Point of Grace has the modern style I’m talking about. I can see this song fitting into a Popular station’s lineup easily. Since hearing this song, I have purchased their CD “How You Live” because I like the message, the four-part harmony of the vocals and the Country/Pop style of the song. With the dangerous situations (political and weather) occurring in today’s world I feel we may be in ‘the last days’, so I feel that Christian music should be reaching out. When I had figured it was time to get closer to God in some way, I knew it would be through the music I listen to. But my stereotyping got in the way. It was only through American Idol finalist Mandisa’s “True Beauty” CD that I came to discover the modern sound of Christian music. Chances are I never would have heard this music on the radio. As far as I know, there are no FM stations in the Philadelphia market that play this music without a lot of preaching. My thought is, let the music do the preaching. Let the music flow.
I think that if you are a Christian, then you should not be ashamed to shout it to world, after all you do bare Christ’s name. One thing God will always do is be patient with each and every one of us, whether saved or unsaved. God is the one that get the glory anyway, and HE is the only one who could touch the hearts of the people, not us. Our walk of faith is not about us, so we need to get our mind’s off of ourselves and put it towards Jesus becuase revelation only comes through the Holy Spirit. I might understand a message totally different from how you would, that don’t make either one of us wrong unless the truth about the matter is revealed by God’s Spirit.
i write music and im a christian but i dont use jesus name in my songs. but i do write about life and how we dont have to get consumed by our own sorrows but we can rely on that one person who can take that pain away.
I have a Music Ministry myself. Without any doubt whatsoever, God called me to this ministry, in 1979. I am also an ordained minister, ordained in 1982. Therefore I preach too.
When Matthew was inspired by the Holy Spirit, to write down what Jesus told him and the other disciples to do, after Jesus had ascended, he(Matthew) wrote, “All authority has been given to me, in heaven and in earth. Therefore go into all the world, and make disciples of every creature(person),teaching them to obey all the commandments I have given you.” Then Matthew, still under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote, “And I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
After God called me to preach, which is actually how the call came to me,”I want you to preach!” After that experience, the Great commission in Matthew’s Gospel affected me, strongly, each and every time I read it. It was and still is, as if God speaks these words to me directly; that this is what I’m supposed to do! This is my destiny! However, although I know it is for me, it is also for every Christian on earth! In Mark’s Gospel, Mark was inspired to write it this way: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” and it affects me the same way, as does Matthew’s account.
So what I’m saying is, a person who is called by God to go into all the world, preaching the Gospel and making disciples, will, pretty much, most of the time, do it. But the person who is a Christian, but Not called to ministry, will probably NOT feel the need to take the Great Commission to mean that he has to go into the world to preach, etc.
A lot of musicians/singers/artists, who happened to have been saved, at some point, and are Christians, do what they do for a living. They weren’t called to the ministry, to preach or anything else, other than the responsibilities all Christians have to share the Gospel.
So they don’t have to write songs with Christian lyrics, as I feel I have to, nor do they have to sing songs with Christian lyrics.
Look at Charlie Daniels. I believe he is a Christian, if there ever has been one, yet he puts on one of the best concerts, with some of the best rockin’ music I’ve ever heard, and 95 to 99% of his songs are secular, meaning they say nothing about the Lord at all.
Then on the other end of the spectrum, there is a great Country Gospel song, two or three, in fact, that were written by a man who died of an alcohol and drug overdose, in the back seat of his car. I certainly can’t say that he was not a Christian, or that he was.
So I believe it’s really more of an individual issue, between the person and God. All we need to do is just enjoy the music we like, and if it ministers to us, great! If it’s good music, whether it ministers to us or not, we will still get something out of it.
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The label of “christian” is not something that meaningfully can be assigned by either a band, or its label or other management. When they are the assigners, then the term is going to mean whatever they want it too – and of course, there’s no telling how the consumer is going to interpret that label.
Instead, the most meaningful thing, to the consumer, is what _they_ want the term “Christian” to mean. For instance, what I am always seeking are artists/bands whose members are practicing Christians who are putting Christ first in their life. If that is truly the desire of their hearts, then the music they write and perform will be something that is meaningful to me.
If the artist/band do not truly embrace the Christian lifestyle, then pretending to be Christians will only influence for a short while, and the truth of their lifestyle will be revealed, if not within their lyrics, then in the way they act with their fans, each other, the media, and so forth.
Comment by Larry W. Virden — October 3, 2006 @ 2:54 pm
what an artist stands for is more important than his message.A tree is known by its fruits. Action they say speeks louder than words.What makes a song,album,band,etc.. christian is not the lyrics,but christian value lifestyles and the totality of their faith in Chrit Jesus.
Comment by precious david — October 8, 2006 @ 11:07 am
To be a christian is to be “CHRIST LIKE”. I can’t imagine why anyone who claims to be a christian would be embarressed or shy away from writing lyrics pertaining to christian values, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The music should glorify and edify God as did the old hyms that are still sung today. Telephones have changed since the day they were invented and music has progressed as well. But, even though there have been some physical changes, they still do the same thing they were invented to do. To communicate. As a christian musicians, our job is to communicate about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. To spread the Word of God. It’s true that we cannot save souls but it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to direct souls towards Him. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. We can both entertain and strengthen christians as well as reach out to the lost and hurting. I don’t believe we should be concerned about “offending” anyone. The only one I worry about offending is God. Because in the end we answer to Him for everything we have done. I will never say, “Lord, I was wishy-washy about my christian values and faith” or “I was afraid of what people would think of me”. I will never be ashamed of the Gospel. As christians, our music should reflect that, ALWAYS. Otherwise it is just to make money and we all know what the love of money leads to. We can not serve 2 masters.
Sincerely,
monica j fox
band manager of “SAVED”
monicajfox@hotmail.com
Comment by monica fox — October 9, 2006 @ 1:48 pm
Thought this was a great article. Too often, when people think of Christian music, they think the genre is restricted to gospel with truly evangelistic lyrics. There are plenty of Christian bands out there with great messages, and have the desire to reach mainstream audiences. “It is not the well who need a doctor, but the sick.” Bands like Chevelle and Flyleaf are great examples of what Christianity is all about. There is nothing wrong with mainstream music, God created it! They are simply using it as a tool to reach out to those in need of a savior.
Comment by Michelle San Jose — October 13, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
I loved what Julie said-”"What makes a band Christian?” would be their walk with Christ and the example they lead. I would rather them sing clean lyrics and lead by example in behavior than sing “obviously Christian lyrics” and live like the devil.”
It should be the “clean” lyrics going along with the life they lead.
Take Clay Aiken for example, he will sing only clean lyrics, no nasty stuff. And he leads his life the same way. He is humble, gracious, treats everyone with kindness, love, and as an equal no matter what kind of life they lead. He shows empathy for others and puts others first before himself.
One of the songs on his new album is a good example of a song that could be on Christian radio. It’s called, “Broken Wings”. It was originally done by Mr. Mister, a group that I would consider similar to MercyMe, a crossover band. Mr. Mister also recorded “Kyrie Eliason” back in the ’80’s and Clay covered that song on one of his tours.
A song from Clay’s previous album, “I Will Carry You” made it onto a Dallas Christian Music station’s nightly countdown almost every night last year.
I think he would do an awesome job on many Christian songs. He interprets songs, lyrics, and music so meaningfully.
Comment by Debbie — October 13, 2006 @ 10:54 pm
Great subject! We’ve discussed this many times with our indie artists on Indieheaven. How many JPMs (Jesus’ per Minute) does it take to make a song Christian? I think that doesnt matter. What does matter is that the song either points the way to salvation or gives the listener hope in a situation that may be hopeless. We can’t throw out the salt.. its the salt that will change a life. That salt is salvation through Christ. A song isnt Christian.. but the person who crafted the song is important. Is their life indicitive of a relationship with Jesus? We cannot make that judgement call, but we can see the fruit of a life dedicated to serving Christ through the medium of music.
Keith Mohr
President
Indieheaven
http://www.indieheaven.com
Comment by Keith Mohr — October 17, 2006 @ 6:48 pm
Im really thankful that there are bands out there like switchfoot and Amberlin. I am a mother of a teenage son and I would rather have him listening to clean music with clean lyrics regardless of whether the bands openly sing about their faith. Some of the secular music today is filthy and depressing so it helps to have these bands that play music that sounds like the music today with clean lyrics for our teens and kids
Comment by mary — May 11, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
I love contemporary Christian music- it’s what drew me back to the Lord- what is driving some people away from churches however, is the VOLUME and DANGEROUS decibles we are using- that is literally defening people when the Word of God tells us plainly, “for those who have ears to hear”- and we won’t have!!!!!! we need to take down the volume many notches, this is just playing into the enemie’s hands to do the LOUD thing in church with electric instruments, etc. People with disabilities and service dogs are not able to participate either with the noise being too much for the dogs to be in the service!!!!!! I have witnessed this first hand. Let’s put the “joyful” back into “joyful noise” while we can still (barely) hear.!!!!!!
Comment by Trish Kindberg — November 7, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
I agree with Keith Mohr above (#6), however I would go further. I started listening to CCM when the bands Love Song and Second Chapter of Acts first came out. (I’m an oldie but goodie!)
I think there is an unseen side to todays CCM that most fans don’t know. Alot of these major labels such as Sparrow are owned by secular companies (such as EMI). I believe that the major labels are having too much influence in dictating what music is put out by the artist based on sales alone. When Christians become a “market” you’ve lost the salt in my view. You’re at that point no different than the world. I therefore only buy CCM directly from artists themselves now or from an very indie label. I don’t go near the major labels or hometown chain Christian bookstores.
Comment by Bob Scott — January 21, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
This is something I’ve been thinking about since I’ve started my discovery of Christian Music. Thank you for giving me a place to let this out.
So far, I’ve found that Christian music is not at all what I expected. You see, I had a naive stereotype of Christian Music as the hymns that are sung during church services. That’s all that I knew. When I started listening to Christian music recently, I was surprised and pleased to hear how modern it is. It seems that any style of music you’ll find in today’s Popular music is also represented in today’s Christian music. The modern styles have made my switch from Popular to Christian music much easier to handle.
When listening to Christian music, I get such a feeling of joy and pleasure that I never got from Popular music. To me, as long as the songs are about religion or living right, that is what Christian music is about regardless of the musical style.
Two songs by Mark Schultz come to mind: “He’s My Son” and “Walking Her Home”. I’d consider these to be great songs of faith and living right. “He’s My Son” is about a father whose son is suffering from some fatal illness. The father is praying to the Lord to let him take his Son’s place so his son can live a normal life. “Walking Her Home” follows a man and his girl on their first date, walking her home to her father; then through his life with her, to her last night when he again is walking her Home, this time to God. Mark Schultz did great work on both songs, powerful expressions of emotion.
As for what Bob Scott said in # 9: “Alot of these major labels such as Sparrow are owned by secular companies (such as EMI). I believe that the major labels are having too much influence in dictating what music is put out by the artist based on sales alone. When Christians become a “market” you’ve lost the salt in my view.”
I understand that you’re worried about the worldly powers entering into the music, but I can see a good side. The secular labels may be a way of getting more youth exposed to Christian music. As I see it, Christian music needs to compete with today’s Popular music. If a person, looking to a music change as a way to get closer to God, had to choose between Popular music and the hymns of old school Christian, that person might chose to put off the change and stay with Popular because they find it more entertaining. However, that same person, given the choice between Popular Music and Christian music done in the same styles, might make the Christian music choice. And if there’s one thing these secular labels know, it’s the styles of music that the youth like. The use of Christian subsidiaries to make the music should keep the music clean.
I believe it would be nice to have these Christian artists played on Popular radio stations in order to present a Christian alternative to Popular music fans. The song “Gather at the River” by Point of Grace has the modern style I’m talking about. I can see this song fitting into a Popular station’s lineup easily. Since hearing this song, I have purchased their CD “How You Live” because I like the message, the four-part harmony of the vocals and the Country/Pop style of the song. With the dangerous situations (political and weather) occurring in today’s world I feel we may be in ‘the last days’, so I feel that Christian music should be reaching out. When I had figured it was time to get closer to God in some way, I knew it would be through the music I listen to. But my stereotyping got in the way. It was only through American Idol finalist Mandisa’s “True Beauty” CD that I came to discover the modern sound of Christian music. Chances are I never would have heard this music on the radio. As far as I know, there are no FM stations in the Philadelphia market that play this music without a lot of preaching. My thought is, let the music do the preaching. Let the music flow.
Comment by gzook — February 27, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
I think that if you are a Christian, then you should not be ashamed to shout it to world, after all you do bare Christ’s name. One thing God will always do is be patient with each and every one of us, whether saved or unsaved. God is the one that get the glory anyway, and HE is the only one who could touch the hearts of the people, not us. Our walk of faith is not about us, so we need to get our mind’s off of ourselves and put it towards Jesus becuase revelation only comes through the Holy Spirit. I might understand a message totally different from how you would, that don’t make either one of us wrong unless the truth about the matter is revealed by God’s Spirit.
Comment by KIm — September 17, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
i write music and im a christian but i dont use jesus name in my songs. but i do write about life and how we dont have to get consumed by our own sorrows but we can rely on that one person who can take that pain away.
Comment by ahlecea — October 17, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
I have a Music Ministry myself. Without any doubt whatsoever, God called me to this ministry, in 1979. I am also an ordained minister, ordained in 1982. Therefore I preach too.
When Matthew was inspired by the Holy Spirit, to write down what Jesus told him and the other disciples to do, after Jesus had ascended, he(Matthew) wrote, “All authority has been given to me, in heaven and in earth. Therefore go into all the world, and make disciples of every creature(person),teaching them to obey all the commandments I have given you.” Then Matthew, still under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote, “And I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
After God called me to preach, which is actually how the call came to me,”I want you to preach!” After that experience, the Great commission in Matthew’s Gospel affected me, strongly, each and every time I read it. It was and still is, as if God speaks these words to me directly; that this is what I’m supposed to do! This is my destiny! However, although I know it is for me, it is also for every Christian on earth! In Mark’s Gospel, Mark was inspired to write it this way: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” and it affects me the same way, as does Matthew’s account.
So what I’m saying is, a person who is called by God to go into all the world, preaching the Gospel and making disciples, will, pretty much, most of the time, do it. But the person who is a Christian, but Not called to ministry, will probably NOT feel the need to take the Great Commission to mean that he has to go into the world to preach, etc.
A lot of musicians/singers/artists, who happened to have been saved, at some point, and are Christians, do what they do for a living. They weren’t called to the ministry, to preach or anything else, other than the responsibilities all Christians have to share the Gospel.
So they don’t have to write songs with Christian lyrics, as I feel I have to, nor do they have to sing songs with Christian lyrics.
Look at Charlie Daniels. I believe he is a Christian, if there ever has been one, yet he puts on one of the best concerts, with some of the best rockin’ music I’ve ever heard, and 95 to 99% of his songs are secular, meaning they say nothing about the Lord at all.
Then on the other end of the spectrum, there is a great Country Gospel song, two or three, in fact, that were written by a man who died of an alcohol and drug overdose, in the back seat of his car. I certainly can’t say that he was not a Christian, or that he was.
So I believe it’s really more of an individual issue, between the person and God. All we need to do is just enjoy the music we like, and if it ministers to us, great! If it’s good music, whether it ministers to us or not, we will still get something out of it.
Comment by Jerry Yates — November 4, 2008 @ 4:38 pm