Saturday, 05 September 2009

• Thou Shalt Rock and Roll!

  I'm fixing to see Stryper in October on their 25th anniversary tour!  A lot has happened in Christian music since Christian heavy metal rock band Stryper rocked the MTV world in the 80s-early 90s.  Back then their wardrobe and style of music was controversial in the church. It was thought of as a gimmick to help sell records and even satanic by some Pastors.  Since then Christians are more open to bands like Stryper with rock'n music with Christian lyrics. 

  But here in our time their is a new movement going around in the Christian world with Christian artists who say "their just Christian's who are in a band." "Who are just here  to make  positive music and not to preach to people". Bands like the Jonas Brothers who are kids of a former youth pastor who state that they are "Christians" but sing about other stuff than God.  And bands like The Fray after their single "How To Save a Life" hit the top charts was asked if they were Christians, they said they were "Just Christian's who are in a band."  And that "they're not here to preach and tell people where to go to church and to do this or that."  They "Just to sing about what they believe and not pressure anybody." 

  First off I'm not here to bash the Jonas Brothers or The Fray.  Both bands are truly gifted artists who's songs I enjoy.  Growing up in a Christian house all I listened to when I was young was Christian music.  Whatever my parents played on the radio I listened too. I was told to stay away from "Non-Christian" music.  Then around 2004 (I was 14 at the time) I used a little portable radio my parents got me for Christmas and started scanning the radio waves and heard some Christian bands like Switchfoot along with non-Christian artist from Punk, Rock, Pop & Rap.  A lot of the beats became stuck in my head and fell in love with some of the artists. Around the same time thefd were Christian bands that came out around the same time that sounded a lot like the mainstream Punk/Rock artists I loved. Some of the secular bands were of a more "positive" message than a Christian one.  But they were Christians none the less. 

  From about 2004-2006 I merged my love of Christian music with non-Christian. I knew all the top 40 hits on the radio. And who was the new breakout band/artist of the year. A Christian Punk/Rock band who I really loved named "Hawk Nelson" was still by far my favorite band around that time. Their songs were positive and had really nothing deep as far as "God", "Jesus" & "the Christian life". It was more of  fun clean Punk/Rock. Their songs were mostly songs about girls and just plain enjoying life. I ended up growing my hair out, and wanted to get my lip pierced like the lead singer of the band. My parents ended up getting sick of me acting like a rock star wannabe and at first they didn't care at all that much for my long hair. Then around late 2006 I realized how much I was idolizing the bands and music in its self. 

  Around 2007 I ended up shaving my long hair. Stopped listening to "non-Christian" music and only listened to music with a Christian message. That lasted for about half a year or so.  I slowly started seeing myself falling into Legalism!  But now a days I don't know the top 40 but I do know who most of the big artists are. I listen to mostly Christian music but do also enjoy listening to some non-Christian artists whose lyrics don't go against anything God clearly says in his word not to. The Bible does warn us of legalism (do this and don't do that!). But it also warns us of "Conforming to this world". (Rom 12:2). I believe there is nothing wrong with artists making music that's fun about "girls", "life" and "just rocking out".  But I believe as Christians we have a duty to share and use our talents for pointing others to God and giving him glory.

  Music is powerful. It brings people together. Makes them think. And get's them through hard times.  I agree with one Christian artist when he said that he believes that "Christians tend to shy back from letting their light shine for God. We're Christians who happen to be a Artist, Doctor, Preacher, Actor, ect.  Not a Artist who happens to be a Christian."

   

  What type of music do you listen to? 

  Are Christian bands now a days are "Conforming to this world"?  

  Do you think they aren't being the light they should be and are shyingaway from sharing the gospel with those who need to hear it?

   

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