If It Doesn’t Say “Christian” Don’t Buy It!
Author: DavidJones // Category: Ethics, Music, The Church
Today while doing a some research for the Winter version of Fusion Magazine, I stumbled across some information about singer Jon McLaughlin. From what I’ve read, McLaughlin is a Christian and doesn’t hide that information. However, he’s not what the music industry would call a “Christian musician.”
While looking up some info, I came across the following question:
“Is Jon McLaughlin a Christian singer or is he just pop? I don’t listen to anything unless it is Christian. Just wondering if he falls under the wide christian genre.”
I could be completely wrong, but I took that statement to mean, “Is Jon McLaughlin a ‘Christian singer’…or just a Christian? If he’s a ‘Christian singer,’ I’ll listen to his music. If he’s just a Christian, I won’t.”
I read a book where the writer said only Christian music was allowed in the gym at his school. On one occasion, he put U2 in the stereo, and it was immediately turned off because it wasn’t “Christian.” Later on, the very same song (“Bullet the Blue Sky”) was being played in the gym, but since it was a cover by P.O.D. (who some label as a “Christian” band) it was okay to play.
Why is the “Christian” label an absolute necessity for some? Why do we believe if it’s not labeled “Christian,” we must stay away?
Tags: Christian, Jon McLaughlin
June 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Only truly ignorant people avoid anything that is not labeled Christian. I have no respect for those kinds of people. How are you going to maintain discourse with opposing philosophies and ideas if you have no idea what they are? These people are very limited in what they can contribute to Christianity.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I actually think about this stuff all the time and I have a huge problem with people who label music as a “Christian genre.” When I ask what genre it is, you better not say Christian and expect that to be a good answer. A genre could be Rock, Pop, Metal, Hip-Hop etc. which doesn’t describe the content of the music at all. I can almost let Praise & Worship be used as a genre just because of the cultural norm of the term. Bands such as Hillsong United can be considered Praise & Worship. But have you heard the band Sleeping Giant? They would be considered by most to be Hardcore/Heavy Metal. Go to just one show, read through the lyrics for almost any song and immediately you will see this music is Christian and to be more descriptive, actual Praise & Worship. I would much rather hear people start using actual genre terms such as this… Barlow Girls are a Christian Rock band. Or if the music has nothing to do with the band’s faith… “So and So” are Christians but they are Rock music.
1.) Christian isn’t a genre, it deals with the content and not the sound of the music.
2.) Simply being a Christian or group of Christians that make music doesn’t mean the music will have Christian thoughts and ideas.
(Justin steps off his soap box)
June 11th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Forgot a point….
The Bible speaks very clearly about convictions. If it is your conviction to not listen to music without a Christian message, you should follow that as to not follow your convictions is a sin. Does this action carry over into not so easy to avoid areas however? Movies? Friends? How far can you separate yourself yet still be a light in the dark? I myself can’t separate myself from the World in the area of media such as music and movies because I’ve done it. It seperated me far enough that it was hard to know what was going on. I found not knowing what is going on in the media made it harder for me to relate to people and instead of looking like the “good Christian boy” setting an example I looked like the “weird Christian boy” who doesn’t know what’s going on and therefor can’t relate. Also, wanting to start a band again and use that as a ministry, I need to know what the world is listening to and how to witness to the generation and group of people I am targeting.
Like I said to start, follow your convictions and don’t let them go.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
It’s really because people use the Christian label as a rating system that they don’t have to think about. It’s like how people some use film ratings. [If it's rated "G" I don't have to worry about it being wrong for my child.] If a particular band is labeled “Christian” several well intentioned [but lazy]parents, pastors, and youth leaders can allow their youth to listen to them without having to take the time to review the content.
June 12th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Great comments. Hmm…I wonder if some would even go so far to say they would never listen to Beethoven, Bach, or Mozart because their music isn’t “Christian”…even though some of their names show up in our hymnals.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:09 am
I think we are missing the point of this blog and that is to say Jon McLaughlin is amazing and Enchanted is a great movie.