I recently stumbled across the fantastically powerless magazine, Homelife, which contains a feature on the Christian-unless-the-ticket-sales-sag band, P.O.D.
One of the quotes the writer refers to concerning P.O.D. comes from Christianity Today, and goes a-little like this:
"Hopefully more bands in the Christian market can follow P.O.D's example of high quality and creativity, rather than trying to save the world with lyrics of hope set to music of second-rate quality."
-Andy Argyrakind, ChristianityToday.com.
There is so much hideous and telling in this bible-free quote, that I won't waste your time, but I will ask you this...
Since when has the Holy Spirit had to resort to clever use of arpeggios and guitar effects to win souls? Just how DID people get saved before all this fantastic technology? I wonder if this writer could stand reading the Bible sans music...How "creative" is the Word of God?
Notice the term "Christian Market." Just because music is marketed to "Christians" does not mean it has any reference to the gospel..."Contemporary Christian Music" is the ONLY genre describing the supposed audience, and NOT the style of music...
...Man, the smarter we get , the dumber we get...
Another quote goes like this:
"Wow. They have what I want, inside. I find their music very inspirational, not in the old, hokey evangelical sense but in something that I can relate to."
-Rick Sudakoff of Atlantic Records
Would somebody please yank this revolver out of my hand? There is nothing like spreading the Word than through the latest secular craze...And they call ME crazy...
Could the fact that kids will only "respond" to "hip, contemporary music" have anything to do with the fact that they've never been exposed to other, more sophisticated forms like classical music? Music that does not have its origin in slang terms for sex, rooted in the rythms of pagan, African tribes...
I love good tunes as much as the next guy, but let's not kid ourselves...
"I LOVE this song! It's so much like that other song - that has nothing to do with God - that I like so much! If this is how church is gonna be, I'm coming back!!!"
Show me the verse...
Posted by colrus at December 8, 2003 01:56 AM | TrackBackVery well said, Bill. I whole-heartedly agree with your assessment.
Posted by: andy at December 8, 2003 02:21 AMThat's so bizarre, I mean, the first quote by Argylkind, I always pegged POD as shallow hope lyrics set to second rate music.
Posted by: JosiahQ at December 8, 2003 07:40 AMI support CCM as a more positive form of music than the standard radio fare, and will acknowledge that there is some CCM that fulfills its purposes of glorification and edification.
But there is a lot of tripe out there. How long until the first openly-gay "Christian" band hits the scene? I say by 2013.