[rockin4theking]

I agree with most of that, although I'll hold fast to my belief that if music is written by a true Christian it will be "fit to listen to" in a spiritual sense. Musically....well, let's just say that there are a lot of people who try and fall somewhat short of success.

And I agree 110% that we shouldn't try to label music "Christian" or not. It's just a silly semantics issue.

[agrimes87]

Originally Posted by rockin4theking

I agree with most of that, although I'll hold fast to my belief that if music is written by a true Christian it will be "fit to listen to" in a spiritual sense. Musically....well, let's just say that there are a lot of people who try and fall somewhat short of success.

And I agree 110% that we shouldn't try to label music "Christian" or not. It's just a silly semantics issue.

Music is labelled "christian" as a marketing tool. Some people might hear some of today's "christian" music and would never think it was anything but 'satanic' (trust me, these people exist). By labelling such music "christian", they get business from christians that they may not have originally got if they hadn't advertised their music as "christian". Most non-christians will still buy it, because they don't care if it's christian or not - all they care about is that they like the music. There are lots of non-christians out there who would purposely ignore music because it was christian, but I'm speaking in general...

Using P.O.D. as an example, a lot of the fans they have are a result of their being labelled "christian". And so even though they were at Ozzfest, and play at "secular" events, they have both a christian and a non-christian market.

[Ring of a bell]

Really christian music could be lots of stuff, but what I would say would be "Whatever is good, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing to God"

I know that isn;t exactly the right verse but I couldn't find it...

[Demon_Hunter]

what did you mean there are no christian chords?


the c, an d major chords went to church with me wednesday!!!!!!!


christian music is when a christian composes a song meant to glorify God in some way.

[Jeffrey]

I get tired of reading "Christian means only a person, not a thing." It's a tired game of semantics. "Christian" is an adjective.

Main Entry: 2Christian
Function: adjective
1 a : of or relating to Christianity b : based on or conforming with Christianity
2 a : of or relating to a Christian b : professing Christianity
3 : commendably decent or generous

Can music be Christian? Of course. While I don't think our art should be limited by anything but moral standards (I don't necessarily have a problem with an artist writing an entire album without mentioning Christ by name. I do have a problem with an artist writing an album dedicated to his girlfriend's private parts), I think our art should be distinguishable from that of the world.

[Jenacen]

I say if a band or artist has intentions of glorifying God in their music somehow, then I think it should be recognized somehow.

[Muffinly]

Christian music= marketed toward Christians.

It is really that simple. Music not targeting Christians, no matter how Christian the themes, would not be Christian music. Music inside the Christian community, no matter what it's about, is Christian music.

The sad thing is that there has to be a separation between the Christian bubble and "the secular."

The artists that best represent Christ do so through music and lifetyle. They does so with talent. They does so without unoriginality. They does so without needing to have CCM certification or a high "Jesus per minute" factor.

Sufjan Stevens comes to mind, as he has not tangled at all in the CCM market and has a lifestyle that is, from what I hear and read, more like Christ than the majority of CCM bands. In spite of his singing of God, the "secular" market still shows love for his music, which I might say is incredibly well written and performed.

Another thing that the CCM market does is give artists an automatic base for their music. If something is on Tooth and Nail records perhaps, they have a monopoly on the alternative CCM market. Some people will only buy music they think is Christian and will listen to anything, no matter how aweful or unoriginal it may be.

EDIT: Somehow I skipped over agrimes87's post. He hit it right on.

[Flick]

Originally Posted by Muffinly

Christian music= marketed toward Christians.

It is really that simple. Music not targeting Christians, no matter how Christian the themes, would not be Christian music. Music inside the Christian community, no matter what it's about, is Christian music.

The sad thing is that there has to be a separation between the Christian bubble and "the secular."

The artists that best represent Christ do so through music and lifetyle. They does so with talent. They does so without unoriginality. They does so without needing to have CCM certification or a high "Jesus per minute" factor.

Sufjan Stevens comes to mind, as he has not tangled at all in the CCM market and has a lifestyle that is, from what I hear and read, more like Christ than the majority of CCM bands. In spite of his singing of God, the "secular" market still shows love for his music, which I might say is incredibly well written and performed.

Another thing that the CCM market does is give artists an automatic base for their music. If something is on Tooth and Nail records perhaps, they have a monopoly on the alternative CCM market. Some people will only buy music they think is Christian and will listen to anything, no matter how aweful or unoriginal it may be.

EDIT: Somehow I skipped over agrimes87's post. He hit it right on.

I agree. It's solely a marketting tool that the church has bought into. I personally don't think we should have a seperate market for Christians. It's like taking the light and shinging it inwards instead of out.

Also, I don't think that just because someone is a Christian who is an artist/musician, that they have the spiritual gift (or desire) of preaching, teaching, evangelising. They may just want to create art, and since they are beleivers then their faith will come through (such as Sufjan Stevens).

I agree, music doesn't have a soul and therefor cannot be Christian. God is honored in a lot of the music made by those who don't believe because He is cool enough to be able to work beyond a man-made "Christian" market.

[Flick]

Originally Posted by Godsglory

I see where all of you are coming from, but...The word "Christian" means Little Christ, or Imitator of Christ.....so therefore, God has called us to be holy or "set apart" ....I am a musician myself and I prefer to have my music and lyrics under the label of "Christian" particularly because if we as Christians are called to be holy, don't you think the music we write should glorify God's name....sure some of the "secular" artists don't use profanity or don't speak against God, but do they glorify God? Even though their lyrics are not bad, they still don't give glory to God....Because in order to give glory to God, you have to give God credit....do secular artists do that? maybe in the "thanks" area of their cd inserts, but are their lyrics in their songs doing it?
So I do do believe that there is Christian music.

Sure...

God is the creator of all things, and gave man a limited sense of creativity (we can't create something out of nothing, but we can manipulate the colors/sounds of what God has made).

All of art has the potential of bringing God glory because the beauty points back to Him. We can see this beauty in nature. We see it in paintings by artists like Monet or Van Gogh. And we see this in bands like Death Cab for Cutie or Muse (for example).

Though the artists aren't professing Christians, God is still able to use their art to bring Himself glory. He isn't limited by the people involved. Personally, God speaks to me through a lot of the "secular" artists. He isn't limited by anything.

Don't limit God in what you will allow Him to speak through to reach you. Once you stop seperating the secular from the sacred (read some Tozer) then you'll be blown away with what God will use to speak to you.

[Flick]

Come on now, feel the Illinois!!

[Elationist]

Christian's = Saved Folk

Can you believe it? My friends and I were asking this recently. There really is nothing directly to be saved except what Christ became, which was Man on our behalf. But I agree with many of the postings, Christian music is another label, which defines what type of people are writing and singing the tunes.

If we want to go farther we could ask: Can someone who is not a Christian write a Christian song?

Was Jesus Christ a Christian? Was Calvin a Calvinist? Was Arminus an Armenian, was Wesley a Wesleyan...and so on. They were all followers of God…. (…of course Jesus obeying the Father and all).

I would add that real "Christian Music" is tried and tested, and found sound in its biblical doctrine and true to the glorification of Our Lord Christ.

It goes before the battle and helps us to celebrate the victory!

[Godroxmylife]

music by its self cant be christian or secular its the lyrics that make it one or the other if theres no lyrics they cant praise God or Dishonor God so it realy doesent matter if u listen to plain music unles its an instermental by a band that tlks against God where thats they only song they do with out lyrics

quete of the day "To Hell With The Devil" - Stryper

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Oh when the thread is dead and buried, and hath begun to stink, when its skeleton is bleached, and the maggots work is complete, please don't bring up the dead skeleton of a thread. Its day is passed, it already slept with the fishies, and they have already eaten this one.