One More "Unique" CCM Band
Recently I saw a post at an internet group from a Christian band. They called themselves a "unique" Christian band. Part of their reasoning is this:
"We don't speak Christianese, and we don't shove God down people's throats. Some may ask what right we have to call ourselves a "Christian Band" being that we don't stomp the ground the moment we enter the door."
My first question is: where are all these CCM fans asking why you're not "stomping the ground" (or whatever)? And where are all these bands "shoving God down people's throats"? I've been looking for them since 1995!
Since my very first days in the Christian music scene, I have noticed a pattern. Just about every new Christian act thinks it's unique because they don't "get in your face" or "shove God down your throat" or "preach from the stage"... etc.
This pattern is so widespread that I guaranteed myself that when I visited the newest "unique" band's site, I would most certainly find a statement like the one quoted above.
The band's concern begs another question: if you're "unique" in Christian music, that would suggest that most big Christian artists are shoving God down people's throats... could you name a few... or just one? Truth is, if you follow Christian music, it is abundantly clear that being "unique" is pretty common!
Actually, what you most often get from CCM are attacks against the church! Rich Mullins attacked the gospel of grace itself. He was never shunned. Quite the reverse, he was almost deified on the pages of CCM Mag and is the patron saint of Christian musicians everywhere.
Grab any copy of CCM Magazine sporting an interview with a new band. Almost without exception the new artists will claim they are unique because they either (a) play secular venues (b) have lyrics so obscure, even Christians don't always know it's Christian or (c) they want the "unchurched" to know that they are just like them.
One band bragged that the owner of a bar was initially scared to book them because he heard they were a "Christian" band, but after they played he was thrilled that nobody could really tell! Remember, they bragged about this.
Granted, we all need to be gracious. And we certainly need to "speak the truth in love". But the key to that scripture is that we must "speak the truth". We are also called to "earnestly contend for the faith". We do it in love, we do it humbly, but we must do it! We are commanded by God to speak the truth and to contend for the faith.
Now, if you see an interview in CCM Magazine with a band contending for the faith, I would gladly assign the word "unique" to it! However, nowadays when I hear "unique" I just substitute "weak". In my heart I'm thinking "ashamed of the gospel", but I won't go that far... yet.
"We don't speak Christianese, and we don't shove God down people's throats. Some may ask what right we have to call ourselves a "Christian Band" being that we don't stomp the ground the moment we enter the door."
My first question is: where are all these CCM fans asking why you're not "stomping the ground" (or whatever)? And where are all these bands "shoving God down people's throats"? I've been looking for them since 1995!
Since my very first days in the Christian music scene, I have noticed a pattern. Just about every new Christian act thinks it's unique because they don't "get in your face" or "shove God down your throat" or "preach from the stage"... etc.
This pattern is so widespread that I guaranteed myself that when I visited the newest "unique" band's site, I would most certainly find a statement like the one quoted above.
The band's concern begs another question: if you're "unique" in Christian music, that would suggest that most big Christian artists are shoving God down people's throats... could you name a few... or just one? Truth is, if you follow Christian music, it is abundantly clear that being "unique" is pretty common!
Actually, what you most often get from CCM are attacks against the church! Rich Mullins attacked the gospel of grace itself. He was never shunned. Quite the reverse, he was almost deified on the pages of CCM Mag and is the patron saint of Christian musicians everywhere.
Grab any copy of CCM Magazine sporting an interview with a new band. Almost without exception the new artists will claim they are unique because they either (a) play secular venues (b) have lyrics so obscure, even Christians don't always know it's Christian or (c) they want the "unchurched" to know that they are just like them.
One band bragged that the owner of a bar was initially scared to book them because he heard they were a "Christian" band, but after they played he was thrilled that nobody could really tell! Remember, they bragged about this.
Granted, we all need to be gracious. And we certainly need to "speak the truth in love". But the key to that scripture is that we must "speak the truth". We are also called to "earnestly contend for the faith". We do it in love, we do it humbly, but we must do it! We are commanded by God to speak the truth and to contend for the faith.
Now, if you see an interview in CCM Magazine with a band contending for the faith, I would gladly assign the word "unique" to it! However, nowadays when I hear "unique" I just substitute "weak". In my heart I'm thinking "ashamed of the gospel", but I won't go that far... yet.
posted by bleechers at
8:41 PM
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