What I thought to be a relatively benign statement turns out to be akin to insulting the grandmother of some, and giving an infinite gift card to Ben & Jerry’s to others. By my lack of clarity in writing, two camps of thought have cropped up, and I find them equally wrong. On the one hand, there are those among us who say, “Yes, Christian Rock is awful. Let’s stop making it and instead stick with the incredibly beautiful Catholic tradition of sacred music.” On the other hand, we have the, “No, what are you talking about? This (name of song) by this (artist) led to closer to God; Christian rock is good” approach. Broad strokes, I know.
The reason I believe the former is wrong is, firstly, a rather subjective reason: I doubt, and doubt to the extreme, that God is inherently pleased by some instruments, but not others. That He cannot be praised by a rock group but can by a choir. That He smiles at organs and frowns upon guitars. Smiting drummers and elevating cellists is not something I would expect from the Lord who made us with the ingenuity to make both drums and cellos, or who inspired the psalmist to sing, “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” Quite an inclusive list. And one only needs to look at the Steubenville Conferences to see ‘rock’ instruments being used in accordance with the movement of the Holy Spirit; depth, truth, mass conversions, overwhelming experience: God deigns to work through this music; this is something I can attest to personally. If lives truly have been changed by modern Christian music – which they have – then it would take a certain amount of Pride to say that all of it sucks. It’s not about the instruments, it’s about their use.
This feeling has also been summed up to me in the fact that Rock music is essentially a form of rebellion, and since Christianity is a form of obedience, the two are not compatible. This is certainly something worthy of consideration. But I believe, though ‘Rock’ was developed as rebellion, it is not inherently rebellious. If it were, one would have to consider Impressionist paintings, the novel, or anything rebellious in its infancy as inherently rebellious and thus incompatible with Christianity, which we obviously don’t.
However, I believe that the latter idea, that “whatever music is about Jesus and leads me to prayer is something that shouldn’t be critiqued” is equally wrong. It denies that there is objective beauty, and replaces it with “things-I-like”. It denies that there is such a thing as good songwriting, only that there is “songwriting-that-I-like”. To say you like an art form, be it a song or something else, does not necessarily speak as to whether that piece of art is good, true and beautiful, or worthy to be directed towards Our Lord. Many people like cheap romance novels. A lot of people liked the movie “Friends With Benefits”. I’ve heard a rumor that some people like liturgical dancing.
No, we are Catholic, and we will not stand for aesthetic relativism any more than we will for moral relativism. If all beauty comes from God, then it is not our reactions that define whether something is beautiful. So its OK to say, though it’s about Jesus, and though it might even have led someone to pray, that – after an ignorable introduction – this is absolutely awful:
Alright, so what are we left with, if not a total dismissal of Christian Rock, but by no means a total acceptance?
Authenticity.
The labeling of Christ-centered music as ‘Christian Rock’ is a complete and total mistake. It implies a form and a genre that is inherently ‘Christian’; a false implication. What is a Christian? A man in love with Christ. What does it sound like when he sings? What a stupid question. It could sound like anything: Anything good, true and beautiful.
It is not that modern music is incompatible with Christianity. It’s that the Christian music scene is suffering from a severe lack of authenticity. Think on this: If I put 20 artists in a room and provide them with a box of crayons and a sheet of paper, saying “Your subject is Love. Draw well, draw creatively, and most of all draw authentically, expressing yourselves as genuinely as possible…” do you think the drawings would each follow the same basic form, with little – if any – real differences between them? Of course not! Yet we have thousands upon thousands of Christian musicians writing music as if they’re filling in a Mad Libs sheet. The problem is not that ‘they all suck’, as some have suggested. The problem is a lack of authenticity, a lack of authenticity caused – my belief here, feel free to doubt it – by the desire to ‘make it’ on Christian radio, which refuses to play music not fitting to the Almighty Form, and from only ever hearing Christian Radio Music and thus assuming that to make a Christian song, one must follow the Almighty Form.
Authenticity means truly expressing what is on your heart. It means allowing your doubts and fears into your music, without feeling the inexplicable need to resolve each one by singing “Jesus Saaaaves” as a refrain. It means, when trying to express the inexpressible feeling of being swept away by Grace, that you write chord progressions that reflect your longing, melodies that strive to attain that union with God, not chords and melodies that worked really well for Hillsong. Authenticity means not giving a crap whether your music gets played on the radio. Authenticity means writing from your self, not from form, not from fashion, and certainly not from fad. It means that your band doesn’t have to be called The Jesus Lovers or Casting Crowns. It could very well be The Avett Brothers, or even The Fray.
Is there popular ‘Christian Rock’ that is authentic? Yes. I think How He Loves is a good example of that. And it’s also important to note that I am not writing off certain artists; usually I’m just writing off the songs everyone associates with them. There tends to be at least a few authentic songs on every album, and trust me, you’ll hear them. Maybe not from MercyMe though. The point is that there should be no Christian rock. There should be no Christian songs. There should be Christans writing songs, and writing them well.
So stop with this NO MODERN CHRISTIAN MUSIC! and the YOU HAVE TO LIKE IT THE PEOPLE WRITING IT LOVE GOD! business, and let’s find what’s good, true, beautiful and authentic. If you were led to believe that I hold either of those views, then my writing must need more proof-reading than I thought.
And there are some, though I worry they’re a rare breed. Check out Edison Glass, Future of Forestry, Brooke Fraser, Jon Foreman, Audrey Assad, Fiction Family, Jars of Clay’s Who We Are Instead Album, MuteMath, a lot of Hillsong’s stuff, Nickle Creek…there’s a lot of great music written well; unfortunately it takes an effort to get to.
You think the last combox got heated? Wait till I bring out my next post…music in THE LITURGY DUN DUN DUUUUUUH.
58 thoughts on “The Problem With Christian Rock 2”
Modern Christians are now rebels in most of the world. At least, Colleen Carron campbell argues that in a blog post about a week ago, and I certainly feel like one fairly often. The early Christians were rebels too!
You are a brave brave man Mr. Barnes. This and the last post were on some touchy topics that cause many a heated discussion at school, especially at FUS it seemed. I commend you! Keep it up. I look forward to the next post- man, that’s a tough topic! Good luck!
I agree with Caroline that Christianity is definitely rebellious. It went against the culture of its time and it goes against the culture today. Christianity is about obedience to God. But obedience in this context goes against what the world teaches us to do and, in many cases, our own inclinations.
Interesting that you mention, How He Loves us, as the popular Protestant site, InternetMonk.com, recently panned it (at least as a “worship” song): http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/someone-has-to-put-a-foot-down
I guess people’s tastes differ widely with music.
I think we as Catholics need to be careful how we treat Christian music. My heart breaks when Catholics go to a Protestant (or even worse, Evangelical) service with “contemporary” music and say, “wouldn’t it be awesome if WE had that at church?” I say “NO!” As a recent convert to Catholicism from a church with such “contemporary” music, I can say, very few people in those Protestant environments use the music correctly. By this I mean that if the music on Sunday morning doesn’t make you cry or give you goosebumps, church sucked.
I repeat to fellow Catholics who think the grass is greener on the other musical side, “You have the Mass! Use it! It’s beyond beautiful!”
Also, Over the Rhine. LOVE them! I have no idea if they self-identify as Christians, but their music makes me want to pray/think about God. I’m also particularly interested to find Christian themes in music that is secular, or isn’t overtly Christian. U2 is probably the best example of this. It’s not that they’re overtly “singing for the Lord” ( I know Bono is publicly a Christian however), but that the desire for spiritual communion permeates their music.
That said, I do like Casting Crowns, and other “Christian” music, but I also only really like it in small doses (such as in the car).
Excellent analysis.
Also, love the photo of Audrey Assad. Anyone who manages to quote both Augustine and Tolkien in their music has to be awesome.
I agree with your middle ground analysis. However, I would also ask aloud if perhaps Christian music should be judged (not “judge not lest ye be judged”-judged, but simply determined as good or bad) by whether it would be welcome at Mass, or if it would simply be a noisy mess if translated into that environment. There are certainly some good songs which come out of modern artists which could make the transition well…and then there are a lot which are so simplified as to have little more to do with our faith than Sesame Street or the show Scrubs. I only say this because there are some older hymns which are filled with doctrine, teaching, wisdom, and profession of our creedal statements, which at the time they were written were meant to be carols and home-sung melodies.
Why can’t we make music today that has such power? I submit that it is because many of these artists come from a Christianity that is so watered down and “non-denominational” that there is no single statement that can be projected anymore, except “Jesus is awesome, dude.”
Sorry for the long comment but I’ve had many thoughts about this topic floating around for a while.
These articles have been good, and I’ve been amused by the controversy. I anxiously await your post on music in the liturgy.
Colin – you introduce exactly what my next post will be about: what belongs in the Mass.
Hey Marc you are doing well. Some real music doesn’t take long to come across especially if one is really searching for God and not the “feeling” of God. Heres a song that maybe took this band more than one production session to make really good live. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4YO2v_xiYk
A lot of my music is either social commentary or love songs, and although they are not “Christian” they are addressing the issues from a Christian viewpoint. That speaks to one of your points, that of the lyrics. Feel-good isn’t bad, it just isn’t sufficient. Alone, it leads to despair when the feel good leaves.
Your other point is the copying and unoriginal-ness of the music, specifically chord progressions. In certain of my songs (mostly satires) the chords are basic and the melody is pretty banal, to make fun of it all, but I usually try to express something with the chords, melody and rhythm (the three aspects of music, harmony, melody, rhythm).
Of course, this makes me an extremely annoying band member because I am critical of the music that gets played and produced. Oh well.
Could not agree more, and I eagerly anticipate the coming post on the liturgy. I sing the more “classical” of our university parish’s Sunday morning choirs, and despite our ongoing tongue-in-cheek rivalry of the more “contemporary” choir, it’s refreshing and inspiring to have fine musicians consistently and genuinely contributing to the life of the faithful with fine music.
OK, now this post i’m more on board with. The problem is that the music industry is not about true, heartfelt expressions of anything, its about selling albums, or CDs, or downloads or whatever it is people spend money on these days. I gripe all the time about how if you take a 10 year old popular worship tune, do a really un-inspired remake that brings nothing fresh to the tune, you’ll still get a ton of airplay on the “Christian” station because its a song everyone knows.
I think you hit the nail on the head about labeling things “Christian rock,” and so forth, but those are industry labels that we’re stuck with. There are creative artists in garages and dorm rooms all over the world turnign out amazing ‘heartfelt’ art that glorifies God. But we’ll never hear it. Because more people will buy the mediocre stuff that’s familiar. Oh well. So we can vent about it, or we can shrug our shoulders, muddle through, and crank the volume when Mutemath slips by everyone and sees the light of day!
Or make a change. When has it been an adequate excuse for the Christian to say, “This is what the world is doing…” Screw that, let the church lead the world to better music, let’s not wait around for the inverse to happen. I believe Mumford and Sons are good example of doing just that. Number one album, can you believe that?
Marc,
I wish I was as wise as you were at your age.
This article is exactly what I was intending to convey in my comment on the previous article. I have oftentimes said to my former bandmates (and current musician friends) that we don’t need Christian rock. We need Christians making good rock. The Church has always maintained the practice of sanctifying a culture. I agree that discerning, talented Christians should focus on making good authentic music that genuinely reflects transcendental beauty while carrying a message that conforms to a Christian world-view.
Well said. I had been stewing on a blog post to answer your first but this sums it up quite well. If looking at it as a clean form of entertainment all is well, if you are looking at it as a way to bring you closer to God, you will fall flat on your face several times before you find the shard of a gem.
I am on board the “Christian Rock does not belong in the Liturgy camp,” but I do believe that it has a place contrasting secular mainstream music as a “clean alternative”.
I did link this to my blog. Well said!
“However, I believe that the latter idea, that “whatever music is about Jesus and leads me to prayer is something that shouldn’t be critiqued” is equally wrong. It denies that there is objective beauty, and replaces it with “things-I-like”.”
THANK YOU!!!!!
I have a friend to whom I am always saying this (it’s a miracle she’s stuck around me). I also note that some people say “Well, yeah, that’s bad, but if you just ignore the bad stuff it’s really good!” (This is pretty close to an exact quote.)
Um… yeah. Of course, if you ignore the bad stuff, what’s left is going to be good (if there’s anything left). It’s an entirely useless statement.
Love me some Mumford & Sons, and some Mutemath, and would love to take on the Music Industry, but given the overall financial decline of that industry, i think we would be hard-pressed to find enough backing to try to take it on and affect change, even for the poitive.
Mumford & Sons is awesome, and i’m thrilled people are buying their stuff, but mediocre, comfortable stuff will always sell more albums, and therefore “the poor (music)will always be with us.” Until people stop buying “Backstreet Boys/Lady Gaga/Wow Worship/Amy Grant” mediocre nothingness, the industry will continue to sell it, and i just don’t see people ever completely chosing Mumford & Sons over J-Lo. The Beatles sold tons of “Love me Do” before Sgt Peppers, The Carpenters outsold David Bowie, and let’s not even go near the ’80s (Tiffany, anyone?).
If you ever stop writing, I will set myself on fire in protest.
Just wanted you to know I appreciate this post – and the one that preceded it – quite a bit. Keep speaking!
Interesting article. I’ve been a professional musician for over 40 years. Currently, I host an internet radio show on Saturday nights at http://www.indiemusicworks.com for independant artists.
When most people say “the music business is tough” they’re referring to how hard it is to attain “Gaga” status, as opposed to the hours one invests in preparing for a performance, playing at a dive until 4:00am then putting on your tie and going to your “9-to-5” or reading a comment on your latest “masterpiece” calling it a piece of junk. Factor in being Catholic and all those fun things just became dangerous.
It’s not easy being a professional musician. The love of Christ compels us.
I’ve released several CD’s over the last several years here: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Kephas
I am *very* close to buying a book I want with the money I’ve made from CD sales!!! LOL
Peace be with you…
Kephas
Perfect. I second Jennifer. You’re going to have two housewives in flames if you ever give this up. I actually love your point about the rebellion thing…I’ve tried to make that same point to my husband, but much more incoherently, and he usually responds with, “Are you even speaking English?” It’s good, though. I don’t believe that all modern rock is inherently about rebellion, even if that is somewhere in the roots of rock. I also have hideous taste in music (case in point: the only band I’ve seen twice in concert is The Scorpions) so I am probably not qualified to make a judgement on Christian Rock. I will say this: I can’t stop listening to Mumford and Sons, and when a now well-known Christian band played at my youth group in the 90’s, I fell asleep in the corner. There’s music, and then there’s noise. That’s just an objective reality.
All I listen to is Christian music. Yes, some songs are bad, but there are so so many good songs out there. I hate it when people generalize and say that “Christian Music is bad.” Thats like me saying “all Pop music is bad.” There are some hits, and some songs that dont quite catch on. Christian artists spend alot of time and money to create this music, and to them, and God it is a masterpiece.
Compared to most other modern music, Christian music is definitely the way to go. At least there is no swearing, or subjects about sex, etc.
Some Christian artists are so good that they can even fool some of my teenage friends. My Theology teacher was playing some TobyMac one day, and people were asking who it was.
Ah, music in the liturgy…what a ripe topic. Great post on Christian Rock, BTW. You know, we have to put a divide there, at the door of the Catholic Church, where the secular leaves off and the heavenly takes over. There is music which is best suited and well suited to the liturgy. In the West, that is the pipe organ and the human voice. Not that other things aren’t allowed, but they have to be played with a high level of skill (not grandma strummin’ “Gather us In” on the geetar at Saturday Night Mass, and it has to be in keeping with the genius of the rite as we have received it from over 2000 years, and it must evoke a sense of the sacred. There is absolutely nothing wrong with secular music, unless it just sucks or the lyrics or topics are bad or inappropriate, which is most of it. It just isn’t sacred music. I listen to a wide variety of music day to day. When I step inside the Catholic Church, I want to hear chant, silence, polyphony, or the organ. Not grandma strummin’
Years ago I was a Christian radio DJ, but for the past 10 years I haven’t been able to stomach the music. Unfortunately, Christian record labels are subsidiaries of the same secular media giants that own the secular labels, so the same pressures apply. Adherence to form is expected, and success is measured by the worldly metric of album sales. This was brought home to me vividly years ago when Michael English received a Dove Award (his music sold well) while he had been carrying on an adulterous affair. Just as in secular music, there is a gatekeeper phenomenon. I still love the authenticity of Rez Band or Rich Mullins or Steve Taylor and the musical brilliance of Iona. The fact that these artists are unknown to most is a telling indictment of the industry.
Switchfoot’s first album is by far their best. Probably as good as Christian music that you will ever hear.
God will be pleased and praised no matter how we praise HIm?
Our attitude matters. If you truly want to be close to God and praise him, read what the Pope says about the Rock music. It’s NOT Christian and not apropriate.
Some great points. However, we must take the lead from what the Church actually teaches about music, since she has said quite a bit. St. Pius X, Pope Pius XI, Pius XII, Vatican II, Paul VI, Bl. John Paul II, and Benedict XVI all say that the closer music approaches in style to Gregorian chant, the more suited it is to worship. This certainly does not mean that more modern music is not allowed, but that qualifier is ALWAYS there: it should strive to imitate Gregorian chant. I also should add that Vatican II says the pipe organ is the privileged instrument of the liturgy, so there is certainly a preference for one instrument over others. Actually there is first the preference for the primacy of the human voice, and pipe organ only to support the human voice. Again, some good points, but it seems dangerous to me to make such arguments based on our own thoughts without first basing them on the Church’s perennial teaching. Anything that smacks of the secular or profane is explicitly forbidden, and this is not a reference to the lyrics, but to the actual style of music. The wisdom of the Church is evident in this because, as you note, there is an objective aspect to be considered in music. Some music orders and elevates the soul, other music disorders it. This is why the Church prefers certain instruments, styles, etc. over others.
The question we must ask ourselves is not whether music is good or bad, but rather WHAT music is appropriate in each individual context. I enjoy Owl City. I loathe John Michael Talbot. NEITHER is appropriate for Mass as neither fits anywhere within the framework of our patrimony of sacred music. This is what FUS fails to grasp. What is acceptable Tuesday night praise music is NOT necessarily appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
I don’t appose Christian Rock per-se, though it can be quite hmmm…amateurish, but ultimately I appose the commercialization. I appose the mentality that says that just because I’m a christian, I have to start listening to cheesy Jesus music. I person who is christian today has to literally “buy” into the Christian sub-culture in order to be accepted. You have to become a mark for Matt Maher or one of the other popular bands. Why, because being a member of the Body of Christ is not enough, you have to be seen as cool or hip in order to attract the “World.” Unfortunately, Christian sub-cuture isn’t cool at all. In fact it’s very un-cool. And Christian rockers and rappers aren’t hard, though they try to give the impression. If a music artists who’s a “Christian artist,” continues to preform with the same spirit that non-christians perform with, he is not being like Christ who’s “meek and humble of heart.” He is a poser who now doesn’t drink, go out and watch porn; but still serves the idol of self.
oooh throwing down on that FUS? Alma mater diss? It’s going down Matt! haha jk
I pretty much have never paid much attention to Christian rock over the years, for the reasons you mentioned in your last posting and in this one. After all, why should I enjoy listening to the kind of music I wouldn’t give a second thought to normally just because it’s Christian? After reading your last post, I made a point of listening to Mumford and Sons online and it absolutely gave me chills – I love it!! Thanks so much for helping to stretch me! I’m inspired to look up the other artists you mention! Keep up the good work!
In my much much younger days I loved some of the songs by groups that were not singing “rock” but much more contemporary music, that found its way into the liturgy. In time I came to realize that while these songs are catchy and inspiring at times, they don’t belong in a liturgy that is focused on God, and NOT ON US. We don’t go to Mass to “feel good about ourselves,” and yes, some songs can lead us to a deeper relationship with God, but again, the Mass is about God, Not Us. In the 1970’s many parishes bought into the idea that “the youth need to hear THEIR music at the Mass: folk songs, rock, show tunes, etc. We know what happened. The youth could hear music much more to their liking, and better performed, at the local bar or concert hall. Rome has said NO to any percussion instruments in the liturgy; this includes pianos. And yes, there are many beautiful solo pieces, trios, concertos for guitar(s) in serious music, often called “classical” which is really a period in the history of music. But guitars are unsuited to lead a congregation, and most pianists these days seem to think they are in church to entertain and perform, not accompany. A few times I have walked into a church and wondered if I was really in a piano bar! I pray that the new translation of the liturgy will help much of the so-called music sung and played these days, evolve into music which truly focuses on God, and not on one’s feelings. I would even question if this contemporary music, especially with percussion instruments, is music at all. Most of it is centered around a profane beat. One ancient philosopher opined that to change a culture, you change the music first.
Not a Christian rock artist per se, but Ed Kowalczyk’s last album, Alive, seems to reveal him as a Catholic rocking under the radar. A couple of those songs hit that sweet spot.
I just wanted to point out that back in the Renaissance there was a Patron that would pay for a painting, but the painting — though with the touch of the artist — was within specs of the bill payer.
So, criticizing someone for making art for the sake of money, you’ll have to criticize everyone from the Renaissance til the beginning of time. Not until the end of the Renaissance did it become fashionable for artists to ‘do as they will’ for the sake of “authenticity.” Real artists were those that put their touch on their work, but it still passed the specs for the patron to pay for it.
I think the difference here might be that there isn’t a patron who has a specific idea in mind. It’s the whole “mass appeal” thing. The Patron would pay money for art because it spoke something to him as an individual. The Christian Rock scene (as far as I can tell from Marc’s description) is about trying to speak to so many people in a “meaningful” way that it stretches itself thin.
yes.
Mozart’s music was not “classical” when he wrote it. It was the pop music of his day, and critics warned young people that it was immoral. Basically, he was the Elvis of his time.
The problem with Christian Rock is not that rock is incompatible with Christianity. It is that so much of it is just bad music, most is not even rock which is why it is more accurately called “Contemporary Christian Music”.
It also seems that “good music” should not be defined as “only that music which is appropriate to play during the mass.” As Ecclesiastes (3:1) says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Clearly guitars are evil since Dear Leader is sending in commandos to break up guitar factories.
Spot on.
I listen to Christian Rock (Contemporary Christian Music etc) such as Casting Crowns, DC Talk, Hawk Nelson etc but only for my pleasure.
As a Christian Biker I’ve stood in a field in a tent with 500 other guys and sung “In Christ Alone”, “How Great Thou art” and an electic guitar and drum version of “Amazing Grace” and at the time it was appropriate – we were full of joy and wanted to worship.
At Mass I sing in the choir and my parish is very much into Gregorian chant and traditional hymns.
For me music is all about where you are and what you are intending to achieve. If you want a good beat and something that you can trust not to be full of unsuitable lyrics (and maybe even inspire you) then the rock end of the scale is cool. If you want to sing out loud in worship then modern Contemporary is useful and if you want to set apart a type of music to worship the Lord and inspire prayer at mass then plainchant is useful
I know these aren’t exclusive and its only my own subjective opinion.
LF
Hi, I’m glad you are thinking about this. You may want to view Fr. Basil Nortz’s 3 CD set “Music and Morality”,
and before you do music and the liturgy post, review
www
(I think that’s it)
God bless
Thank you for these two posts thus far.
When it comes to Christian Hit Music, I try to stay sensitive to two things. One, if the CHM fan in question wouldn’t be expected to have good taste in music in general, it isn’t worth calling them out on their listening choices. Two, a song that gets someone emotionally closer to Christ (and/or makes them feel closer to their Christian friends when they sing it together) is going to have a special place in that person’s heart. To openly scoff at that song is cruel and unnecessary.
However I have had plenty of people go after me for not liking this song, or that band, etc. It seems they simply can’t comprehend how I can be a Christian and not be on board the Christian Hit bandwagon. Then you have the occasional Christian that noticeably uncomfortable when I’m rocking to any secular (even if not vulgar) music around them. Whatever.
In defense of some Christian Hit Music, I’d presume many of them see their music as ministry, and their motivation as blatant evangelization. I’m OK with that. Lord knows we Catholics* could use a little getting back to our 2,000-year reputation as zealous Christianizers. As long as I’ve loved my faith and my Church, I’ve only recently started to try to share it with those who don’t necessarily ask to hear it. And if some guys like Third Day want to say “Jesus” thirty times in one song, and it leads someone to inquire about the source of their joy, and eventually to the faith, well more power to those bands.
But yeah you should just start a blog highlighting the best in Christians making great music. Give us all enough to make some good playlists out of it and we’ll never have to tune to KLOVE again.
* This is not at all a general indictment. I’m speaking from a western (specifically American) “mainstream” lay young adult Roman Catholic perspective.
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Thanks for these thoughts and discussion. I am glad that there is more available today than Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. A variety of groups have emerged with varying quality of musicians and lyrics. Even those with so-so lyrics are better for me to listen to than secular radio stations because music stays in my head for a long time. Christian rock is also important for the younger generation… Some things could be improved but that can be said about just about anything.
I agree with the great majority of the post, but I do think dangerous ground is being treaded in the area of “authenticity”. If one defines being authentic as “truly expressing what is on your heart”, then to claim another is not being authentic is to claim that you can read that person’s heart…and that the artist’s lyrics and chords and progressions are not a true expression of the heart. That rubs me the wrong way.
You have made my day with your post. Most of my christian friends (protestant and Catholic alike) wonder why I don’t listen to K-Love or any of the other pick-o-the-litter of christian stations. You have sufficiently summed it up for me and validated my aversion. To add the list of talented & original artists…please add Josh Garrels. His new album is unbelievable…
Marc,
I’ve loved both of your posts. You’ve appealed to me as a Catholic, a University Music student studying classical and jazz saxophone, as well as a person who is involved with youth and music ministry, and a person desperately doing what he can to live fully for God in everything.
If you want genuine, authentic Catholic music, try http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kathleenclaire. This close friend of mine is a real model for Holiness, and this entire album is a prayer. Enjoy
I’ve been following these recent posts about Christian music. Being a Catholic musician I am naturally drawn to this subject. I’ve been a professional musician for over 40 years. The comments I’ve read recently seem to confirm my own personal observation that most Christians listening to Christian music seek the traditional (loosely speaking) “praise-and-worship” content that they’ve become accustomed to. This in contrast to a declarative use of music, with a view to evangelization. Music is also powerful in ways that parallel lectio divina in the contemplation and meditation of Sacred Scripture. The fact that music that makes it into the main stream, be it a Christian radio station or crosses over into secular main stream should not lead one to presume the musician sold out, in spite of the obvious monetary gain that would accompany this shift. “…”You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven….” (Matthew (RSV) 5)
If you read between the lines, the sentiment in most recent comments here and elsewhere is “I want”. A musician can also read this as “I thirst”. When a musician assumes the role of servant and responds to this thirst through the promptings of The Holy Spirit, music transcends ‘entertainment’ and becomes food. “…”For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it….” (Isaiah (RSV) 55)
The book of psalms is generally understood to be prayers – that were set to music. This book was traditionally divided into 5 books, for most an allusion to the 5 books of the Pentateuch. It’s good to have “praise-and-worship” music. But it is incumbent on musicians that are led by The Holy Spirit to not ignore the other aspects or dimensions we have received in Sacred Scripture. Perhaps many readers and commenter’s here intuited this.
For any Catholic musicians here that have recorded original music, I invite you to sign up here: http://www.indiemusicworks.com It’s free, and for now at least, it can offer you an opportunity to be featured and interviewed on one of my Saturday night internet radio shows.
My own music can be found here: http://www1.indiemusicworks.com/Kephas/ and here: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Kephas
Peace be with you…
Kephas
I really do enjoy Jars of Clay’s album Who We Are Instead–I used to listen to it obsessively. I like Good Monsters a little better though.
While I can’t exactly pull citations out of the air (I listen to so many different kinds of music that I forget what I listen to when put on the spot), I can definitely attest that some “secular” songs are better composed, more authentic, and more original than the typical “Christian Rock.” I can only hear so many variations of “Amazing Grace” before my brain reaches critical overdrive and threatens to make my head explode.
Just a thought–instead of doing songs just about praise, worship, and “Jesus is my buddy,” why not write music about really poignant, emotional, touchy subjects? Someone referenced a song against abortion, and that idea just sort of resonated with me.
There seems to be quite of discussion about the “authenticity” of Christian Rock. Christian themes are quite commen in modern rock, eve.n if the artists themselves do not profess to say they are Christian Rock Artists. Some examples of this are:
Kansas-Kerry Livegren wrote many Kansas Songs from the Christian perspective, so many that it led to Steve Walsh leaving the band in the early 80’s. In particular the Kansas release “Vinyl Confessions” has since been confirmed by Kerry Livegren himself to be completely Christian in content. Kerry Livegreen then went on to form and record several Christian rock Albums.
Yes-The band “Yes” has many spiritual leaning songs. Check out “In the Presence Of” from the Magnification CD.
Uriah Heep-Many spiritual leaning songs spanning their 40 year career. Check out “Angels Walk With You” from Wake The Sleeper.
Then of course you have Neal Morse, once leader of Spock’s Beard. Neal has released now 7 CD’s of his style of Christian rock (progressive rock), that expands greatly on form and content that is common on the K-Love style of of music. Neal Morse is NEVER mentioned as a Christian Rock Musician or songwriter, yet that is all his releases since 2000 have been about.
Check him out, you won’t regret it!
i love Spock’s beard! I will check him out.
I play Christian rock, Holy Hip Hop, christian Metal on the radio every day. Some of those songs will be remembered by listeners years from now, just as I remember “Palisades Park” or “Dawn, Go Away From Me”. It is POP music. It is recorded to SELL THE RECORDINGS. Should it be used during liturgy. Hell, no. Which begs the question: Is “Rama Lama Ding Dong” a religious song?
Just gotta say that I LOVE your posts on Christian music, especially your one on Liturgical Music. But I heartily disagree that “How He Loves” is good music. If you look at your own parameters for Liturgical music especially, it would never make the cut. Now, I know that the parameters aren’t the same for “Good Music” and “Liturgical Music”, but shouldn’t a song be Beautiful? That’s the problem with How He Loves: it isn’t objectively beautiful. Even if the words are Good and True, the song writing fits the pop music Form to a tee. Singing “He loves us, oh how he loves us, oh how he loves us oh how he loves” in an increasing crescendo over and over and over again is exactly like any other pop “Christian Rock” song. The lyrics are sloppy and the metaphors are mixed to the point of incomprehensibility, and it’s the same sickly sweet, broad handed message that pop radio stations play. I know that personally, “How He Loves” tops my list as far as bad, unreasonably popular Christian music goes.
Sorry, that was a little more ranty than I wanted it to be. I welcome any defense you have of the song, if one can be made, as I always make the best of any situation, and when it’s sung at a Steubenville Conference I don’t just sit and pout. I’ll sing it, and get into it, but from an objective standpoint, I don’t think it’s a good song.
I LOVE all the stuff you write, and I find that you say all the things I want to say. And your breakdown of Liturgical Music was AWESOME! As a guitarist at a “Life Teen” Mass, I can feel that a song isn’t appropriate, but sometimes couldn’t say precisely why: Thanks to your breakdowns, I can see much clearer. My youth minister reads your stuff as well. I will encourage him to take it to heart, and spend a little more time before he approves of a song.
God Bless, brother, keep up the good work!
Wow… what a reaction to that first post, and we wonder why prophets were stoned to death lol j/k.
I am a singer/songwriter and Catholic but do not write “Christian music”. Music is human, so I try to write it from as human (honest) of a place as I can. Songwriting feels like more of a testimony about my personal truths instead of Truth. Ironically, more of Christ seems to be expressed and received in the songs I write this way.
I agree that Christian music can be inauthentic. But, why this statement so controversial is what is most interesting to me. Is Christian culture suffering from a similar problem?
Mainstream society has a lot of issues with Christians and not with Jesus. Some of our churches (and blogs) can be more safe places for Christians from the rest of the world… instead of a place that reaches out to people of the world or even for seekers to come find God and community.
If we want Christian music to be more authentic, Christian cultural is going to need to change as well. We need to live more wholehearted lives where what we say is representative of what we believe and how we act (even online).
There seems to be a general discomfort with what we are unable to define. Everything is suppose to be: good or bad, right or wrong, a person is one of “us” or one of “them”. But, most amazing art is full of fascinating contrasts that somehow fit together. I think our lives are like this as well with beauty in the complexities. JPII says in his Letter to Artists, “Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: In a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece.”
As young adults living today we are faced with the unique challenge of staying grounded in a rapidly changing world. We need to learn how to love “the strangers” in our lives better and find ways to build bridges between people of other creeds, lifestyles, and cultures. “The strangers” within ourselves also need to be shown more compassion as well… the places that make us feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, or afraid.
If we hope to make truthful, sincere art in life and of life, we need to be allowed to ask ourselves hard, unpopular questions. And, not require the answers right away. In Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke writes, “Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves…Live the questions now.”
I think that moving forward creatively and spiritually requires an increasing tolerance for this type of discomfort… as individuals and a society. I pray that we all find this type of ordinary courage.
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