Hank tells it like it is

Thanks to Emerging Minister for posting the following quote. It inspired me to shoot my mouth off this morning.

Heard this on "King of the Hill". Hank was talking to a Christian rocker and said this:

"You're not making Christianity better... you're making rock and roll worse."

Here's what I, Mike Box, have to say about it:
I've thought that kind of stuff for a long time, I'm just glad that Mike Judge utilized his under-appreciated animated social commentary to share the philosophy.

I'm sure Hank's statement was meant more to criticize than to help, but look at it from this point of view for a second: Marketing bad music with the label of "Christian" does neither Christianity nor the music industry any good.

Christianity, so it seems, has been trying to "keep up" with the world for many years. I remember when I was a new believer that I hated trying to force feed my ears with "Christian rock" as an alternative to what I really wanted to listen to. The problem? Well until the last 3-5 years, "Christian rock" sucked. I mean there was Petra, Bride, and let's not forget Stryper....As if glam rock and hair bands weren't difficult to digest when they were singing about girls, car, and rockin'; these bands took themselves serious enough to write lyrics about church, love, and Christ. All while singing (if that's the word) in a eunuch style vibrato that would make Michael Jackson sound like Al Green.

That was just the music labeled "Christian Rock." There was also "Christian Pop," "Christian Rap," and "Contemporary Adult Christian" (which was a lofty way of saying: "This stuff really sucks!")

As a musician and lover of most music (country not being included, as I try to stay away from Satanic things.), I tried to listen with my heart instead of my ears. But that only works for so long. I became so discouraged with anything labeled "Christian" that I stopped using the term to describe myself. My thought was, "would any of this "Christian" stuff turn me to Christ or away if I was a seeker (in this I imply someone not yet placing faith in Christ)?"
I felt (and still feel) that marketing something as "Christian" was a way of getting it sold. No music store in their right mind would put a Petra cd in the same display as a Foo Fighters cd. Why? Because it wouldn't sell the product. So instead of distributing to mainstream stores, the cd is labeled "Christian" and distributed to Christian bookstores. (where it sells to sheltered preacher's kids like children's chewable crack.) Or in the mainstream store it is placed in a back corner of the store with other novelty items such as soundtracks and comedy cd's.

Don't get me wrong, there is a need for music alternatives for the person desiring not to "pollute" their hearts with worldly thoughts. My heart goes out to the seekers, the newly committed, and to the "outsider" that has to try to decipher "good music" from "Christian music."

Back to the quote: "You're not making Christianity better... You're making rock and roll worse."

That is my point exactly. Christianity is not benefiting from this at all. What are the two main objectives of Christianity? 1) To love God and Serve Him. 2) To love your fellow humans.

In the "loving and serving God" department, I'm sure that all the bases are covered by those who label their goods and services as "Christian." But in the "loving your fellow humans" department, I sure it comes up short. I mean sure you should reach out to fellow believers and give them something to uplift and encourage them. But the main goal should be evangelism. Reaching those who have yet to been reached.

I once heard someone say, "you can polish a piece of (poop) all you want, but what you're left with is a piece of polished (poop)."
My point is this: If you take something that mainstream critics and analysts would label as "second-rate" and then call it Christian, what is being accomplished?

Now as I say this I am reminded of such great new music coming out that has taken a clearly alternate approach. Instead or marketing your goods as "Christian" why not market it as "Quality" and let the consumers reach their own conclusions. Bands like 12 Stones, Kutless, Zao, P.O.D., and many others market themselves as bands with spiritual tones to their music. The band members may be "Christian" but they are not "Christian Bands."

So, is Hank right. Yes. "You're not making Christianity better... You're making rock and roll worse." and at the same time "You're not helping out the music consumer, your killing your ability to reach others."

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