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Re: Christian music

Sarah raises a very good question here.  (Bravo on a
very thought-producing thread!)

It's a sad day in the world of people who are supposed
to be loving each other when they snub one of their
own because of music differences.  Sarah, God has now
most definitely opened a new door for you into a
congregation that perhaps is more committed to loving
one another than worrying about music preferences.
 
I like to think (and hope) that the central purpose
for "Christian" music is first for us to glorify God
with song.  It also serves as a wonderful way for
people to confess past sin and show how God has
forgiven them and used the circumstances to draw them
closer to Him.  It can be used as a way for people to
speak to God and humble themselves by saying they
don't understand some things and that their faith in
Him isn't perfect (admitting this honestly instead of
pretending to know everything and prentending not to
question God when we all have questions in life.)  By
showing through song our life experiences and how God
uses them, people who don't know God may randomly hear
a song and be drawn to Him as a result.  Christian
music is now more accessable and heard more places
than ever, and it's growth in that direction is more
every year.

Like non-God oriented literature and movies, secular
music is also a pathway to Christ.  NO ONE BUT HIM can
draw someone to His heart.  Any part we have in
drawing others is through His Spirit anyway, we are
just darn blessed to be His tools for that.  Look at
all of the movies and books studied every year at the
Imaginarium.  God sometimes uses people who will never
love Him to draw others to Himself.  Just look at
Pharaoh if you want an example.  Many people who do
not know God are drawn to Cstone every year.  

Christ died for our sins, and so we are forgiven.  We
know that being forgiven does not mean we should go
out and sin just because we are forgiven.  I don't
believe that to drink is a sin.  I am not sure whether
or not I believe that to swear as a sin.  But I do
neither because those are two things that I know
non-Christians will judge in my behavior just because
they know I am a Christian.  Though I sin in many
other ways, those are two things that I can eliminate
from my life and know that I am not leading anyone
into sin or away from Christ in those ways.  Remember
that He commanded us to "be in the world, but not of
the world".  Part of the meaning of that in my eyes is
that we need to take the things that we think nothing
of every day and contemplate how they are influencing
those who are studying us because of our known faith. 
That is why I think bands made up of believers,
whether they carry the Christian music label or not,
must be cautious about their behavior in their daily
lives, on and off-stage.  This means language, habits,
attitudes, everything.  By recording and performing,
they have chosen to put themselves in the spotlight,
just as by writing this I have chosen to put myself on
display.


Again, Sarah, thanks for your inquiry.  I hope this
gives you some kind of answer in some way.

God bless!
Kristen

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