Jesus™ Music
by Mark Drzycimski
May 09, 2006
Until Christian music stresses art over agenda, it can never be anything but second rate. As a music editor at the Chicago Tribune, I have a responsibility to turn my readers on to the best art out there. And as a Christian, I have an obligation to tell the truth at all costs, as I see it. If it’s bad, awkward, mawkish art that Nashville keeps shipping to me like so many day-glo W.W.J.D. bracelets, what choice do I have? I would rather be the voice of one crying out in the wilderness than win the approval of any cabal that is convinced — for all the wrong reasons — that the majority of “Christian” music serves a noble purpose.
Michelangelo makes us cry by depicting the finger-touch of creation in a majestic image. Johnny Cash could break your heart by revealing the serrated edges of his brokenness. Bono makes you wrestle and challenges all assumptions that God is of the right or left wing. None of this is a “business model” to be emulated. These are ways of approaching art and life we are talking about, meant to be done with all the fear and trembling of someone trying to point the way to a higher truth while walking a narrow path. (Chicago Tribune Music Editor, Lou Carlozo)
Also, from a related article:
- Our popular culture is unworthy of imitation because it is mindless & soulless, yet Christians get excited, even when they don’t yet meet the “fallen” artistic standards of the culture.
- Popular Culture is not about thoughtful art or craftsmanship, it is about money & profits generated through reaching the lowest common denominator, yet Christians get excited, because based on that standard, they’re even MORE financially successful than their secular counterparts.
- The real standard, the one that should matter, seems to go unmentioned and unmet. I’m referring to our uniqueness as created in God’s Image, which provides deep and rich spiritual, intellectual, creative, relational and moral capacities.
Fallen culture meets imitative culture and everybody gets rich and goes to the bank. And I’m supposed to be excited about this why?
Both articles were spawned by a third article (from the New York Times Select, which has no free online equivalent) which focused on Mercy Me’s latest Tour/Marketing Push. Like the author of the second article says, this is nothing I have against Mercy Me specifically, but more the Christian Music Industry in general.
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Tuppence for "Jesus™ Music"
nothing really to say. just that i agree. but i am sure you knew that already. christian music from here in nashville is mostly gross. at least the stuff i last remember paying attention to. i think i get more hung up at times on the status many christians will give christian musicians… almost god-like status, just as many non-christians seem to give secular artists… ignoring that they are just people who make mistakes and do some really good things and some really horrible things… if that makes sense?
— jess May 11, 11:14 AM #