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It’s back to work for this guy. NPH graciously gave us an extra day off for the holiday (oops Christmas) season. Yeah that’s right I’m coming off a 5 day weekend. Be jealous…be very jealous.

I got a letter from a friend of mine, I think I’m going to post it on here if he doesn’t mind. I think all you guys would enjoy it. Expect it sometime this week. If not please don’t hurt me a lot of you know where I live.

For me that is one of the toughest questions that anyone can ask. Actually it’s a question I love/dread people asking. I love it because I get to share my opinion of great music. I’m scarred to death of it because I’m worried I might offend them with what I listen too or what I’ll say about their favorite type of music. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to tread on your shoes….what I really mean is Yes, I love Third Day too! Yippee, we’re all happy!!”

So rather than ask what type of music you listen to or what type is your favorite (kind of the same question right?) would it be better to ask, What do you listen to? This is a nice open ended question that can be answered really simply or amazingly complex. Oh how I pray, that when I ask people what they listen to, that they don’t respond back “I listen to Christian music.” OHHH!! It makes me cringe when someone says that. In a culture where movie stars can claim to be Christians but yet live, well, like they do. How can we say that there is such a thing as Christian music. (That doesn’t really tie into my point…please read on)

Couple Questions:
Is music a person? Does music have a soul? Can music accept Jesus Christ as its personal savior? Does music have God given talents? Let’s just for a moment pretend that saying that your a Christian means what it used too….that you choose Christ as your savior and live out daily a life that is determined by your faith. Ok, assuming that’s the definition of Christian….I ask the question again, Does music have a soul? Please please please hear me when I say this, I know that there is soul in music. That’s not what I’m arguing here. I’m simply asking, is music a person/thing that can become a Christian? If your answer is “well, technically no, but still” what does that tell you about what you might be listening to. Would that mean that what’s playing on your iPod right now be it Stephen Curtis Chaplin or Third Day is on the same level as Korn. If music is not capable of being “saved” (which I believe is true) than that would make music…music. No matter where it came from it’s music. I’m not meaning to bash your favorite “Christian” artist. I’m just wondering what their selling and why they sell it that way.

You might argue then….well the music I listen to isn’t Christian per say…but it’s uplifting. I would then ask you what’s uplifting? Is a song about how Christ died on the cross for our sins any better than a Nine Inch Nails song that talks of a teenager who was about to commit suicide but didn’t go through with it because of his love for his girlfriend? While most of us would agree that a song about Christ shedding his blood is inspiring. I would also agree with the other end of the spectrum. I know of a song by a very popular group (GC) that many…MANY kids accredit that song to saving their life. Literally those kids were contemplating suicide up until they heard a song from a group whose lyricist had gone through the same stuff they deal with everyday and decided its not worth killing yourself for. No matter how big the problems your facing, it’s never worth killing yourself, life goes on. It will get better. So which song is more uplifting?

It’s so strange…the music I listen to which is by your definition non-Christian is more inspiring to me than anything I’ve heard at church or on my way to work on the local “Christian” radio station. I don’t know why that is. I give all music the chance to inspire me (except country music, songs about tractors, cow-girls, pickup trucks, and mud slinging just don’t do it for me I guess).

Why is that? What causes emotions to stir with the music we listen to? I read a quote by a guy named John Whitney from the group The Blood Brothers…who asked “Why is it that older people aren’t supposed to like abrasive, screechy, Blood Brothers music, and young people aren’t supposed to like Bach. It’s all music; it all carries emotion.” (I don’t recommend listening to The Blood Brothers right off that bat, it’s something you should work your way up to) I agree with John totally. Music is written with the heart putting it’s thoughts on paper. Sometimes that heart chooses to use the brain as a filter, sometimes not.

By segregating ourselves to only defined “Christian” music we are doing what we’ve always done best. Making outcast. We’re separating ourselves from society even more than we already do. What’s next, Christian only television. Oh wait that’s already in production. Come on guys expand your world view. Check out what else might be out there.

If you like lighter acoustical type “Christian” music…guess what there’s other stuff out there just like it that doesn’t reside on a Christian record label. If you like the harder “Christian” music…boy are you in luck. There’s plenty of that. Try out anything you can get your hands on. If you don’t like it…move on. It’s simple.

There is a difference between being a “Christian band” and being a Christian in a band.

Sorry for the long post…well kind of.

- scott.

EDIT: I guess I just don’t like using Christian as a selling point. The whole idea of Christian marketing is kind of sketchy.