The whole idea of "Christian" music has bothered me lately. There is this whole industry that exists to produce and sell "Christian" music. It's as if the music itself could be Christian...I am pretty sure that music itself does not have a soul (well OK there is Soul music, but c'mon!). I prefer to think that music is just music, sometimes Christians play it, sing it or write it. What if Christians did not have the advantage of having Christian labels producing their music, or Christian radio stations playing their music and Christian book stores selling their music? I think it would be wonderful...I think there would be more "Christian" music on secular radio stations and in regular music stores. There would be Christian artists who are more prepared to be honest about their faith. There would be people outside the Christian circles who might be exposed to some good Christian artists (I think there are a couple of those!?). I think this would make a lot more sense. I think that this whole situation is a symptom of a larger issue. Christians are so scared of becoming like the people "of the world" that they feel the need to separate themselves as much as possible. However, I believe Christians have a lot to offer the world and should therefore be entering into it as often as possible so that people can see what it is that Christians have to offer.
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Why have we done this in the first place? Is it just an easy way to protect ourselves? To feel good about ourselves? Or is it something else?
The problem I see is that bands, regardless of genre, that have started out with deeply religious songs and themes, move away from that in a effort to expand their music, and they are completely shunned by the purists for not being "true Christians". They are removed from the Christian bookstores, and youth pastors everywhere warn their kids to beware of "imitators of the faith." At the same time, the music industry shuns them for their Christian roots. They become "not Christian enough" for the church kids and "too Christian" for the secular kids. P.O.D., Blindside, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Lifehouse, MxPx, and Zao are all good examples of this.
Both sides of the music industry need to lighten up and realize that music, in its essence, is an expression of self and nothing more.
There are my two cents... have a great day.