What's a Christian Band?

[brent]

We had a conversation on another thread about bands crossing over, and what defines a Christian band. Check out this story by clicking the link below:

http://www.ccauthority.com/secular.htm

[epdc]

my eyes hurt me a little bit.

well, in my opinion we gotta know what defines a christian band: their personal believes or the music they sing and play?


because there could be christian bands (where everyone is a christian)who play secular ya know OR a christian band where they sing about Jesus.

the question would be of which one we are talking about.

[crossways]

Your right epdc.
And I'll go one further.

Should we even lable a band as "Christian"?

1. God said the world would know us by our love, and by our actions. Do we need to wear it on our sleeve and write it on our cd cases?
(I say this even though I am in a band that very much uses those lables)

2. If we lable a band "Christian" do we stop and listen to their lyrics carefully for doctorine and theology. Or do we blindly listen, feeling safe that it has "someones" stamp of approval?

[Mexican Spud]

My opinion of a christian band is that all members are born-again. Not a shame to write songs about the lord and more importantly living the life as a christian. When interviewed by someone asking if they're christian and stating "YES!!". Don't get me wrong all songs doesn't have to about the lord, it will be nice though, but back up by the bible about living right.

[charl]

Should we even lable a band as "Christian"?

1. God said the world would know us by our love, and by our actions. Do we need to wear it on our sleeve and write it on our cd cases?
(I say this even though I am in a band that very much uses those lables)

2. If we lable a band "Christian" do we stop and listen to their lyrics carefully for doctorine and theology. Or do we blindly listen, feeling safe that it has "someones" stamp of approval?

Those are excellent points, particularly the second one. This is a debate that the whole protestant art scene is going through now.
Protestantism has never given much stock to many art forms (particularly the visual ones, but not limited to them). Now Protestant christians are struggling to find the balance between art and faith. Do we regard the arts as any other job (ie can you be a 'christian acountant'?) or are they unique?

Does a church become a 'christian building' only if the architect was a christian? Does the architect's work become 'christian' regardless of what he believes because he designs churches? Do we have to wear christian clothes and eat christian foods? If it indeed should be applied, how far should the christian label go?

As I also mentioned in the other thread, is 'christian' simply a new marketing demographic? It does seem like many are now clamouring for the religious dollar.

I do think that doctrine is important in anything that is going to label itself destinctly christian, and that it necessarily has to be looked at with more scrutiny than other work. However, if a piece depicts violence and depravity, will it be condemned as 'ungodly'? Yet the alternative to depravity is humanism-aka pelagianism, a heresy. Should christians deliver a 'triumph of the human spirit' message because that is more family friendly?

I believe creativity is a gift of God that should be expressed. The question still remains, how do we do it? We in the protestant church can not just borrow a catholic model. We have to find our own way in expressing ourselves creatively. These are pressing questions for the artist, and I find the hashing out of them to be most interesting.

Though in regards to music, Calvin thought everyone should go to the bar, and sing hymns.