Christianity Today - John Schlitt Interview

[sue d.]

Here's a new article that Christianity Today did on John while at GMA:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/ ... -0508.html

Nice piece written by Andy Argyrakis, who is a Petra fan and wrote the Farewell bio. I was there in the room when he was doing the interview... very cool to see the final product as well!

[Shell]

Cool article.

[p-freak]

Great interview! Did Bob really sell his house? What about his studio?

BTW: Why is this thread in the other topics section??

[separateunion]

It may be because I've started coming down on petrafreak2009 for spamming promo stuff on the boards. I don't really have a problem with Sue posting stuff about Joh in the Petra forum since Petra was technically owned by John and Bob.
Spamming and bumping posts in multiple forums about bands that are either covering a Petra song or occassionally employ a former member of the band (especially when attempting to sell what is being promoted) is problematic. I don't want people to think there is a problem with discussing/promoting music in general, but keep it where it belongs, don't put the topic in every forum, and if no one is responding, don't keep bumping it.

Sue, you are fine to keep the info about John in the Petra forum. In fact, I'll move this thread over there for you.

[HudsonPethead]

Great interview!!!

Bob sold his house and is living at the lake.

[WR1U]

Thanks for sharing Sue.

[sue d.]

Yes, Bob has decided to retire for good and live the well-deserved easy life.

[Jonathan]

Hmm...that was an intriguing interview.

I disagree with him on the metaphor bit, but because of this interview, I might order it, where I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

[separateunion]

Hmm...that was an intriguing interview.

I disagree with him on the metaphor bit, but because of this interview, I might order it, where I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

I agree. Everyone has a different calling, but I don't think a Christian musician is required to write overtly Christian lyrics.

[brent]

Hmm...that was an intriguing interview.

I disagree with him on the metaphor bit, but because of this interview, I might order it, where I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

I agree. Everyone has a different calling, but I don't think a Christian musician is required to write overtly Christian lyrics.

Amen. Christians that paint don't limit themselves to churches. Christian mechanics don't limit themselves to church busses and vans. Christian chef's don't limit themselves to church kitchens. How else can one be salt and light if you are sprinkling the salt in the salt shaker, and lighting the inside of the bulb packaging?

I have mentioned this to John many times. Singing Christian music can and should be evangelistic and relative to the secular world too. Singing to the choir is ok and has it's place. But the choir has it's music in a box. They have their lyrics in a box. They have their expectations in a box. You know where it is. It's on the shelf next to their god in a box.

[gman]

Hmm...that was an intriguing interview.

I disagree with him on the metaphor bit, but because of this interview, I might order it, where I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

I agree. Everyone has a different calling, but I don't think a Christian musician is required to write overtly Christian lyrics.

Well my take on this is that your lyrics are a reflection of your heart. Maybe I'm wrong, but I see it as pretty black and white. If one has no idea whether or not you are believer, or your lyrics are so watered down that they could refer to just about anyone, to me that is a reflection of where you are at spiritually. I look at bands or artists that started out as overtly christian and their lyrics changed as they gained more mainstream success. The ones who eventually made their way back will tell you that there were things going on that shouldn't have been; that they lost their focus, and they were not in the right place spiritually. Just my opinion.
As for other professions, you don't have christian cars or christian food, but you can look at the individual. Their attitude on the job, how they treat other people, what music they play, should tell you everything you need to know.

GMan

GMan

[brent]

Hmm...that was an intriguing interview.

I disagree with him on the metaphor bit, but because of this interview, I might order it, where I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

I agree. Everyone has a different calling, but I don't think a Christian musician is required to write overtly Christian lyrics.

Well my take on this is that your lyrics are a reflection of your heart. Maybe I'm wrong, but I see it as pretty black and white. If one has no idea whether or not you are believer, or your lyrics are so watered down that they could refer to just about anyone, to me that is a reflection of where you are at spiritually. I look at bands or artists that started out as overtly christian and their lyrics changed as they gained more mainstream success. The ones who eventually made their way back will tell you that there were things going on that shouldn't have been; that they lost their focus, and they were not in the right place spiritually. Just my opinion.
As for other professions, you don't have christian cars or christian food, but you can look at the individual. Their attitude on the job, how they treat other people, what music they play, should tell you everything you need to know.

GMan

GMan

Who brought up "watered down"? I for example am saying EVANGELISTIC AND RELATIVE. You have to say it like you mean it in a way that people will grasp it. Let's examine watered down. I am not always for this, but why not? Are you going to tell me that a Christian group playing secular gigs, opening for typical rocker/boozer/druggie/etc people are going to be able to grasp deep spiritual material? No way. Not the masses anyway.

The average joe in the world cannot discern spiritual things. Until the Holy Spirit regenerates them, they won't get it. So you have to hit them with topics and situations that cause them to think, if not do some soul searching and research. Maybe it is a matter of planting seed and not doing the harvest there as well. I don't think that fills up the concert halls anyway.

As for being a Christian, we are to be the hands and feet of Christ, a light, salt, etc, etc. We are not to do that to the churched only, but to the lost and dying world. Showing who you are and whose you are in the world is much greater of a testamony than showing it in church. It's easy there. You MUST be the real deal in the world or they will find you out and kill you. You can get away with it in church, because people there are easily snowed if you do the right things on the outside.

I for one think that there is more than one acceptable method. Those methods may not be perfect or suited for everyone's tastes. But if it works once, then it has worked well enough. People are not perfect and will make mistakes. When God calls, he NEVER spells it all out, gives all of the instructions in detail. You have a bit of wiggle room. You have the opportunity to see God work inspite of what you do. That's what I read and that's my experience.

When we get to heaven, we will answer and be rewarded on our works and implementation of talents. If a band is called to "win souls", then they have to play where the lost are. They have to play that game to get in front of those people. If a band is called to sing to Christians only, then that is simple. It's a small hyper niche market of older people that don't generally care for rock, but it is a captive audience when you can find one. Bands that try to work outside of their intended market's do not work. Bands that try to work outside of their age group do not work. Bands that try to work outside of their established genre certainly do not work.

[Vic]

Hi, I have heard quite a lot on this debate and I finally come to believe that both sides of the divide are absolutely right and that there should be a balance of both Christian music with christian lyrics and positive and positive sacred music by Christians in the secular market (Charlie Peacock's vibes).

Evangelism can stilll be done using both approaches as it the Holy Spirit who draws souls and not the music in itself. How can we explain how unbelievers find their way into blatantly Christian concerts and surrender their lives? How can we explain how unbelievers get drawn to clean positive music only to give their lives to Christ when they see a difference in the lives those Christians? These are mysteries we will never be able to understand on this side of eternity and will waste time arguing.

About musicians who fall away, that is a different thing altogether as there are as many Christians musicians who have fallen while singing Christian music for Christians.

If Petra joined a secular label, I would still be their fan as long as I was sure that they are still pursuing their calling.

[gman]

The average joe in the world cannot discern spiritual things. Until the Holy Spirit regenerates them, they won't get it. So you have to hit them with topics and situations that cause them to think, if not do some soul searching and research. Maybe it is a matter of planting seed and not doing the harvest there as well.

I agree with you. My point was that if that is your focus as band, and I listen to your album all the way through and have no idea that you are believer. That is a problem for me. If you are a strong Christian, it's my opinion that your lyrics will at some point identify you. You won't be able to help it, regardless of your target audience. Basically, what comes out of your mouth is what's in your heart.
My point on watered down lyrics was to simply mention bands or artists where it was obvious they were a believer but as they enjoyed more mainstream success, they were okay with removing their faith from their lyrics. My point was that in those cases, it wasn't the mainstream success that was the problem, it was that Christ was no longer prominent. They placed the pursuit of success above Christ.
You can be artsy, but you can't hide who you are if it's eally who you are.
Again, I could be wrong in all of this. It's just what I believe.
GMan

[Jonathan]

There is a distinction between "watering down" lyrics and cryptically Christian lyrics. I think you can be cryptic without being vague, if you paint a big picture.

Will obtuse lyrics confuse people? Will they prevent a non-believer from understanding the message? What if the listener is searching for meaning in the content?

Conversely, what if the listener is already a believer? What if that Christian listener is no longer interested in being spoonfed formulaic Christian pap...er...pop? What if that Christian listener can engage their brain and gain a different perspective on truth?

GMan, I think you are right here...believers reveal Christ to others, most ideally by their actions...the "lyrics" (or words) should be drowned out by our "music" (or actions).