tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post5651401705761525646..comments2023-05-18T05:55:12.586-05:00Comments on Critical Thinking: Smoking CCM Radio UnfilteredJared Tottenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02281732280151894322noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post-21427059204167872462010-02-15T21:26:59.850-06:002010-02-15T21:26:59.850-06:00The idea of subversion is dealt with in some detai...The idea of subversion is dealt with in some detail by Brian Godawa in "Word Pictures". A great book I would recommend to anyone. <br /><br />By his definition, subversion is what Paul was doing in Athens with the Greeks and all the gods he saw them worshiping in the market place (Acts 17). He took ideas and concepts that they were familiar with and redefined them present his own worldview. It is similar to the idea of contextualization. <br /><br />Let me say, that scenario is absurd. I hope every Christian artist is out to make original art, not rip off another band. And my band didn't try to blindside anyone, but we did try to present our worldview in a way that would come across without cramming it down someone's throat. But that being said, I hope every Christian artist is aware that music is a powerful medium and the Gospel is one of the highest callings we have. <br /><br />There are some Christian musicians gifted at Gospel proclamation, others at making beautiful art simply for art's sake, and every point in between. All are necessary and good if they "do it all for the glory of God".Jared Tottenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02281732280151894322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post-85635479972174151652010-02-15T01:11:10.533-06:002010-02-15T01:11:10.533-06:00Thanks for clarifying Jared. But now, I must say,...Thanks for clarifying Jared. But now, I must say, I'm puzzled. This talk of "subverting the culture," is strange to me. Do Christian songwriters really try to attempt this? When you were in a Christian band did you really try to do things intentionally to fly under the radar, as it were, and hope to blindside some unsuspecting listeners? Did you look around the musical landscape and say to yourselves, "Hey, that band is pretty hot right now, let's write a song like that, toss some vague but precise theology in there, and hope that they'll say to themselves, 'Those guys sound like my favorite band!' and thus, become more open to the Gospel"? If this is the case, that is completely absurd to me. And if this is not the case, what exactly do you mean by subverting the culture?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post-63706410223555095782010-02-14T18:45:33.607-06:002010-02-14T18:45:33.607-06:00Anonymous2 here again. I see what you're sayi...Anonymous2 here again. I see what you're saying and here are a few secular examples of the very thing that "I think" you are talking about. Look at MTV (music television) when was the last time you turned it on and saw any kind of music whatsoever? Also, take country music what is being played today sounds more like Bon Jovi than Hank Williams. So why would the Christian format be any different? I think people lose their way while attempting to streamline and perfect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post-2263379496590644742010-02-13T20:04:57.622-06:002010-02-13T20:04:57.622-06:00I agree with you more than you know. I am not sugg...I agree with you more than you know. I am not suggesting that Christian music must be one dimensional (all about evangelism). In fact, when I was in a Christian rock band, we were writing things that were intentionally vague and "artistic" to gain a wider audience and be challenge with something more than just straight forward theology. <br /><br />My issue comes with songs like the ones cited where they use blatant theological references and ideas that are so vague or artsy in one specific area ("love is the way, the truth, the life") that it lends itself as much to heresy as to anything else. <br /><br />I will be the first to advocate Christians writing songs with strong, blatant theology, and other Christians writing subtle, artsy songs that may subvert the culture. But when a song decides to be of the blatant theology sort, the decision should also be made to be precise in ones theology. <br /><br />And Anonymous2, I don't want to come across as having a beef with anyone, and perhaps it's my fault I came across too strong. I believe that every Christian should exercise the due care and precision proportionate with the intended or understood level and depth of theology. This applies to every programmer, songwriter, artist, and consumer. <br /><br />So while I am not saying that we should compromise Christian art for mere Gospel proclamation, neither should we compromise theology for artistry's sake when theology is our subject matter.Jared Tottenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02281732280151894322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post-50404114949456124472010-02-13T12:14:45.354-06:002010-02-13T12:14:45.354-06:00Bare with me Jared, I'm a little confused. Is...Bare with me Jared, I'm a little confused. Is you're beef with the radio station programers that decide what gets played or with the musicians themselves? Or both?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post-57747432848305188122010-02-10T21:54:59.366-06:002010-02-10T21:54:59.366-06:00Isn't this akin to saying a Christian painter ...Isn't this akin to saying a Christian painter must find a way to deliberately and literally put Christ into every work of art? Subtly paint his face into a few shadows, or scrawl a verse across the sky. Since when does an artist have to explain their work, or submit it to other's standards and scrutiny? "Just in case you wondering, I"m talking about Jesus. Here I'll make it easy for you, and just say His name in every song, in case you aren't bright enough to figure it out." Or, "I'll just only paint scenes from the Gospels, how's that?"<br /><br />I'm not coming to the defense of shady theology and in fact, I despise and loathe all things "CCM" including those new "worship" songs you're flipping through the channels trying to find. My point is, rather, that this all seems to stem from some presupposition that the whole goal of the songwriter is to make it clear that they are Christians. When did art become about evangelism? Why must it be so utilitarian rather than a celebration of the God-given ability (and biblically speaking, IMPERATIVE) to create? And do you really think the non-Christian listener who haplessly stumbles upon a CCM station is really so stupid that if you sneak Jesus into a song that mimics one of their favorite bands, they'll somehow become more susceptible to the Gospel? Insulting.<br /><br />Perhaps I misunderstood your point, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but I came away from this with the sense that songs are a utilitarian means to present "biblical theology" and nothing else. Perhaps you should just stick with talk radio.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com