I recently read an article in which an Alternative band was mentioned, a band that does a song I happen to really love. I won’t say who the band is, because I’m not interested in bad-mouthing them; rather I’d like to address something I see as a problem in Christian music.
It seems to be a growing attitude amongst Christian bands that we “don’t want to be labeled as Christians.” The prevailing thought behind this is that without the “Christian” label, they’ll be able to reach more people, who theoretically will be brought to Christ by being fans of their Please-Don’t-Label-Us music. My response to that:
Who are y’all kidding?
Let’s face it, guys. The world isn’t interested in feel-good Christianity. They’re not interested in more of what they already have. They don’t need a God who timidly tiptoes around the background, making sure His people aren’t “offensive” to those around them. The Jesus I worship was a radical, counter-culture Jew. And yeah, he offended people. Important people.
It’s a good thing He didn’t mind being labeled.
And before you protest that you ARE being radical and offensive, let’s be clear: rock music is NOT going against the norm, okay? I’m sorry, it’s not counter-culture, it lines up WITH culture. It just lines up with the wrong culture—the culture you’re supposed to be standing AGAINST. (Relax, I like some rock music. Just don’t stick a few “You”s instead of “Baby”s in it and try to say you’re winning people to Christ with it.)
In all areas of our lives, and specifically in our music, let’s quit trying to fit in. We don’t, and we shouldn’t. Everything about us should be different, from the way we dress and talk to the kind of music and entertainment we make.
I, for one, am proud to wear the label “Christian”. I’d be insulted if the world didn’t label me that way.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”—Joshua 24:15
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