On music and Christian culture
The problem is not that profit is being made. And the problem is not with Piper or any of the other ppl I mentioned. (Well, maybe there's a problem with some of those emergent folks... (maybe JN?)) And the problem I have in mind isn't a personal one, but rather just one I see with our culture.
Let me take this out of the Christian context to better illustrate my point:
I have a problem with the music industry in America. The problem is not that profit is being made on music. That's completely fine.
Also, the problem is not with the fact that there are some bands or musicians whose music I don't particularly find enjoyable. That's completely cool too.
No, the problem (that I'm addressing right now) is that the music industry basically controls what ppl will listen to, and their focus is on profit, not on musical quality. I mean, it's the big corporations that determine what goes on the radio, who's having a concert wherever and whenever, which artists get signed, etc. And they make these decisions based not on who's good or innovative or whatever. No, their focus is on making more money. And, on a smaller scale, music stores like the kind you see in malls will choose what's easily available to the public based on what will make them money.
And, again, it concerns me that the focus here is not on the music but on the money.
Now, of course, if one looks, one will find good music. Maybe some garage band that most ppl haven't heard of. Maybe even one of the popular groups that make the music industry lots of money. But, that's only for the ppl who search after good music. For most ppl in America, they'll just be limited to listening to Britney Spears, or Good Charlotte, or J.Lo, or whoever else brings in the big bucks, not necessarily the groups that are good. (Not saying that the groups just mentioned are bad. Well, except for Britney. She should just go... away... :) )
So, how do we change this problem in the music world?
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Now, hopefully, you can see the parallels btw this and the concern I have about the church and capitalist culture. but, if not, then click the permalink (the posting time) below to read the rest of this...
I have a problem with the relationship between Christian culture and capitalism in America. The problem is not that profit is being made on Christian books, music, etc. That's completely fine.
Also, the problem is not with the fact that there are some writers, theologians, musicians, etc., whose teachings or theologies I don't agree with (but who also stay within the boundaries of orthodoxy). That's completely cool too.
No, the problem (that I'm addressing right now) is that large corporations and the stores that distribute such Christian media basically control what ideas and messages ppl will be exposed to and will associate with the name of Christ, and their focus is on profit, not on what best serves the body and equips it to serve Christ. I mean, it's the big corporations that determine what goes on the radio or TV, who gets published, which artists get signed, etc. And they make these decisions based not on who's most able to equip the church to worship God and bring glory to God. No, their focus is on making more money. And, on a smaller scale, stores that offer "Christian" products will choose what's easily available to the public based on what will make them money.
And, again, it concerns me that the focus here is not on Christ but on the money.
Now, of course, if one looks, one will find good teachers, good Christian music, sound doctrine, etc. Maybe some pastor or Christian artist that most ppl haven't heard of. Maybe even one of the popular pastors that make the stores and publishers lots of money, like Piper. But, that's only for the ppl who search after good Christian content. For most ppl in America, they'll just be limited to listening to or reading Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, or Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, or whoever else brings in the big bucks, not necessarily the ppl that are edifying to the body. (Not saying that the groups just mentioned are bad. Well, except for LaHaye and Jenkins. They should just go... away... :) )
So, how do we change this problem in the Christian capitalist world?
Let me take this out of the Christian context to better illustrate my point:
I have a problem with the music industry in America. The problem is not that profit is being made on music. That's completely fine.
Also, the problem is not with the fact that there are some bands or musicians whose music I don't particularly find enjoyable. That's completely cool too.
No, the problem (that I'm addressing right now) is that the music industry basically controls what ppl will listen to, and their focus is on profit, not on musical quality. I mean, it's the big corporations that determine what goes on the radio, who's having a concert wherever and whenever, which artists get signed, etc. And they make these decisions based not on who's good or innovative or whatever. No, their focus is on making more money. And, on a smaller scale, music stores like the kind you see in malls will choose what's easily available to the public based on what will make them money.
And, again, it concerns me that the focus here is not on the music but on the money.
Now, of course, if one looks, one will find good music. Maybe some garage band that most ppl haven't heard of. Maybe even one of the popular groups that make the music industry lots of money. But, that's only for the ppl who search after good music. For most ppl in America, they'll just be limited to listening to Britney Spears, or Good Charlotte, or J.Lo, or whoever else brings in the big bucks, not necessarily the groups that are good. (Not saying that the groups just mentioned are bad. Well, except for Britney. She should just go... away... :) )
So, how do we change this problem in the music world?
------------------
Now, hopefully, you can see the parallels btw this and the concern I have about the church and capitalist culture. but, if not, then click the permalink (the posting time) below to read the rest of this...
I have a problem with the relationship between Christian culture and capitalism in America. The problem is not that profit is being made on Christian books, music, etc. That's completely fine.
Also, the problem is not with the fact that there are some writers, theologians, musicians, etc., whose teachings or theologies I don't agree with (but who also stay within the boundaries of orthodoxy). That's completely cool too.
No, the problem (that I'm addressing right now) is that large corporations and the stores that distribute such Christian media basically control what ideas and messages ppl will be exposed to and will associate with the name of Christ, and their focus is on profit, not on what best serves the body and equips it to serve Christ. I mean, it's the big corporations that determine what goes on the radio or TV, who gets published, which artists get signed, etc. And they make these decisions based not on who's most able to equip the church to worship God and bring glory to God. No, their focus is on making more money. And, on a smaller scale, stores that offer "Christian" products will choose what's easily available to the public based on what will make them money.
And, again, it concerns me that the focus here is not on Christ but on the money.
Now, of course, if one looks, one will find good teachers, good Christian music, sound doctrine, etc. Maybe some pastor or Christian artist that most ppl haven't heard of. Maybe even one of the popular pastors that make the stores and publishers lots of money, like Piper. But, that's only for the ppl who search after good Christian content. For most ppl in America, they'll just be limited to listening to or reading Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, or Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, or whoever else brings in the big bucks, not necessarily the ppl that are edifying to the body. (Not saying that the groups just mentioned are bad. Well, except for LaHaye and Jenkins. They should just go... away... :) )
So, how do we change this problem in the Christian capitalist world?
posted by thebrainkid at 6/05/2005 07:40:00 PM
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