vendredi 19 septembre 2003
Lack of time
In between college, ministry and life - I find I have less time to work on my blog! But I really want to stick it out and add the changes and fix the problems so far. I tried yesterday but Blogger wasn't cooperating, so after a few hours of frustration I reverted back to what I had before. Hopefully after my English paper is done I will be able to!
Friday Five:
1. Who is your favourite singer/musician? Why?
This one is obvious :) For those of you who know where my blog title comes from, you have an advantage to guessing what I'll say. Nah it's not too much of one since I mention them so often in my blog! But my favourite musical group (which is made up of musicians!) is Starfield and they rock because their main focus is on worshipping God and giving Him praise. That's it - they're not there for the glitz or glamour - but rather to support the local church and use their gifts for God's glory!
2. What one singer/musician you cannot stand? Why?
I cannot stand Creed, a postmodern band who may have had Christian influences, but is not a Christian group looking to glorify God through their music. This is an excerpt of a letter I wrote to the Christian radio station in town regarding their music being played on it:This is what they have themselves said regarding the question of if they are a Christian band:
"Is Creed a Christian band?"
"[It's] a question we're asked a lot because of some of the references made in the lyrics," lead singer Scott Stapp explains on the group's official Web site. "No, we are not a Christian band. A Christian band has an agenda to lead others to believe in their specific religious beliefs. We have no agenda!"
But we as Christians, ARE called by God to have an agenda, and that agenda is to proclaim the truth of who God is through everything we do in life. I have a hard time understanding why Shine (local Christian radio station) feels they would have to resort to playing Creed on a radio station that is supposed to "shine" for Christ. Hearing songs like "Six Feet Under" only shows the hopelessness that people have without Jesus, but what about the hope that Christians do have? I am not opposed to music like Creed's where they are honestly searching for the truth, but why bother playing music that hasn't found the truth yet when Shine is supposed to be a station that knows the truth and is spreading it for those who don't know it yet? This seems to be contrary to the whole point of a Christian radio station.
"We all have different beliefs in this band," Stapp recently told USA Today. "I mean, all three of us have faith, and I think we all believe there is a God. And there is definitely an intent to point people in a positive direction, and in some songs, that is to have faith and to lean on God when times get tough. But it's not a Christian God or a Buddhist God or a Muslim God. It's the God I see when I look at my little boy. It's the God I see in nature."
Again, this goes against what the Bible teaches. In a sense, by promoting Creed's music on your station, you are endorsing their music and the beliefs behind it that creates that music. Try this for a second, juxtapose playing a Creed song beside a worship song that praises God for sending His son. It just seems awkward and contradictory. While I think it's wonderful that Christian artists are going into the mainstream world, I find it upsetting that secular artists can enter the Christian world. I would think that this would be a definite stumbling block to those who are exploring the Christian faith and hear Creed on a Christian radio station, then goes and finds out their beliefs and either assumes that that is what Christians believe or think that Christians contradict each other once they find out their true beliefs. I think you would be doing a great thing by pulling Creed off, and leaving their music to influence those who are still searching for God but haven't found him yet. As for your station, I think the goal should be to be a light to others through music that has the purpose of lifting God's name on high.
I agree with what Bob Waliszewski wrote on Plugged In: "Lots of searching, but positive statements are well overshadowed by an outright rejection of biblical truth. Stapp says, "If it weren't for music, I might have ended up some crazed street preacher. Rock-n-roll is my religion." Not exactly the narrow path."
3. If your favourite singer wasn't in the music business, do you think you would still like him/her as a person?
Of course! It's not about their occupation but who they are in Christ, and they are fellow worshippers of God!
4. Have you been to any concerts? If yes, who put on the best show?
I've been to lots (see sidebar - "In Concert" for all the ones I've gone to). But the best would have to be Starfield. I've been to three of their concerts. The first one was great as was the third (except we had to leave early....). The second one would have been better if I weren't wearing earplugs backstage but the look on their faces when they found out they won "artist of the year" was priceless - and I have the claim to fame of being the only one to see that, hehe!
5. What are your thoughts on downloading free music online vs. purchasing albums? Do you feel the RIAA is right in its pursuit to stop people from dowloading free music?
Oh boy, I could write another long speel about this, but I won't. I think that no matter what, people will always download free music from the net (not that this makes it right, believe me, I'm not saying that at all!). I personally don't download music but I can't afford to buy new CDs all the time either, so this leaves me in a bind, which I'm sure others are in too! I agree that something should be paid, because this is how artists are making their living, but I don't think that prosecuting teenagers for downloading music because they can't afford $20+/album is right either. I don't see a solution in the near future, but hopefully something can be resolved soon because music is so integral to the expression of oneself in life. How can that be denied due to people not having money but how can that be denied to the musicians trying to create it? I realize I haven't really set a position in this little note, but it's something I'll have to think about some more.
Libellés : Friday Five
