Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: iba@ics.uci.edu (Wayne Iba) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Some thoughts on "Christian Music" (was Re: Petra Praise) Message-ID: Date: 1 Jan 90 15:59:16 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of California, Irvine - Dept of ICS Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Several points in response to recent discussion on christian music: First, all lists of various artists left out a particular musician -- Phil Keaggy. This was inexcusable. Phil is realistically the best musician playing "christian" music and is generally agreed to be "one of the best guitarists in the world at large". He's an example to me of "doing whatever you do as unto the Lord". Music is a highly opinionated issue. (However, my previous paragraph is un-opinionated and represents objective truth :). However, I think one issue that came up before and that is probably appropriate for discussion here is what role music made by christians should have. Someone suggested that somehow christian musicians had a responsibility to "win souls" through their music. I find this rediculous. This is a manifestation of the tendancy to "redeemify" everything. Your car has to have a fish or dove on the back, your skate-board has to have appropriate christian stickers on it, etc. Basically, everything needs to be "sanctified" by putting scripture quotes and fishes on it. It is people that need redemption -- not things (IMHO). Aside from any potential responsibility of the christian musician, what role as listening christians should music have in our lives? This is part of a larger question -- what role should entertainment and recreation play in our lives? I would be interested in people's thoughts on this. No answers, just questions. --wayne "and we crucify each other, leaving a battered, wounded bride but Jesus loves the church so we walk the isle of history towards the marriage feast for Jesus loves the church" Shela Walsh (wrds) P Keaggy (music)