What is a Christian band?

[gig]

When is a band Christian or not Christian? I'm looking for a working definition, and don't have one to offer myself. I'm just curious what people think of when those two words are together. I realize this is subjective, but there is certainly an element of objectivity in here ... isn't there?

 

[gig]

BTW, if this has been done, my apologies. Point me to the thread and we'll end this here and now.

 

[MissSarah8884]

Umm. I'm not sure. I think that putting labels on people can be hard. I, personally, think that when you have Christians in a band, they are Christian. Just because not every song a band plays isn't about God or Jesus doesn't mean that they aren't Christian band. I think that we need more people who are Christian's in bands, and they can sing about life in general. Obviously, it is going to come from a Christian perspective, and point anyone towards Jesus, but it doesn't have to be super blatent all the time.

 

[LondonsBurning]

A Christian Band markets their music to Christians.

 

[reformedfan]

A Christian Band markets their music to Christians.

Nah, why leave heathens out of the loop

I think a Christian band, if they have any integrity at all, needs to not only consist of professing Christians, but write all their own music. I reviewed Relient K, not knowing they were "Christian", and all I heard was a bunch of rip off artists stealing from artists they were certain buyers would be ignorant of, like Blink 182, etc.

What a horrible witness!

I don't really like Switchfoot as a musical genre, but I have a whole lot more respect for a band like that (that's finding crossover success on plain ol' lame radio) that writes their own music & sounds original than someone like R.K, that steals from heathens to market to Christians' ignorant of what's going on in the world of depraved alt.

 

[reformedfan]

Umm. I'm not sure. I think that putting labels on people can be hard. I, personally, think that when you have Christians in a band, they are Christian. Just because not every song a band plays isn't about God or Jesus doesn't mean that they aren't Christian band. I think that we need more people who are Christian's in bands, and they can sing about life in general. Obviously, it is going to come from a Christian perspective, and point anyone towards Jesus, but it doesn't have to be super blatent all the time.

YES!! Well said Miss Sarah, here come some rep points for ya!

 

[meandonlyme]

too be "a christian band " you have to belive in your faith with your heart and share it though your music.

 

[Qyöt27]

I see it as nebulous, but when I refer to 'Christian music' I'm usually referring to CCM, Christian Rock/Metal, any underground Christian artists (like at Flaming Fish Records, etc.), or bands like P.O.D., Blindside, or Amy Grant (interesting mix, huh? ) that, while still signed to a major mainstream label, continue writing 'inspirational' music (which is what early CCM was called, co-incidently). It's force of habit, if anything else. The only difference is that I don't segregate Christian music and 'secular' music (I hate the word 'secular' when used in reference to music).

If I'm throwing out my 'Christian music has no clear definition' argument, I'll usually tack onto the question whether or not they consider songs to be Christian if the lyrics deal with spiritual issues and thereby edify the person, without mentioning the artists' religious affiliation, but obviously when the lyrics are coming from a Christian perspective, even if it is due to the country the music comes from or experiences that the artist has had.

 

[kwanseemun]

I think a Christian band is a band where the people in it a Christians...they don't necessarily have to share it through their music, they are still Christian...

EDIT: they don't necessarily have to share it through their music as long as they don't contradict it through their music either