Contemporary Christian music is usually theologically shallow and technically sloppy. And

*** Key term is usually. But that's okay. Not everyone is a theologian. The technically sloppy comment is just arrogant.

It has been said that Nashville session musicians who are paid to add backing instrumentals to CCM albums refer to

**** Same as secular music.

True musical innovation – i.e., traditional folk, neo-classical, progressive acoustic music, or any other departure from the norm is not allowed in CCM.

**** That's because there is little market for it. I don't like what I hear on most CCM stations either. All sounds same to me.

Increasingly, CCM artists are being marketed on the basis of sex appeal. A look at some of the newer young female artists shows photos of them which are, shall we say, much more revealing than they would have been ten or twenty years ago. And look at the

**** True. Same as secular artists. It is sad.

...yet their private lives are often indistinguishable from those in the world. Jaci Velasquez, for instance, can be seen acting in “Chasing Papi,” a movie which is “inappropriate for young children because of mild sexuality and language.”

**** I would bet this is not the norm. Plus, you don't know the private lives of the artists. Most love the Lord and are as holy as you and me. Luckily, it is not our own righteousness that saves us from our sins.

Let us consider Christian books. ...Yet I can also honestly say that the “Left Behind” series is among the most poorly written novels I have ever been exposed to. Christian fiction

**** In your opinion. Some like the book a lot. I read some books too (although not a lot of novels), and I rather thought the first book in the series was good. The authors are NOT novices. They are professional writers with professional publishing staffs. The books are good for what they are good for.

What about the ridiculous “What Would Jesus Eat” diet books? Whatever happened to books on sound theology and the duty of Christians?

**** Yes, these are rediculous. Talk about going overboard. There are still books that touch theological issues.

The problem in all of this and in what’s broadcast on Christian radio as well, is that these things have long since ceased to be a ministry. They are all part of a business.

**** Ministry by who's definition? When anything is done well, it brings glory to God. Just because you would do it one way does not mean we all must do it that way. I fall into this trap myself sometimes when I get worked up about stuff. I hate much of the cookie cutter CCM that is out there too. Some groups are just a bunch of pretty people put together and taught to sing and dance. That stinks. I like bands of a few guys that got together to jam and made it into something. Not those groups where a producer conducts tryouts and the pretty people get to be in a band. In my opinion, that is just commercial and pathetic.

A ministry that can’t be corrupted would be for a person to have a responsible day job, then to study and practice by night so that he or she could give concerts for free. Or a

**** Can't be corrupted? Okay, here's the scenario: He goes out, plays for free, then picks up a hooker afterward. Brother, you are being very judgemental. Motives are not for you to judge. It is okay, by the way to make a living from your ministry, that that is what God has led you to do.

person could learn to play a musical instrument and play it well, then teach free classes to those who can’t afford to take lessons. A Christian artist who wanted to glorify God

**** That is one type of ministry. But not the best. Others are just as good.

with his guitar could get a responsible job – say, as an electrical engineer – and buy several inexpensive guitars to give to kids in his neighborhood. He could start a guitar class. Then he could host a graduation recital where the kids invited families and friends, and the Gospel was preached.

**** See scenario above once again.

If a man or woman wants to be a Christian artist, he or she can study the craft of the art. A Christian guitarist should know how to read standard notation and tablature, should know about altered tunings and modes, should seek to learn good fingerstyle technique, etc. He should not be content merely to play strummy-strum-strum praise choruses with lyrics like this:

Lord, I lift my hands to You,
Lord, I lift my hands to You,
Lord, I lift my hands to You,
Praise Your Name

**** So, you've decided that God does not like this?

repeated a dozen times. And when it comes to poetry, lyrics, and stories, pleeeease, go to school! A Christian poet should be able to recognize iambs, trochees, spondees, dactyls, and anapests – and know how to use them. He or she should be able to write a sestina, a villanelle, a sonnet or a haiku. He or she should know how to build a metaphor, a word picture, a parable. Consider the literary group known as “the Inklings”. J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were both members of that society. They pushed each other to excellence in their writing. And look at the result: they blow most modern authors clean out of the water.

**** No they don't. Of course you said most, so you could be right. This sounds like the argument that the music of Fanny Crosby and those folks just blow CC worship music out of the water. Not true. Those songs are classics, but they are not better in any way from a musical perspective. Annointed in their time, but not musically better by any means.

**** You sound very intelligent/classically trained and all that jazz. But you know what? None of that stuff matters. Nice to know maybe. Important for others. But not necessary for everyone.

However, the looks of consternation I get from fellow Christians when I say I'm for instance, an environmentalist, is quite amusing.

The Thief in the Night Series was shown as an outreach in Tuscola several times. We set up in a big tent on the main drag in town.

It was terrifying on many levels. I don't think anyone was saved after watching those films and I'm betting a lot of Christians were second guessing their choice after viewing!

I spent a lot of my childhood expecting to have to hide out during the Great Tribulation. When I spent a summer at Steve Irons' home I spent some time dropping dry ice into coffee cans full of dried beans earmarked as provisions for Christians in hiding during the tribulation. (Margaret, correct me if that is not the case. I remember doing that with Danny several afternoons.)

Growing up in fear and dread. What fun.

Scott

The thing that makes politics between conservatives and liberals so difficut is that there is such a divide on moral issues, especially abortion, homosexual adjenda, and the place of religion in society.

There are also some very basic assumption differences between the two groups as to whether one should read a historical document (whether a Bible or a Constitution) and take the writer's intent or read into the document the sensibilities of modern (or more exactly postmodern) society.

I, for one, started voting based solely on the one issue I understood - the pro-life position that we need to support the needs of the baby as well as the woman.

Over the years, I educated myself on other issues (gun control/2nd ammendment, Great society welfare vs. Compassionate conservatism, big business trickle down vs. government regulated distribution of wealth, etc.) as well and formed opinions.

However, it is the blataint moral/religious ones that keep me living in the conservative camp.  When I pick up books by liberal spokesmen (who all seem to be comedians these days) and I see the blatant hatred they express towards God (e.g., the mocking Supply Side Jesus), I have a hard time attempting to listen to what they have to say.

I know we conservatives have Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter who get pretty sharp (and occasionally nasty) with their wit, but at least they are not trashing Jesus Christ.

If I had to, I could live happily in a gunless society with socialized medicine with my higher salary being redistributed to help the poor.  But, I just cannot have any part with the Liberal disregard of human life and unwillingness to be open to solutions that would help both mother and baby as well as their stand on other important moral issues.