Shaun Groves is a musician, a follower of Jesus and someone I have grown to respect. He made an interesting remark in a recent article in Christianity Today. The article is the first in a series of articles on the state of Christian radio."The bulk of the listeners are Christians," says Groves, "and this is music by Christians and for Christians. The trouble is, Christian radio tells stories to make you feel like they're evangelistic, but they're not. Say what you are. Don't lie to me and tell me I'm saving teenagers."
(click here to read the rest of the article)
This first article features a brief history and some insightful evaluation of the 'industry'. Although the piece is from an American perspective it’s not too hard to make some important connections to the same issues in Canada.
Shaun's comment and the article raise some interesting thoughts for me. One of the main rationales for the Christian music industry’s existence is the idea that by marketing the music commercially – evangelism will happen (that is people will get ‘saved’). What Shaun is drawing out is the reality of dynamics at play in the industry. Commercially it could be argued that Christian music could not thrive the way it has without a publicly accessible venue such as Christian radio. But the reality is that Christian radio is only marginally evangelistic at best in terms of who it market is reaching. So Shaun is asking marketing execs to tell the truth and reveal what more than few of us have believed for a while. This is primarily that:
Christian radio is a lucrative financial enterprise. It capitalizes on a niche market that is relatively easy to serve because of its general propensity to settle for lower quality music. And it uses the pretence of being an evangelistic tool further bolster support when in actuality Christian radio mostly, ‘preaches to the choir.’
I thought it was incredibly revealing to note Michael Card’s comments which suggested that had the church embraced the musicians of the early Jesus movement we might not even have such a thing as an ‘industry’ to talk about. Now that is likely an over statement but…
There are a few things about the concept of Christian-radio-as-witnessing-tool that are give pause. How did anyone get to thinking that a ‘searching’ person was going to make the choice to listen to a Christian radio station? Isn’t it arrogant to think that people who are looking for truth and redemption will naturally turn to a Christian radio station (or even TV station) for the answers to their quest? Who is comfortable feeding/supporting a growing chasm between the people who purport to hold the truth and the ones that seem to need it? Is it right to make profit off of music intended to please and glorify God? Does the music glorify God?
7 comments:
Thanks for calling attention to the article. I think the series as a whole will get the industry discussing these important issues - important to people in the industry anyway.
I've putting out fires over my comment all week. Good to read something kind instead.
Thanks for that.
SG
I completely agree with all that you've said, and believe it very strongly. However, I do know someone that was searching and called into a Christian radio station to ask about becoming a Christian and did so over the phone with whoever answered. I guess its fortunate for us that God can work inspite of us as well as through us.
jen,
no doubt it has happened more than once but the question i was asking (which was not very clear) was more a procedural one. Sorta: how did we come to expect that people were going to take the initiative to 'come to us' so to speak?
This is how the delusion is so subtle because a Xian radio station may operate under the premise of trying to be an alternative tot he secular market but when it is supported by Christian dollars then in basically becomes another way for Christians to reinforce their exclusivity concepts. And ironically it is using a publically acessible medium.
Sure I think some people are going to be reached for Christ. And that will be legitimate. But I also think that the fundy dude with the bullhorn will get some converts too. But to me just becuase the fundy dude gets a few notches on the old gun belt doesn't mean his methods are healthy...
sad that xians have bought into the consumeristic, materialism of the world. kudos to shaun who provides music free of charge. imagine the foolishness of that in the world's eyes. what if we provided all bibles free of charge? or any other number of items/services that xians are called to provide to the lost and dying, free of charge? how foolish would we look to the world and how empty would our overstuffed wallets, pocketbooks, supersized purses and bank accounts look?
This further feeds into my theory that we have allowed ourselves to get so pigeonholed as Christian musicians that we have willingly segregated ourselves. I was at the Covenant Awards in Calgary earlier on this year and was hearing Christian artists spout from the platform about how "it's all about reaching people for Jesus." I almost laughed out loud. I know that these are sincere people but my challenge to them would be to tell me what unsaved people are buying their albums(only available via Christian bookstores) and coming to their shows(promoted via Christian Radio and in churches).
just a thought
I guess I just never thought of Christian radio as being evangelical in nature. To be honest, I avoid it like a plague so I don't know what they claim to be.
This does remind me of a CCM magazine cover I saw once about Jaci Velasquez and how she didn't "sell out" and "go secular." Cause we all know that its harder to sing about Jesus to people who already know him.
Appreciate your comments Dale. This page really challenges my thinking!
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