WWJW(ear)?

I was looking back over a few blogs and checking out some comments. I think I might have been a bit vague in one of my posts. Seriously: Obnoxious Christians are more than just sinners.

We as Christians have a number of annoying types. I will describe a couple of types of “Christian”. Then I’ll explain why it is that I really dislike the way they/we act and behave. Maybe you know some. Here are a few that I struggle with:

The Plastic Christians: Our facial muscles have forgotten how to do anything but smile. Sure we are smiling, we have the Lord! Do you know Jesus? Have we told you about Jesus? No, we will not stop shaking your hand no matter how uncomfortable you feel. We know that everything that happens (good or bad) takes place because of the divine providence of the Lord; so if little Johnnie is hit by a car...it is because God needed another angel! We love polyester and our hair in never out of place. Don’t you think we look like Barbie’s friend Ken?

Oy vay, I think “Used Car Salesmen”. There is nothing wrong with being well-groomed or smiling or even being happy. I am not talking about those people...I am talking about FAKE people. For goodness sake BE REAL. If you aren’t feeling a full array of emotions, you are not blessed...YOU ARE INHUMAN! Human beings have emotions, have anger, have fear, have doubt...read a couple of Psalms if you don’t think so.

The Jesus Warrior: We know God and Jesus and we will tell you exactly what you need to say, do, act, and behave in order to win salvation. We will not listen to anything you have to say for you are wrong and in need of immediate conversion. Repent or we will cast aspersion at you and refuse to be in your presence.

Christian Warrior Video

I think you need to be ready to defend the faith and assist in the Kingdom vision; but for goodness sake you don’t have to be a zealot. Don’t shy away from sharing your faith but remember nobody likes having another person’s faith shoved down their throats. Do you?

We have a secret. Sure we are arrogant we have everything figured out.

If you say you have, I think you are lying or deluded. I think we have some things figured out but most things we have to take on faith not fact. So, if you think you have everything figured out—I gotta say, I think you are wrong. Nobody knows the mind of God.

The separation of Church and State Christians: We are “part-time” Christians. We act and profess one thing (enthusiastically or not) at church or in the presence of our faith communities. And act differently outside of that setting.

I think this is sad. I truly believe that you can be a regular person AND a Christian. Or is it a Christian who is a regular person. I don’t think you have to be like St. Paul 24/7; just be an every-day dude.

I point these types out as a means of explaining how other people; non-Christians view us. Would you join a group of people like us? People are turning out and turning away in part because of the way they perceive Christians. The stereotypical understanding of what it means to be a Christian, by those who are not, is...well...it is not a pretty picture. I believe our task is to serve human kind and be a part of the Kingdom as it works throughout the creation. NOT to shame people into conversion or pretend to have ALL the answers.

Yes, we are forgiven. I thank God for that! Truly, ALL are forgiven I thank God for that more so. We are to share that message with the world. One person at a time; one family at a time; one community at a time...we are supposed to point to Jesus NOT jam him down people's throats.

WWJD(irect) Part 2

WWJD: What Would Jesus Direct? Part II

As I mentioned in a prior blog, I believe it is not too far-fetched to think that Jesus would have embraced the use of motion pictures to spread his ideas of salvation through love and grace. He was innovative in his own day and he would use the subtle images and stories to teach.

To reiterate movies should not be as revered as scripture. The Bible is one revelation the primary revelation of God. However, people do not read the Bible as much as they should...and they probably do watch more movies than they should. Fortunately deep theological themes are rife in the movies. The motion picture industry over the last 100 years has produced an extensive library of religious and secular motion pictures with religious themes.

Today I am looking at religious movies. I will not be commenting on films that deal with the Holy Spirit or God the creator. As far as overtly religious films, there are what I call “Jesus-films” and “Christ-films”. In Jesus-films the movie directly brings scripture to the screen and Jesus is narratively present in the film—like Gospels. In Christ-films, the imago Dei is hidden within one of the characters or elements of Christ are dispersed in a number of characters—compare to Epistles.



Archetypal Jesus-films have Jesus as the central figure and are often set in ancient Roman-occupied Palestine such as King of Kings, The Greatest Story Ever Told and Jesus Christ Superstar; the exceptions being films such as: Jesus of Montreal and Godspell.

The allegorical Jesus in Jesus of Montreal is an exceptionally complex character. In this film, Daniel Coulombe is an actor portraying Jesus in a play. As the play is rehearsed and performed, Daniel begins to transform into Christ. This film seems to cross over between the two genres and is a Christ-film with the essence of a Jesus-film. The actors in the movie give the film a Christ-film feel while the play they are performing gives it a Jesus-film quality.

To me the more interesting movie is the archetypical Christ-film which focuses on the spiritual aspect of Christianity. More closely identified with the apostolic letters written to the fledgling churches, the stress is placed on the mysticism of Jesus and encourages us to remain steadfast. The Christ-film is not usually set in the Middle East and in them, Christ-like figures appear who are definitely not Jesus. Of course there are exceptions to all genre distinctions. These films embody the spiritual essence of Jesus to a large extent. Who Jesus was and what Christ represented is open for interpretation. Films such as Pay it Forward, Schindler’s List, Poseidon Adventure and Babette’s Feast feature characters whose self-sacrificing actions benefit both those whom they love and those they don’t even know.

This makes it more appealing to the general public. In overtly religious films, the secular audience would not likely embrace the effort. Important lessons are found in everyday movies and non-Christians would continue to experience religious themes.

By watching more than one aspect of Christ, we gain a greater understanding of the Word made flesh. In this regard the film industry is an ad hoc conglomeration of writers and directors who represent prophets and apostles. The scrolls they produce are motion pictures. We should trust God, believing that we will find the spiritual inspiration that is present in their films. These films are what we have today by way of new stories of life, society, hope and salvation.

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If Jesus were in human form today he would take the time to watch films with his disciples and then discuss what was seen. If we miss any element of film today it is that we cheapen the deliberate and deeply philosophical lessons and sociological themes that directors bring to us in their films by not taking the time to discuss their relevance.

Keep your eyes peeled, you just might see Jesus in the next Spiderman movie you see.

The NEW Seven Deadly Sins

Check out what other people are thinking.



What are you thinking? What is sin? What does it matter?

Did you hear about the papal decree that updates the list of Seven Deadly Sins? A few years back I caught a blurb about the new list of Seven Social Sins. As a follow up to my last post, I dug a little bit and this is what I found:

Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican body that oversees confessions and plenary indulgences, said priests must take account of “new sins which have appeared on the horizon of humanity as a corollary of the unstoppable process of globalization”. He suggested the old wildly popular original seven deadly sins were largely individualistic. And in the modern world, modern sins have a much bigger social impact.



I struggled to find THE DEFINITIVE LIST and have found a number of different lists. To the best of my abilities I have boiled them down to this:

1. "Bioethical" violations such as birth control
2. "Morally dubious" experiments such as stem cell research
3. Drug abuse
4. Polluting the environment
5. Contributing to widening divide between rich and poor
6. Excessive wealth
7. Creating poverty

Some seem like there are duplicates or a couple that are very similar, but we have to have SEVEN! What is the bottom line, who is on the hot-seat? According to Bishop Girotti these people are treading thin ice:
Pushing Drugs (and Drug Abusers)
Abortionists
Obscenely Rich
Environmental polluters
Manipulative genetic scientists

As Girotti points out: “You offend God not only by stealing, taking the Lord's name in vain or coveting your neighbor's wife, but also by wrecking the environment, carrying out morally debatable experiments that manipulate DNA or harm embryos.”

NOW JUST HOLD ON THERE! Just because there is a list, doesn’t mean that everything on that list belongs...even if some things do. There is no such thing as guilt by association here. Like all things there is right and there is wrong; and there is what people think is right and wrong; and there is what people are telling you is right or wrong based on manipulation; or how they want you to act or react. Each item on a “list” must be evaluated on its own merit.

Birth control is a sin? Really? Stem cell research? Rather a “slippery slope”. Excessive wealth? I guess it depends on whether or not that wealth is hoarded or used to fund programs that help the marginalized. Drug abuse? In all cases? We have a better understanding now a-days. I always thought of addicts as victims. Pushers are one thing, addicts another. Polluting? Seriously, who is innocent of this one?

What is sin? What does it matter?

You can say that killing, stealing, coveting and smoking are sins. But just because smoking is on the same list as some really nasty behaviors, does not make it a sin. Smoking is stupid, I will grant you that. It has been proven extremely likely to cause grave illness (read as: Smoking kills). You could make the argument that the tobacco industry is a sin by harming relationships between neighbors (but that is a major sidebar).

The point being, if it is simply on a list of other “sins” that does not make an individual’s act of smoking a sin...unless it causes that person to turn away from God. Then it is a sin. Turning toward God is relationship. That is what God intends, for us to be in relationship; with God with one another. That is why Christ came to this world so we wouldn’t have to go around worrying about lists. For that he (among other reasons) was killed.

The final victory, however, is in the resurrection. God’s resurrection of Christ opens the door for all. There is no “Go directly to Hell” card in this world. It is time we stop contriving lists of right and wrong for the purposes of scaring people into “behaving”. Yes, there is right behavior and wrong behavior. We do need civil law to ensure the safety and protection of ourselves and our neighbors. Our religious codes may have had that intent; but to tell a teen-age boy he is destined for Hell because he fantasizes about a classmate or teacher is wrong. Violating someone by acting on the behavior is another matter. We must be careful about our motives. Laws and lists developed to protect our neighbor whether religious or civil are useful; but not if eternal damnation is threatened for every action. Yes, I know that there are plenty of verses that can be used (or abused) to justify supporting this...but that is not the overarching message God gives us through Christ. The message was about forgiveness and the inclusion of all humanity.

There is nothing more powerful than God’s love. Nothing. And reconciliation which is meant for all. That means all.

The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins. The Church divided sin into two kinds, Mortal and Venial. The Big Seven are the “Mortal” type so I am not talking about your common garden-variety sins. The Venial sin can be absolved with a little sacramental action or a quick penance. I am talking about the big nasties. These actions and behaviors are one-way tickets directly to Hell; do not pass go, do not collect $200.

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The traditional ones are, of course:
1. wrath
2. greed
3. sloth
4. pride
5. lust
6. envy
7. gluttony

Or are they? In the 14th Century (and in Latin), they were:
1. superbia (pride)
2. avaritia (greed)
3. luxuria (extravagance)
4. invidia (envy)
5. gula, (gluttony)
6. ira, (wrath)
7. acedia (discouragement)

We seem to have traded “extravagance and discouragement” for “sloth and lust”. Maybe it's the “Puritan influence”. But at least it’s seven and not eight. The original list originated around the 4th century:
1. gula (gluttony)
2. fornicatio (lust or fornication)
3. avaritia (greed)
4. tristitia (despair or sorrow)
5. ira (wrath)
6. acedia (discouragement)
7. vanagloria (vainglory)
8. superbia (pride)

In this list (compared to our English list) we lose “sloth and envy” but gain “despair, discouragement and vainglory”. Vainglory seems to be a duplication of pride; despair and discouragement could be seen as sloth; and envy could be a form of lust. Meanings have changed slightly over the years.

Next question: Where in the Bible is this list? Answer...um...nowhere actually. Sure each one is in the Bible, some grouped together, other times alone. Proverbs takes a real shot-gun approach at naming “naughty behaviors” and does actually announce a list of 6 (or 7). Check it out:
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family. (Proverbs 6:16-19 NRSV)

What were they again?

1. a proud look
2. a lying tongue
3. hands that kill the innocent
4. a conniving heart
5. rushing toward evil
6. a lying witness
7. a sower of discord

Not even close to what we have today.

Then there is the list Paul gives us:
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. (Galatians 5:19-21 NRSV)

By my count that is 15 plus “things like these”; so that ain’t it.

So where did the list come from?

The Big Seven were laid down in the Sixth Century by Pope Gregory the Great (Pope Gregory I) and it does not include all sins of the Mortal variety. Our current list comes from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. Dante lays out the Seven and voila the people of the Middle-Ages have a bunch of things to feel guilty about. And people still are haunted...talk about staying power.

So being that Dante wrote it and it isn’t in the Bible, does that mean there is no significance? Is this just another example of Dante trying to “castigate people he despised”? Sure, in large part he was writing about specific people he felt were heathens and hypocrites, but there is significance here still. The “sins” were based on scripture.

Sure, there is some validity, but: 1) lists like these (and the Decalogue) are guidelines for us; 2) our sins are forgiven. I am convinced that there is no difference to God, sin is sin. Christ died for our sins, so other than making an interesting plot for a movie, I got nothin’.

I’d stick to my old stand-by:

Love God with all you heart, mind and soul. And love your neighbor as yourself. If you do both of those things, you are not likely to commit offenses to any of these lists.

WWJW What Would Jesus Watch?

So Jesus and the gang decide to catch a flick. And of course, being tech-savvy people, rather than going to a theater they are down-loading a movie. The debate begins and we all wonder: What Would Jesus Watch? Well, if I were with them and the gang asked me for a film to enjoy and discuss what would I recommend? I have listed below a bunch of thought provoking movies within which I have found significant religious themes. Bear in mind not all the films are “kid friendly” and most of them are not explicitly “religious” but all deal with one theological aspect or another. Some films are recommended because they are good examples and some are included because they miss the mark so badly it insists that we discuss it. I have not indicated which are which...I’d like to see how you view it.
Check it out and please, add a comment and make suggestions to the list!

Filmography
1. Artificial Intelligence: AI 2001,Warner Bros. Steven Spielberg, director.
2. The Apostle 1998, Butcher's Run Films. Robert Duvall, writer/director.
3. Awakenings 1990, Columbia. Penny Marshall, director.
4. Babette’s Feast (Babettes gæstebud) 1987, Det Danske Filminstitut. Gabriel Axel, director.
5. Being There 1979, BSB. Hal Ashby, director.
6. Ben Hur 1959, MGM William Wyler, director.
7. The Bucket List 2007, Warner Bros. Rob Reiner, director.
8. Casablanca 1942, Warner Bros. Hal B. Wallis, producer; Michael Curtiz, director.
9. Chocolat 2000, Miramax. Lasse Hallström, director.
10. Cocoon 1985, Zanuck/Brown Productions. Ron Howard, director.
11. Contact 1997, Warner Bros. Robert Zemeckis, director.
12. Crimes and Misdemeanors 1989, Orion. Woody Allen, writer/director.
13. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2005, Walt Disney Pictures. Andrew Adamson, director.
14. Dead Poet’s Society 1989, Touchstone. Peter Weir, director.
15. Dogma 1999, View Askew Productions. Kevin Smith, writer/director.
16. Donnie Darko 2001, Pandora Cinema. Richard Kelly, writer/director.
17. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 1982, Universal Pictures. Steven Spielberg, director.
18. Elizabethtown 2005, Paramount Pictures. Cameron Crowe, writer/director.
19. Elmer Gantry 1960, Elmer Gantry Productions. Richard Brooks, writer/director.
20. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 2004, Anonymous Content. Michel Gondry, director.
21. Fearless 1993, Spring Creek Productions. Peter Weir, director.
22. Fiddler On the Roof 1971, United Artists. Norman Jewison, director.
23. Field of Dreams 1989, Universal Pictures. Phil Alden Robinson, director.
24. Five People You Meet in Heaven 2005, Five People Productions Inc. Lloyd Kramer, director.
25. Flatliners 1990, Columbia Pictures. Joel Schumacher, director.

26. Gods and Monsters 1998, Lions Gate Films. Bill Condon writer/director.
27. The Gods Must be Crazy 1980, CAT Films. Jamie Uys, writer/director.
28. Godspell 1973, Columbia. David Greene, director.
29. The Gospel According to St. Matthew 1966, L’Arco Film. Pier Paolo Pasolini, director.
30. Gospel of John 2004, Gospel of John Ltd. Phillip Saville, director.
31. The Greatest Story Ever Told 1965, United Artists. George Stevens, producer/director.
32. The Green Mile 1999, Castle Rock Entertainment. Frank Darabont writer/director
33. Groundhog Day 1993, Columbia Pictures. Harold Ramis, writer/director.
34. A Guy Named Joe 1943, MGM. Victor Fleming, director.
35. Harold and Maude 1971, Mildred Lewis and Colin Higgins Productions. Hal Ashby, director.
36. Inherit the Wind 1960, Stanley Kramer Productions. Stanley Kramer, director.
37. Jesus Christ Superstar 1973, Universal Studios. Norman Jewison, director.
38. Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal) 1990, Centre National de la Cinématographie. Denys Arcand, director/writer.
39. Jesus of Nazareth 1977, Artisan. Franco Zeffirelli, director.
40. King David 1985, Paramount. Bruce Beresford, director.



41. King of Kings 1961, Warner Bros. Samuel Bronton, director.
42. The Last Temptation of Christ 1988, Universal Pictures. Martin Scorsese, director.
43. Left Behind 2001, Cloud Ten Productions. Vic Sarin director.
a. (Not an endorsement, but what is wrong with this film!)
44. The Matrix 1999, Groucho II Film Partnership. Andy and Lana Wachowski, writers/directors.
45. Memphis Belle 1990, BSB. Michael Caton-Jones, director.
46. Monty Python’s The Life of Brian 1979, Python (Monty) Pictures. Terry Jones, director.
47. Nazarin 1968, Producciones Barbachano. Ponce Luis Bruñuel, writer/director
48. O Brother, Where Art Thou? 2000, Touchstone Pictures. Ethan and Joel Coen, writers/directors.
49. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 1975, United Artist. Milos Forman, director.
50. Ordet 1955, Palladium Film. Kai Munk, writer. Carl Theodor Dreyer, writer/director.
51. Out of Africa 1985, Mirage. Sydney Pollack, director.
52. The Passion of the Christ 2004, 20th Century Fox. Mel Gibson, producer/director.
53. Pay it Forward 2000, Warner Bros. Mimi Leider, director.
54. Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975, Australian Film Commision. Peter Weir director.
55. Quo Vadis 1951, MGM. Mervyn LeRoy, director.
56. The Rapture 1991, New Line Cinema. Michael Tolkin, writer/director.
57. The Robe 1953, 20th Century Fox. Henry Koster, director.
58. Saving Private Ryan 1998, Amlin Entertainment. Steven Spielberg, director.
59. Sampson and Delilah 1949, Paramount. Cecil B. DeMille, director.
60. Schindler’s List 1993, Universal. Steven Spielberg, director.
61. The Seventh Sign 1988, TriStar. Carl Schultz, director.
62. The Shawshank Redemption 1994, Castle Rock. Frank Darabont, director.
63. Star Wars (A New Hope) 1977, Lucasfilm. George Lucas, writer/director.
64. The Station Agent 2003, SenArts Films. Thomas McCarthy writer/director.
65. The Ten Commandments 1956, Paramount. Cecil B. DeMille, director.
66. The Truman Show 1998, Paramount. Peter Weir, director.
67. 2001: A Space Odysseus 1968, COMPANY. Stanley Kubric, director.
68. The Village 2004, Touchstone Pictures. M. Night Shyamalan, writer/director.

WWJD film and theology

WWJD: What Would Jesus Direct? PART 1

If Jesus were alive today, he might trade in his robe and sandals for a movie camera and Jodhpur pants. This image of a mid-twentieth century director may not be too far-fetched. Jesus might well embrace the use of motion pictures to spread his ideas of salvation through love and grace. He was innovative in his own day and he would use the subtle images and stories to teach.

From their beginning, motion pictures have been wildly popular to the masses…and widely criticized by religious communities. Today, ministers frequently quote lines from movies or relate scripture passages in the context of popular films. Why? Because that is the frame of reference that is most cogent. Jesus told stories and parables to teach. However, people are no longer waiting around “mounts” for someone to “sermonize” to them. They are at malls…at sporting events…on-line...and at the movies. Christians should employ films in addition to the Bible for religious instruction of children, youths and young adults. A good minister ought to have a Cinematic Canon at hand to help relate to parishioners.



Ministers do collect, interpret and retell stories for religious instruction. And have done this throughout the recorded history to give substance and validity to their beliefs. The message has been brought to the masses via oral tales, psalms, hymns, epistles, gospels, statuary, stained-glass windows, passion plays, Christmas pageants, music and...movies. None are as important or revered as scripture—nor should they be. People should talk about religious aspects they see in films. Some films might inspire people to take Bibles off of dusty shelves to see what is actually written. I recall many of my friends pouring through Revelation looking up passages after watching The Seventh Sign (1988).

Recording and teaching religious history is crucial our understanding. Even as Jesus taught from scripture and knew the Hebrew Bible; he taught new things, in new ways. Allegory, metaphor and a new form called “parable” were the tools he used. The important thing is that even as he used new ways to reach the people, so must we in this age of technology be creative in reaching people today.

The Bible has become a lithographic tome. It is important to keep the text alive. Yet, Sunday school, Confirmation and Catechism lessons are easily forgotten. Children and young adults are more visually stimulated than previous generations. Even if viewed once, most people long after remember details of Mel Gibson’s The Passion (2004). I don’t put much stock in the authenticity of his particular telling, but it is a great “jumping off point” to telling the story as our Gospels tell it. Much of what the techno-Christian knows comes from movies, and many people would rather watch a film than read a book. Jesus was innovative we should be too as we share the word of God. The motion picture industry over the last 100 years has produced an extensive library of religious films and secular movies with subtle religious themes.

Films with transferable secular and sacred meaning will not replace scripture, but rather enhance it. The major focus of any Christian education should be the teachings of Jesus Christ. Major motion pictures already focus on many Christian themes; sometimes correctly and sometimes missing the mark. People are going to see them, we as Christians may as well use these opportunities as teaching moments. Important lessons are found in everyday movies. Having religious themes appear in everyday movies rather than separating religion from everyday life would better serve Christians. And, the benefits spill over into the secular world; since non-Christians continue to experience religious themes. We, however, cheapen the deliberate and deeply philosophical lessons and sociological themes that directors bring to us in their films by not taking the time to discuss their relevance.

Most people have created at least a mental list of favorite films which embrace values they support; if you will, a personal canon for theological understanding. Through screening, reflection and discussion, a Cinematic Canon for religious study would indeed be helpful in reaching people for theological instruction.

Tune in soon for a sequel to this posting as I explore Jesus films and Christ films.

What Would Jesus Play?

My grandma would say, “The only hymn you need is A Mighty Fortress is our God.” It was good enough for Grandma, but it probably isn’t gonna cut it with the current Christian audience. Not to mention the secular audience.

My grandma used to say that the saxophone was the devil’s instrument. She believed that just listening to it could cause young women to completely lose control of their libido. Very frightening. Was this more of a personal confession or a verifiable fact?

My mom used to talk about the evils of Rock and Roll. Elvis Presley gyrating his hips; John Lennon misquoted as saying the Beatles were greater than Jesus; or the on-stage antics of Jimi Hendrix—what do we make of these? Jimmy Page once claimed that in the middle of guitar solos he felt as though someone else was playing. Was it the work of the devil?

I remember being a member of a church that actively encouraged its youth to melt records--yes, I’m talking about vinyl LPs...I am that old!  They were convinced of the influence of Satan in music and that even if the Allman Brothers sang “Jesus is just alright with me!” the fact that they played guitars...no ELECTRIC GUITARS...was an indication of satanic activity.

Maybe you have been in a debate or witnessed an argument regarding Satan’s activities in a particular genre of music. Or maybe you suspect that all music of a particular genre is pure and simple music from the devil. I don’t and I don’t think we should teach that it is. I believe all things that can be used for good can also be used for evil. And many things that are used for evil could be used for good. For good or ill we are inhabitants of this world and we need to take what we find and what we experience and use it for good.


Beethoven was considered by many to be “too-secular”; J.S. Bach, who over a five year period annually wrote 60 cantatas for worship, had detractors who questioned his “theological disposition”.



I am not saying that everything is okay or permissible, what I mean is we ought to be selective about that to which we expose ourselves. I’ll give you a few examples.
Some Rock and Roll songs encourage aberrant behavior: rebellion against parents, drinking, drug use or sexual promiscuity. Other songs encourage loving the environment, caring for one another, being true yourself or praising God. Is Rock and Roll good or evil? I don’t think you can make a categorically exclusive claim here. And let's face it not all rock (evil or not) is good.


LYRICS

Youch!! I think that performance needs MORE COWBELL!


Rap music that encourages abusive treatment of people (especially women) I would say is evil and destructive. Addressing people using demeaning words may be acceptable by the artist, the audience and even by the person being marginalized; but I suspect it erodes self-esteem and encourages people to believe they are lesser human beings. It works against what Jesus taught us about the treatment of those who are marginalized. But does that make ALL rap music inherently evil? No, it is bad because it is an AWFUL SOUNDING NOISE WITH AN INSIPID BEAT AND TERRIBLE VOCALIZATION. But my Grandma used to say the same thing about Rock. “It is just a bunch of noise.” Rap just isn’t my cup of tea. If you like it, more power to you.

To me, Christian praise music gives me a Mr. Misty headache. It is okay to hear a song at church, but I simply can’t listen to KTIS for more than a half hour at a time. I just can’t. To me it isn’t enough to just sing “Jesus is my pal” to a happy bouncy tune. To others, it is incredibly centering.

If it doesn’t make people turn away from God, I am willing to admit that it is good. Any music that reinforces the pathway between God and people is good music. It doesn’t mean it works for me, but if it works for you; then it is Good.