Christian Music Online

Christian music pioneer Larry Norman

April 27, 2006 – 6:57 am

Religious music - Why should the devil have all the good music?

It’s a question that Christian music pioneer Larry Norman asked 34 years ago in a song with that title on his album “Only Visiting This Planet.”

Now it’s the title of a new documentary that’s been released on DVD.

First-time directors Vickie Hunter and Heather Whinna went to the Cornerstone Festival and interviewed fans and artists about why they listen to or make Christian music. They also interviewed others in the mainstream music industry who weren’t at the festival.

It’s an enlightening look at Christian music, particularly by people who aren’t involved in the industry.

I found it to be a fair examination of the genre. They give ample time to allow the artists, fans and critics to express their likes and dislikes.

There has always been a conflict in Christian music: Is the artist a Christian musician? (Meaning: The lyrics are explicitly religious.) Or is the artist a Christian who makes music? (Which means: The music doesn’t necessarily have a spiritual message.)

Some, like Karl Doerfor of the group Detholz!, say they don’t want their groups labeled as Christian bands.

“I don’t feel like I have a message to get out there,” Doerfor said. “I’m a lot more interested in - if I’m going to have an effect on people - having it in my everyday life. It’s just music, it’s entertainment.”

Others, like Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric, think it’s an appropriate label.

“I think it’s even a bigger cop-out when bands try to avoid it and sort of chicken out on the whole thing. Our whole thing from the get-go was `Yeah, we’re Christians, we’re a Christian band.’

“I don’t want to have to go before the Lord later and say, `Well, we were chicken to represent you down there.’”

So who’s right? Larry Norman offers a solid perspective on the conflict:

“Art is art - you can do what you want to. You shouldn’t be surprised if no one becomes a Christian listening to your albums if there’s not very much specific content in it. But I think it’s fine to be a Christian and to do art and not to sing about Jesus if that’s what God is allowing you to do.”

BY BRENT CASTILLO
Knight Ridder Newspapers

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