Is it just me or are most “Christians Artists” incapable of producing anything more than sentimental drivel. It’s not that I don’t admire them for trying to incorporate their faith in their work, but I’m fed up of Christians always being represented with inferior work. If people really feel that God has gifted them with artistic ability, why are they wasting it on mediocre attempts to glorify him, by reproducing the same stuff over and over again. There are plenty of non-Christian artists who manage to create new innovative work that stands the test of time, so what is stopping us Christians?
It seems I am not the only one holds this view. On Mark Berry’s blog Way Out West, I found a quote from Lou Carlozo, Music Editor for the Chicago Tribune on the same subject.
It’s an outrage to me that so much “Christian” art is in fact artistically inferior crap. Why? First and foremost, I don’t think my Savior, the love of my life, would want His holy name spackled onto something so ham-fisted as most “Christian” music. Talk about violating the commandment of taking the Lord’s name in vain! Jesus as the marketing equivalent of Adidas. A brand name.
UNTIL CHRISTIAN MUSIC STRESSES ART OVER AGENDA, IT CAN NEVER BE ANYTHING BUT SECOND RATE. As a music editor at the Chicago Tribune, I have a responsibility to turn my readers on to the best art out there. And as a Christian, I have an obligation to tell the truth at all costs, as I see it. If it’s bad, awkward, mawkish art that Nashville keeps shipping to me like so many day-glo W.W.J.D. bracelets, what choice do I have? I would rather be the voice of one crying out in the wilderness than win the approval of any cabal that is convinced–for all the wrong reasons–that the majority of “Christian” music serves a noble purpose.
Admittedly this quote is fairly harsh, but sadly there is a lot of truth in what he says. In Britain where Christianity gets a far harsher press than America, Christian artists have really got their work cut out for them, but if they really want to show the power of Christ in there work they should surely be aiming far higher than even human capability, not settling for something that quite frankly does not do God justice.
If you happen to be a Christian musician or artist, please do not be disheartened by all this. Instead be encouraged and challenged to get out there and make some flippin mind blowing, awe inspiring, God glorifying ART!
