From: kraig@biostr.washington.edu (Kraig Eno)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Re: Whose music is it?
Date: 14 Apr 92 00:29:23 GMT
Organization: University of Washington

>The thing is his attitude. I feel that those songs were written for God's
>glory (or so I thought), not for our singer's glory.  And if that is the
>case, why shouldn't I be allowed to praise God through those songs also?

I think you've got the right idea as far as actions go: follow his wishes,
don't do the songs, even though you think he's wrong.  I understand the
frustration, though, and I'll voice a couple of ideas on dealing with it.

You COULD play the songs and risk a lawsuit from him, or perhaps YOU could
use legal means to protect your right to do the songs.  I'm not sure whose
side the law would be on in this case, but I do know what 1 Cor. 6:1-7 says:
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unrighteous, and not before the saints" ... "Why do you not rather accept
wrong?  Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?"

If you can accept the difficult pill of "allowing yourself to be cheated",
I think it will largely end your frustration over the matter, especially
in the long term.  Remember that your relation with the singer is still
part of the picture, and it's just as important to deal with him in love
with the eventual goal of reconciliation, as it is to play good music.
The fact that you took the care to ask about his wishes, means you're
already doing the right thing.  If you don't respect those wishes,
it wasn't in the first place, of course.

>Whose music is it anyway? If everyone followed his philosophy then
>our hymnal and praise books would be empty, and all those accompaniment
>tapes would no longer exist. Please give me your comments on the subject.

If every Christian artist was a bozo, we wouldn't move forward, you're
right.  But fortunately we DO have large collections of songs that glorify
God, written by people who WEREN'T bozos, and I urge you to do the same.
Forget the past, keep praising God through music, and give it away to as
many as will receive it.

It sounds from your brief statements as though the singer was the one with
most of the talent for writing lyrics, and that he has more talent than he
has commitment to the Lord.  If that is true, I would rather not use songs
by such a person anyway, regardless of how good they sound or how great
the words are -- I believe the motivation of the heart has to match the
actions to be worth anything in the sight of God.  And let me encourage
you that you and your band have as much potential as anybody in songwriting,
if you get your material from the right Source.  It may not come quickly or
easily, but it will get better and it will be from your heart.  I have heard
some songs by people who thought they could never write, which were not only
very moving but also very eloquent.  Talent doesn't matter as long as you're
not trying to make a living at it; and IMHO honest material that glorifies
God is better than slick, but EMPTY words any day.

Kraig Eno, kraig@biostr.washington.edu
Life in the city -- the ultimate Artificial Reality environment.
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian