From: 00bwanderson@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Galactic Cowboys, Extreme and King's X
Date: 17 Nov 92 23:46:53 GMT
Organization: Ball State University, Muncie, In - Univ. Computing Svc's

Davis wrote:

Over the past few days there have been debates on the validity of listening
to "real" world (secular) music vs. christian music. Some have said
there should be quotas or ratios to how much christian music we must
listen to compared to secular music. Well quotas and ratios are silly,
that's like saying a little swearing, or using the Lord's Name in vain is
o.k., or that a little pornography is o.k.. Like someone said on here
to be truly christian one must immerse themselves in christianity, so
therefore we should all choose to avoid secular music all together.
  In that case I propose the banning of the following bands on here (after
all you'll never hear them on the local christian stations).
Below is a list with some chrages brought against them....note that these
bands "confess" to not playing "christian music".

      1) Galactic Cowboys - not once to they mention Jesus or God in their
			 songs, as a matter of fact, their lyrics have such
		        "worlfly" topics as cult killings in Mexico; sapce
			travel; the moon; oil spills; working in a meat
			packing plant; and high school...


      2) Extreme - well for one thing the sure do swear alot; the musical
		style is definately self indulgent (guitar-wise); definately
		rebellious lyrics (which was concluded on here as being bad);
		lyrics about sex; being president; dancing; sex; politics; sex;
			etc...


     3) King's X - their crimes include a public self-profeesion of not
                   playing "christian music"; and lyrics speaking out
		   against various groups of christians; lyrics containing
		  such topics as being in another country; lawsuits; astronomy;
		  lunatics;        		   
	       	not to mention their videos conataining topics like
 		   dreams, oil spills, beaches, schools, a city, 

I reply:
=============================================================================
I hope you are being satirical here, David.  It occurs to me that you're just
trying to make a point, but in case you aren't:

Why should we listen to music at all?  Obviously it has been perverted by
the Devil (tm) and is not worth much of anything.

When I hear crap like this (Oh, don't listen to so and so) I have to laugh.
GC plays some of the best CHRISTIAN music around.  Same with King's X.
In fact, they're my two favourite Christian bands.  Why? Because they are
not RELIGIOUS.  There's a big difference, which many ignore or are ignorant
of, between Christianity and religion.
One is the best life philosophy going and the other is simply people trying
to force you to conform to THEIR standards of behaviour.  Granted, the
Bible gives us many directives.  A ban on murder, a ban on other belief
systems.  But no real specifics.  It doesn't say in the Bible, thou shalt
be Catholic or you'll burn.  It doesn't say, thou shouldst be Protestant.
Simply, it says Whoever believes in me shall be saved.

Anyway, the point I'm TRYING to make is that these bands have tried to portray
something beyond the basic image of Christianity.  They're not saying "Sex, sex,
sex, sex..."  In spite of what you say about Extreme, they have some very 
powerful music.  And King's X has some of the most Christian music I've ever
heard ("Summerland", "Over My Head", "Faith Hope Love", "Everywhere I Go"...
should I keep listing them?  I think just about every song they've done makes
some kind of reference to God, except maybe "Goldilox" ;) anywhere.

Should we only listen then to praise music?  Should we ignore music that is
good and go only for that which is shallow and vain but still "Christian"
lyrically?  If I had to go through life only listening to Sandi Patty and
Steve Greene, I'd shoot myself.  I despise their shallow, empty music.
Oh, sure they have talent.  But that vocal talent doesn't speak to me
as a Christian.  It only makes me say "Damn, I wish they'd SHUT UP!". 8^)


Ok, end of diatribe.  You probably realise all this and were just trying to
make a point.  But there were no indicators of this anywhere in the post,
so I had to make sure.  Funny thing, how you picked three of my favourite
bands...8^)

Bruce
==============================================================================
he wrote:
I guess I've been wrong the whole time, and probably because as many believe,
I'm not "Christian" I'm Catholic. So lets go all the way and make this board
purely "Christian" music.
==============================================================================
I do write:
		Aaaaargh!  A Catholic!!!!!!  Run away! 8^)
Actually, my girlfriend is Catholic.  It caused some problems at first, but
now that she's got used to the pentagrams and unside-down crucifices, things
are going better....8^)  Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding. 8^)


Bruce


David C. Meyers
MATH1RB@JETSON.UH.EDU
-- 
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Bruce Anderson: A tradition of Chaos and Disorder since 1967
spock@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (unix)	00bwanderson@bsu-ucs.uucp (VAX)
Don't look at me in that tone of voice!  BSU disclaims me, and I disclaim them.
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian