I hate music thats highly marketed and hyped, yet really isn't that good.
Agreed.
I feel that the CCM industry has become more and more of a crutch for many artists. It was a great way to introduce Christian-themed music into a world that knew nothing of it, but now it's become a little enclave of culture, allowing mediocrity to feed on itself and defended by rabid fanboys who claim that nobody can judge the outpourings of a man's soul and therefore anyone critical of a CCM band is obvously working against Christ Himself.
Agreed.
Certainly not, but should we really have to resort to allusions and metaphors to convey our feelings? After all, Paul was preaching and confrontational.
First, perhaps that is just part of an artist's poetic discretion. Some people, when they write, are just more proned to writing in metaphors and allusions. It may not be something they are forcing, but when they write about anything, including their faith, it comes out metaphorically. (By the way, although Switchfoot has not said "Jesus" in their music yet, there have been references to God, the Spirit, and the cross.) Of course, I think sometimes it's forced (you can't tell me all these Christian artists are just naturally elusive). I don't really think that's always right.
Second, we're not all called to be Pauls. While we are called to go out into the world and spread the Gospel, we're not all called to be street preachers. We are one body with many parts. Some maybe called to be confrontational, and perhaps others are called to be more gentle in their expression of faith. God can use both as means to drawing people to Him. I think at a certain point, it's between the artist and God as to what their calling is.
Maybe music isn't the best medium for an intellectual debate or a heated diatribe, but I think we shouldn't have to be obscure or sidelong about our faith: put it right out there for people to see.
Perhaps there are different ways to putting out one's faith. It certainly should not be hidden. But once again, people express their faith differently. I don't think we *have* to be obscure. Heh, sometimes I get fed up with the could-be-God-could-be-a-girl-or-guy "you" often used.
I guess we've hit the confusing area of art-meets-faith. Just by producing good art, aren't we glorifying God. And if we lift Him up, won't He draw all men unto Him? It's not our job to save people. To preach the Gospel, yes, but not to save people. And I think living out the Gospel is much more important than writing about it explicitly in one's lyrics. If you have faith, it will come out. Let it come out. God calls each artist to play a different role in the world, and I don't think there's one role that's better or more right than another. Many parts, but one body. Even if we can't understand it. Again, I think this is valuable to discuss, because it can be quite confusing.
