Is Evanescence Christian?

A known fact is that bands have to abide by the label that they signed a contract with, the label has the final word. If a band signs with a christian label, they will more then likely be expected to release christian music (whatever that may be). If a band signs with a secular label, they will more then likely be compelled to release secular music.

The way I look at it: Listen to what you like, don't listen to what dislike. Respect good music.

I got flustered with the way I was listening to music, but not hearing it. I went for two weeks without listening to any music at all, I just cut it off and listened to conservative AM radio. After that I explored new genres like Bluegrass and Instrumental peices.

P.S. Bono is cool. I know he has done alot for the aid of needy countries like Africa. I picked up a TIME mag while waiting at a doctors office or something and it had an article in it about Bono, Bill Gates & his wife as 'persons of the year'. Bono for all his aid for Africa and Bill for being the riches man in the world for the 10th concecutive year. Jk, I think it was for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
 
Hate to revive this dying thread, but I will anyway. I think apoc hit the nail on the head. What makes a "Christian band" "Christian" is if the music is marketed to Christians. That's it. Take most of the bands on Tooth and Nail for example, alot of them don't even talk about God in their songs, but they're still considered Christian bands because they claim to be Christians and they're on a Christian label. Therefore Christians will buy it, right? I don't know if any of you guys have heard of a band called The Agony Scene, but they were on Tooth and Nail a while back and they weren't even a Christian band, they were just using the Christian music industry to get some recognition and popularity. If you come across their website nowadays you will find something that is most definitely not designed to appeal to Christians.

So yeah, like apoc said, listen to what you like. Don't just buy music because it's "Christian" because there are times when it'll turn out that it's not really "Christian" at all.
 
With that said... What should we buy? what should we support? If this Christian rock/rap/pop brings up so much controversy, then isn't there a problem? Music is put on this planet to glorify god. I personally listen to many secular bands, as well as christian bands, so i'm not putting peaple down for what they listen to... But is seems to be That worship songs are the only way to go. Should music be used to try to ministry to peaple? Shouldn't we treat it sacred?When you listen to a worship CD and you focus on god and everthing that he is about, you get the greatest feeling down inside. Can you say the same about a Christian Rock CD? Does Christian Rock/Rap/Pop glorify god? Or does it just recognize him? I hope you guys understand what i'm trying to say.


(Sorry about the format, it's late. I'm tired.) (Also for the spelling errors.)
 
I'm not sure it's fair to say that all Christian music should be worship music. take, for instance, Steve Taylor or Keith Green. A LOT of their music is directed not toward God, but to Christians, in a teaching/rebuking manner. That's not worship, but if people actually listen to the message, then it definately glorifies God.
 
inkelis said:
What should we buy?
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Music which we find aesthetically pleasing and either edifies the soul or, at the least, does not damage it. Ideally, that music would also give glory to God.

inkelis said:
what should we support?
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No matter what album we purchase, very little money is going to the artist. The current structure is set up to exploit the artist rather than promote him or her. Just as the bulk of the cash in the sports entertainment industry is not going to the players, the overwhelming percentage of funds in the recording industry are going to the executives--the type who brought you the Sony rootkit that damaged countless computers. Unfortunately, iTunes is not the revolution people claim it to be; the artist doesn't receive a greater cut from iTunes track sales.

inkelis said:
If this Christian rock/rap/pop brings up so much controversy, then isn't there a problem?
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There has always been, is, and will always be controversy surrounding art. The power of human expression, whether appealing to sight or hearing, is staggering. Much controversy revolves around artists who trivialize their influence, saying, "I'm not a role model" and "I just want to make music." Firing off a firearm in a crowded theater is illegal; promoting misogyny, sexism, and racism in music is a surefire method of increasing record sales.

inkelis said:
Music is put on this planet to glorify god.
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Aye, agreed. But remember that glorifying God can take many forms--some of which may offend others if they focus on the act rather than the heart behind it. Take dance, for example: In many cultures, dance is a popular form of worship. In the United States, which is a sort of gathering place for various cultures, there has been much controversy regarding dance as a form of worship.

Remember that a person rapping about how God rescued him or her from tragedy and a person singing "Amazing Grace" are both worshipping the same God, relating the same experience, and using language to express what's in their soul.

inkelis said:
I personally listen to many secular bands, as well as christian bands, so i'm not putting peaple down for what they listen to... But is seems to be That worship songs are the only way to go.
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While I agree that worship music can play a vital role in our worship, I believe that one should not restrict album purchases to worship music only.

Consider a few Christian tracks: "What Have We Become?" by DC Talk is not a worship track, but urges Christians to re-examine how far society's propaganda has infected our mindset. "Lost the Plot" by the Newsboys uses satire to drive home the urgency of setting serving Christ as our first priority. Neither of these are classified as worship songs, but they worship God in the sense that they recognize who He is and give glory to Him as the source of stability, wisdom, and mercy.

inkelis said:
Should music be used to try to ministry to peaple?
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Aye, of course.

But remember that music, as all art, can minister to the artist as well. I know I've used writing as a tool to sort through my thoughts. Writing, for me, serves many purposes: It is an act of worship, a way to make sense of complex situations, a record of mistakes to help prevent similar mistakes in the future. Writing, or rather the passion for writing, is the gift God gave me. While I desire--strongly--to use writing to minister to others, I take no shame in using the gift for my own purposes on occasion.

I imagine musicians use music as a remedy for their troubles as well. Performing those songs written while seeking maturity may help others experiencing similar troubles, so that the song written for one's self can minister to others.

Also remember that many types of music can minister to many types of people in many different situations. When I have a hard day, I may listen to U2's "Beautiful Day." When I get discouraged by the injustice I see revealed in the newspaper and on television, I may listen to Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." When I just want to relax, I may listen to Miles Davis's "So What."

inkelis said:
Shouldn't we treat it sacred?
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Yes, but remember that God wants us to celebrate as well as worship. The two need not be exclusive. I think the word "sacred," at least in American, carries a connotation of stuffiness and solemnity. Should we respect music? Certainly. But I believe one can enjoy Weird Al's albums without disrespecting music or God.

Consider Audio Adrenaline's cover of "O Where Is My Hairbrush." It's a silly song, but performed by a Christian band. Does the song's silly tone disrespect God? No, because God gave us a sense of humor. He means for us to make good use of it.

inkelis said:
When you listen to a worship CD and you focus on god and everthing that he is about, you get the greatest feeling down inside. Can you say the same about a Christian Rock CD?
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That feeling is not meant to be experienced 24/7, though. Worship albums serve an integral purpose, but other albums serve important purposes as well.

Also remember that people prefer different styles of worship. Some sing hymns a capella, others sing Hillsong tracks, and yet others "rock out" when they worship. Just because an album isn't labeled "worship" doesn't mean that the artist is not worshipping God in their music.

inkelis said:
Does Christian Rock/Rap/Pop glorify god? Or does it just recognize him?
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It depends on the heart of the artist. If he or she truly loves God, then that's going to show in their art. It's inevitable.

One example in literature is The Lord of the Rings. The book is not an allegory. It does not contain overt references to God or Christianity. Yet the principles and themes underlying the story are based on Scripture.

Consider these quotes from Gandalf:
  • And he who breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.
  • Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.
  • All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
Some Christians have considered The Lord of the Rings an "evil" work, citing the role of a wizard in the story. These protesters apparently did not read The Silmarillion, which explains that Gandalf is--well, I won't ruin it for you. :D

It is urgent that we not turn people away from Christ as we ourselves are seeking answers. If you don't enjoy rap, then so be it, but don't insult a person who listens to rap that uplifts and edifies. Even if you find music with no aesthetic quality or moral value, mock the music and not the person listening to it.

This post is far longer than I intended, but I hope I gave satisfactory answers to your questions, Inkelis. I understand that personal answers to these questions may take years and much reflection to discover.
 
I call what I think is Christian, what sounds to my ears like Christian music. I don't know any other way to put it.

I recall The Agony Scene controversy. I read on some music news site that they wanted to include a curse word in one of their songs and T&N wouldn't let them, hence that is why their no longer on T&N (I guess). In Track #7 of their debute album "Shotgun Wedding" at the end of the song, in the lyrics booklet acompanying the cd it says "she was so innocent" but you can clearly hear in the song it saying "she lost, a little sl**" and on most lyrics websites. Their frontman claimed to be a Christian. He appeared as guest vocals on Demon Hunters' Summer of Darkness album in 2004. Either way it doesn't matter to me any more, their music is now Nu Metal garbage and being on RoadRunner, probably has no hope in ever releasing anything worth listening to.
 
Tek7 said:
These protesters apparently did not read The Silmarillion, which explains that Gandalf is--well, I won't ruin it for you.
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Crap, thanks alot Tek, now I have to read that thing! Anyway, good post, I can say that I mainly agree with what you had to say.
 
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I also took to heart what you said. With all this said, what christian music do you listen too? I personnally like:

Kutless
Third day
DC talk
Newsboys


If you could, i would love to add music to my library. So, let me know what you listen to, so i can check it out. ;)
 
inkelis said:
If you could, i would love to add music to my library. So, let me know what you listen to, so i can check it out. ;)
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To be honest, I haven't heard enough new Christian artists lately to make any informed recommendations. I only purchase used CDs and only when I visit Springfield. (My wife and I live on student loans and $20 a CD is absurd.) I'd be hard-pressed to recommend Christian albums released in the last five years.

Now if you want a list of important twentieth century albums, I can help. :)
 
inkelis said:
I also took to heart what you said. With all this said, what christian music do you listen too? I personnally like:

Kutless
Third day
DC talk
Newsboys


If you could, i would love to add music to my library. So, let me know what you listen to, so i can check it out. ;)
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Delirious?
Jars of Clay
Caedmon's Call
Sixpence NTR
Switchfoot

That's some of what I like. I can't really say much about recent bands though since I usually prefer older ones.
 
I disagree. It's a lot like reading the Old Testament and that wasn't boring at all. The Silmarillion is much more historical than literature, though, so I can see how some would feel that way.
 
kraniac said:
The Silmarillion is really boring. :( I think it's only worth reading if you REALLY like LOTR.
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I enjoyed it immensely, but, then again, I'm fascinated by history and mythology.

I will say that reading The Silmarillion clarifies many points in Lord of the Rings that reference past events. LotR is not simply a story about a short person taking a gold ring to a volcano (despite what Peter Jackson would have you believe). It's about the end of the Third Age, the passing of the elves from Middle Earth, the ascension of man as the primary governing authority, and the continuation (and, in many cases, completion) of many aspects of Tolkien's mythology. There is so much going on in LotR that the movies did not even hint at.

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