I wish this piece didn’t have to be written (well it doesn’t
have to be, I get it), because it
hits pretty close to home. But, as Aaron
Watson sings about in Fence Post: People
like when you keep it real (well, at least as long as they agree).
Years ago I read an article by a Christian pointing out that
country music was just as guilty as secular rock music in promoting a morally
bankrupt lifestyle. At the time (and now) I’m not sure it’s as
bad, but it certainly can be bad enough. In an ironic twist, country could
be considered worse just based on its hypocrisy; packaging itself as wholesome
(you know, God, Country, Mama). I have to at least give rock points for being
unashamedly hedonistic.
Being in high school and college in the 70’s I was a pretty
big fan of most of the popular rock groups of this era. Some would argue (I
would agree) that it was the greatest era for rock music if you wanted loud,
powerful, guitar driven bands, and lots of them. However, by the mid 80’s I
started to really feel the pull of the Holy Spirit to make Jesus the Lord of my
life. Coinciding with that, I found myself really enjoying country music. It
was certainly a more wholesome choice than rock, but I have come to realize that
thinking is akin to saying PG-13 movies are more wholesome than R movies.
Perhaps, but both fall woefully of any standard of holiness.
I still gravitate to Country music, especially classic
country (newer stuff tends to blur the line with Pop too much for my taste).
Admittedly, I still have to use discernment, as many Country songs often
advocate or excuse much un-Christian-like behavior. Cheating (I don’t mean at
cards), drinking, revenge, and other things you won’t find in the Beatitudes
are common examples. Even Country artist
Aaron Watson (who isn’t shy about his Christianity, and has a wonderful
testimony) missteps with some of his songs. Celebrating in music an “outlaw”
lifestyle, covetousness (shiny cars, trucks, etc.), and intimacy (even if it is
your wife), is a bit disappointing from a fellow believer. Of course, he is just a fallen man like me,
but when you put things out there for thousands (perhaps millions) to see/hear,
while trumpeting your faith; you have to be extra careful. A mixed message is
often worse than an outright contrary one when it comes to walking with the
Lord.
It’s all kind of too bad, because I really believe Country has
numerous examples of artists with strong Christian backgrounds. Many started
singing in churches before they moved on to commercial success. The genre
definitely lends itself to Christian themes such as love, patience, faith,
salvation, and eternity. It can still be high quality music with upbeat rhythms
and a lot of energy. It doesn’t have to be strictly Ballads to be non-offensive
(Tracy Lawrence’s, The Rock is a
great example). There are plenty of
other (what I would refer to as) secular Country artists that have tracks
representing wonderful Christian themes. Montgomery Gentry, Brooks and Dunn,
Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, are just a few examples, but unfortunately, as much
as I admire their talent, too much of their music promotes what Jesus wouldn’t do.
I’m not (even though it’s a bit in my nature) trying to be
contentious in matters of doctrine or theology in general. I was convicted a
bit the other day from a Grace Gems piece lamenting the amount of contention
between brothers/sisters in Christ. But I don’t believe that one has to abandon
an Ephesians 5 approach either. We are to identify areas that we need to avoid
and sometimes to point these areas out to others. Life is largely about
contending for many things, so certainly contending for the faith would have to
come before contending for anything temporal. I don’t believe for one second that any of the
aforementioned artists will see this post. But if they did; I hope they would
realize that God’s standards are being emphasized, not mine. My standards (or
anyone else’s) don’t matter, that’s just moral relativism; plenty of that going
around.
It’s funny how music and lyrics (especially Country) can put
“lipstick on a pig”. I mean, my family will avoid objectionable movies and
unwholesome social situations, but I’m not as diligent when it comes to what I
listen to. So much Country music is (at least was) performed by wholesome
looking, likable folks. Ok, so they would sing about sex out of wedlock,
getting drunk, bending the law; they’re just some good ‘ol boys/or girls,
right? Wrong. Regardless of how talented the artist is, or how their total body
of work is pretty clean, if it
promotes, condones, or even just glosses
over lifestyles contrary to authentic Christianity, we are obligated to consider
how it may be affecting our witness or our own walk with the Lord.
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