"Positive and Encouraging"?

[Josh]

So, is anyone else bothered by the tendency of Christian radio stations to describe their music as "positive and encouraging"?  
I'm apparently not alone; I don't know her music, but there's an article in the latest Christianity Today by musician Audrey Assad, in which she bemoans the tendency:

"I don't think the words positive and encouraging have ever historically been adequate to describe Christian life.  Yet these are the words being thrown around now as the two main characteristics of music made by Christian people."

I'm not saying that there isn't encouragement to be found in the Christian message; it's just that trying to limit the message or over-simplistically characterizing it as simply positive is misleading and also turning off a lot of people who would be compelled by an expression of faith that connects with their real lives- pain and confusion and all.

If we take our cue from the Bible's "songbook of faith" (the Psalms) we will see quite a contrast to modern Christian radio.  Instead of constant affirmation, we will find a rich mix of woe, hope, sorrow, and joy that can be the soundtrack to all our life experiences.  

Let's encourage Christian music to be like that.  Let's let it breathe.

[grokit]

I disagree Josh.

First off, I think Christians, for the most part, think being a Christian is a "heavy" thing. You're supposed to sit around quietly contemplating the suffering of Jesus and rethinking (repenting) your own life, while praying for others that are suffering in one way or another. I do think this is a small part (time wise) of being a Christian, but it's way oversold.

Secondly, radio stations are a for-profit endeavor. Even if they are officially a non-profit they still need to attract enough listeners to keep broadcasting.

Thirdly, a lot (and I know this is mostly me) of the "deep meaningful" Christian music just sounds like wining, not real pathos. Who wants to hear wining?

Fourth. When do people listen to the radio? When they're studying the Bible? No, when they are out and about, making things happen, running errands, and getting work done. These are times when we should be uplifted and celebrating. Expressing thankfulness and joy for the wonderful lives we have with God.

Fifth. Attracting others requires being attractive. Yes, one of the reasons we are filled with joy is because of our contemplation of God and how he can relieve our suffering, but that isn't what most "outsiders" will be attracted to.

I'm sure I'll have other thoughts...

Alex E.

[marc p]

Josh, I think that in addition to singing songs of praise and adoration, songs of thanksgiving, songs of celebration, songs of God's faithfulness, love, and grace, we should incorporate more songs that echo the Psalms.  The majority of the Psalms in the Bible are laments and many of them including curses directed toward enemies of God.  Not exactly what popular evangelists would say is the best way to reach the lost. We lose the gamut of human expression (and the wealth of truth found in Scripture). Most of the subject matter of the stories in the Bible are not positive or encouraging, but what those stories are pointing to (the coming Messiah) is positive and encouraging. The fact that God sent his Son to die in our place for our sins and to rise again gaining for us a right relationship with the Creator and offering us eternal life is pretty amazing.  And I'd say that applies not only to the music we listen to at home, work and in our vehicles, but also to the songs we sing in our corporate worship settings. After all, aren't we supposed to worship in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:24)?

The bottom line for me is that the good news that God, "even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ" and that by we are saved by grace (Eph 2:5) applies to all of life.  So when we have incredibly difficult days facing whatever hardships may come, or when we're in times of rest and renewal, the Gospel applies.

The tag line "positive and encouraging" is very narrow in what the radio stations mean by it.  I do find "Christian" radio gimmicky and annoying. I have not read Assad's article in CT, so I don't necessarily have the full context for what she is saying.  However, I agree that a lot of Christian life is not positive and encouraging, but I can see how an organization or business (like a "Christian" radio station) might exist to broadcast positive messages and encouraging words to a niche demographic, and maybe to the exclusion of songs that people who are less comfortable being honest about their humanity, and/or their actual ongoing need for the saving grace of Jesus, would find unencouraging.  But I would say that it can (and often is) encouraging to me to hear songs of lament or songs of struggle. Or songs that deal with the subject of lust of the flesh, lust of the eye or the pride of life.  As long as those songs contain even one line of hope.  Because with Christ there is always hope.  Most of the artists who write honestly about this stuff don't get played on "Christian" radio, but occasionally I hear a song that is pretty honest. It is often those songs that are the most positive and encouraging to me.

I don't listen to radio much at all anymore except the classical station.  I think there is beauty and truth to be found in many unusual places, including songs that aren't perceived as "positive and encouraging".

[DL]

Amen to that. Perhaps it is as the author of Hebrews noted...
For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. Hebrews 5:13 North American Christians just want milk ...

[LA]

I agree with the board. Sometimes even my own children say it has a depressing or "whining " tone in some of the songs played. I enjoy some of the songs occasionally, but many times get annoyed after a couple of songs and change the station. I also agree that sometimes churches and organizations act like they are selling happiness and riches when this is not what life is all about. Yes, life does have happiness. However, as with all balances in life, along the way their is sadness, loneliness and anger. All of these emotions are part of living and they should not be ignored or cast aside completely. Living in denial is not true happiness. Happiness is being content and having peace throughout the storms knowing that this life is only temporary and we must give it our all.

[Josh]

Jul 25, 2013 9:14:08 GMT -8 grokit said:

I disagree Josh.

First off, I think Christians, for the most part, think being a Christian is a "heavy" thing. You're supposed to sit around quietly contemplating the suffering of Jesus and rethinking (repenting) your own life, while praying for others that are suffering in one way or another. I do think this is a small part (time wise) of being a Christian, but it's way oversold.

Yeah, I think we definitely disagree here. Aside from the "sitting around quietly contemplating" characterization (which im not endorsing) I do think that the Christian life is very heavy and full of suffering (while also paradoxically light and joyful, often simultaneously)

[Josh]

Jul 25, 2013 9:14:08 GMT -8 grokit said:

Secondly, radio stations are a for-profit endeavor. Even if they are officially a non-profit they still need to attract enough listeners to keep broadcasting.

Thirdly, a lot (and I know this is mostly me) of the "deep meaningful" Christian music just sounds like wining, not real pathos. Who wants to hear wining?

Fourth. When do people listen to the radio? When they're studying the Bible? No, when they are out and about, making things happen, running errands, and getting work done. These are times when we should be uplifted and celebrating. Expressing thankfulness and joy for the wonderful lives we have with God.

Fifth. Attracting others requires being attractive. Yes, one of the reasons we are filled with joy is because of our contemplation of God and how he can relieve our suffering, but that isn't what most "outsiders" will be attracted to.

I'm sure I'll have other thoughts...

Alex E.

Some thoughts:

Point 2: yes, it's true, the masses don't have very good taste ?

Point 3: I guess we think opposite things are whiny ?

Point 4: I'll admit I'm a lot different than most. There is almost no bad time for a brooding song for me. The blues have a cheering effect on me most if the time anyway.

Point 5: there's room in the Christian world for all kinds of sincere and genuine means of attraction. I just think that there are a lot of people who aren't attracted by what they see as superficially positive music and who would be attracted if there was more balance. And in Portland especially with all the good local music we live amongst people more apt to be cynical of positive pop.

[shirley]

Love all the different thoughts and views on here! I didn't used to listen to Christian radio, I would occasionally hear a song that caught my attention as I was surfing through stations, but I never stayed there long. Finally I realized the two things that turned me off the most were the Commercials and the DJs - not the music (though like any other station, some of the music is good, some of it sucks, and which songs are which are a matter of opinion).
I do listen because I find it encouraging. Life is hard, I need encouragement. I don't listen because its positive. Maybe some of it is, but that isn't what I need in my music, when I want positive I listen to Aqua. If I'm going to listen to Christian Radio I want out of it the same thing I want from anybody - I want it to be real - not necessarily "a station the whole family can listen to" all the time. Some things are not meant for kids. Some of my favorite secular albums are rather depressing, but their subject remind me of certain times in my life and their lyrics help me remember that even in the depths of doubt and despair, God was there. However, I've recently been convicted that some of it, though free of bad language and crass subjects, is not something my child needs to learn the words to at this time.

So...how do I feel about the tag line "positive and encouraging" ...I guess you do what you got to do to sell your station, but I don't think I am your audience. It sounds like your selling something...what is that line from the Princess Bride? Life is pain...anyone who says differently is selling something.

[Josh]

Life is pain...anyone who says differently is selling something.

Nice PB reference!!!