Sixpence: None the Richer certainly isn’t the only band that’s not so sure about being labeled “Christian”. Recently, popular band Evanescence experienced a lot of bad publicity in Christian circles for comments they made which led their label to pull them from the Christian market.

A lot of bands seem to decry the label “Christian” not because they feel it does them injustice or harm, but because their faith may not be what the masses or the media make it out to be. Perhaps they’re ashamed of their faith. Perhaps they don’t have any. There are a lot of questions that come up in my mind related to potential “Christian” bands.

1) Do they try to hide or downplay their faith?

The Apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” - Romans 1:16.

2) Do their lifestyles reflect Biblical teaching?

2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Everybody sins, but a lifestyle devoted to Christ should show evidence of growth and spiritual fruits.

3) Do their teachings detract from the gospel and the message of Christ?

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” - Galatians 5:19-21. This isn’t an all-inclusive list, but it contains several things that are works of the flesh and not the works of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5)

End of List

In analyzing these things, it’s best to remember that God is the final judge of the soul. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-�edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” - Romans 4:12-13. (See also Hebrews 9:27)

Some bands may be Christian and don’t announce it to the world or make a huge deal out of it, but instead use their position to spread messages of Christianity, hope, and a Biblically-based worldview. Notable bands I’d consider in this category include Switchfoot, Pillar, and Blindside, among others. Honest lyrics, sincere messages, and they also have huge amounts of talent in their genres.

Some bands just play to make music. If they’re Christian and just don’t want to use the music itself to spread the gospel, I’ve got nothing against it, so long as they’re not detracting from the gospel while they’re at it.

In the end, the tag of “Christian”, be it applied to band or person, means a lot less than the content of the heart.

Other Resources &/or Articles
• Sixpence None the Holier? - an article by Jon M. at A Blog Apart discussing Christianity and art (from a Catholic perspective)
• Bible Gateway
• Matthew 7:21-23

Categories: Music, Religious

We live in A World At War. I found this article over at the US Navigator’s Home earlier today, and it is an excerpt from In His Service by Col. Rick Bereit. It provides a look at war from a biblical perspective, dealing with war’s existence, involvement in them, and Biblical references dealing with the war.

In summary:
• War is a result of man’s rebellion against God.
• War has existed first in heaven and now on earth, and it will continue until God brings it to a close.
• Militaries exist to secure national objectives.
• National objectives can be good or evil, and you should evaluate your nation’s military objectives in light of your own beliefs and conscience.
• The Bible gives examples of how God has used warfare to accomplish His purposes.
• Although they could have, neither Jesus nor John the Baptist forbid military service to Christians.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1)

Categories: Religious

Today is the 14^th of February, and we all know what that means. Valentine’s Day! Despite the usual connotations of the day for a single man in this country (such as loneliness, depression, and perhaps more loneliness), I’ve had a nice day. My friend Phil and I conspired and got roses for a few wonderful ladies. It was a lot of fun delivering those and seeing the girl’s reactions. I really enjoyed it.

Tonight is Java Love. We’re heading out to the East Campus Union and going to listen to a few singles, a couple, and a long-time married couple talk about Godly relationships. Afterwards, there is a dance. It was mostly fun last year, although I think I skipped out on most of the dance in order to drive away with some chairs.

The following are a couple of my favorite Bible passages related to love:

1 John 4:7-12
God Is Love

⁷Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ¹⁰In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

1 Corinthians 13
The Way of Love

¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹²For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

¹³So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Categories: Life, Religious
Tags: Bible, Phil, Valentine's Day

Just got back from the LESTER retreat (student leadership team for Navigators). These retreats are always draining for me, both spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I’m tired because of staying up way late playing cards and talking to a few of the guys on Sunday night. It was also a convicting experience where God showed me some areas and things in my life that he can continue to change. I was also encouraged a lot by the sharing and words of everybody. Some of my closest friends are all currently involved in LESTER as well and they’re just awesome people.

School this week isn’t looking terrible, although I’ve got a few Japanese assignments that will take time and a few other things to do. I saw my conversation partner, Dong Li (Chinese), at church on Sunday and I’m going to meet with him again on Thursday to hang out and talk. He has a wife named Catherine.

Keep on keeping on!

Categories: Life, Religious