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Featured "This Is Why Switchfoot Won’t Sing Christian Songs Anymore"

Discussion in 'Music Ministry' started by evenifigoalone, Apr 21, 2014.

  1. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Uh whatever. :rolleyes:
     
  3. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Sounds like a lot of rationalization as to why they will no longer have overtly Christian lyrics. Sad, really. Same thing happened to The Elms.
     
  4. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    When you are a true follower of Christ, He will be in all that you do. No, we don't talk about Him every second of the day but He is still present in everything. So if I am talking to someone about joy, I will talk about the joy of the Lord. If someone is suffering, I will ask if I can pray for them. No, not every song has to be about Christ but man, if you ignore Him in every song that you will now be writing, is He really a part of your life?
     
  5. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    Switchfoot has never, to my knowledge, hid the fact that they are Christian, and I doubt that they will do so now.

    To me, they are just saying that in order to impact culture, outside of Christian culture, some Christians need to be willing to contribute to culture outside of the part that's specifically labelled Christian. (Not that it's bad to have artists that work within that part, mind you.) As to what exactly their intentions are or whether none of their future songs will have Christian themes, I'm not them, so I can't speak for them. (Although I doubt they plan on completely leaving Christianity out of their themes.) I just could see what they were saying.
     
    #5 evenifigoalone, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 21, 2014
  6. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Not that it is a trend but there have been bands that begin in the Christian music industry because it is much easier to get into. Once they feel they have established themselves they bail and go completely secular. This sounds like that.
     
  7. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    I haven't followed Switchfoot from the beginning, neither are they one of the main bands I listen to, but to my knowledge they've always been on both scenes. (I saw them at a Christian music event only last year, and I know they've been around for a good while.) But like I said, can't speak for them.
     
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    We, as Christians, have the greatest message in the world that everyone needs. To leave that based on some bad rationalization is just suspicious and not credible.
     
  9. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    I'm very loathe to make assumptions about others. Maybe their intentions are bad, maybe they are good. I can't read hearts.

    I think making songs on the secular scene is a good thing, because it draws a crowd who would never listen to songs that were written for those within the Christian realm. Christians should be contributing to culture, IMO, rather than only contributing to their own subculture. In the past Christians have influenced the culture, including music--why not now?
     
  10. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    NO assumptions made in this thread. If we want to influence the culture we need to do it with a clear message of the gospel. The world does not need more worldliness it needs more holiness and a clear gospel message.
     
  11. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    We don't always need to speak directly to be a witness to the world. Yes, I agree, the gospel should be preached, but there are many ways to do that--simply because a band's songs may not be explicitly Christian doesn't mean they aren't doing anything to spread the gospel.
    There are bands that preach through their music, and there are bands that may not use their music for that purpose directly.
     
  12. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    To go from the former to the latter is to do less at a minimum. It is in error and inferior.
     
  13. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    What I meant was this: There are more ways for even a Christian who sings to witness than with music. That they have chosen to do things differently with their music doesn't prevent them from spreading the gospel in a direct manner through other means. We all have different callings.
     
  14. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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  15. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    I wasn't sure how recent it was, and didn't entirely care. I just thought it was interesting.

    I am familiar with some of songs and albums Switchfoot has done since 2004, and many of them are faith-inspired.
     
  16. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I do not have a problem with Christians pursuing a secular career in music. I don’t see a problem with a believer who authors non-Christian books, or a painter who paints landscapes rather than religious paintings…or even an evangelist who earns a living mending tents. It is not the type of work chosen, but the life for Christ that one leads.
     
  17. righteousdude2

    righteousdude2 Well-Known Member
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    Qd ... If I had a dollar ...

    .... for every Christian group or solo artist that started out singing for the Lord, and switched to secular music, I'd be sitting on a pot of gold!

    This is what's wrong with Christian artists ... they start to see that the world pays better.

    What a shame!
     
  18. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    Apparently this quote is from 2004, and I'm familar enough with Switchfoot to know they have put out faith-based sings since then, including "Your Love is a Song", which is obviously faith-based to anyone who is aware of the band members' faith (which they don't hide) and played on Christian radio stations. They are also present at many Christian music events. I saw them at one just last year.

    Art, whether visual or music, will naturally reflect the values and ideals and worldview of the artist. It doesn't need to be labeled Christian to do so. Is it a replacement for preaching? No. Maybe a band's music doesn't preach directly, but that doesn't mean the members don't in some way.
     
    #18 evenifigoalone, Apr 22, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 22, 2014
  19. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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  20. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    Haha, true I guess. Turns out it's old news anyway. I just thought it was interesting, and I was bored yesterday.
     
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