Christian Music, my Pet Peeve!

In more boredom today at work I decided to listen to an old Skillet CD (not my first choice but beggars can't be choosers); one of the songs on CD is called "Best Kept Secret" which simply shines a light on the obvious lack of participation in the Old "Great Commission" thing in the Western Church. This is not the first, nor the last time that some Christian band will talk about how they can't keep silent about Jesus while turning around and waiting for their well deserved pat on the back. The difference between these other musicians and Skillet is that Skillet just opened here in Omaha for a couple of well known "heathen" hands of similar musical genre. While many Christians will be mad at this and attempt to crucify them right next to POD I give them much deserved kudos. What a concept...share the Good News through your talents to someone besides the usual flock of "groupies" who would listen to the sound of a strangled cat as long as it was labeled "Christian Music". How about not preaching to the choir once in a while, what a novel concept!

Don't get me wrong, I am not edifying so called Christians in the music industry who thank God for the awards and money they received for their latest album which promotes violence and the degradation of women (two things that God is definitely not "on board" with). This whole phenomenon bugs we as much as drop kick to the groin.

Task force Gospel: A preview

The following is an excerpt from an online response article that will appear next month at www.immersejournal.com.

It was a warm July evening during the summer of 2004. I was playing the role of "adult leader" at a high school mission trip in Toronto. The day before we had distributed sack lunches to some of the homeless people in the city. It made me aware of all the homeless people around us as we shopped the downtown area of the city that evening. I found myself in my own little self-righteous world, wishing that I had food to give "these people."

I was suddenly pulled out of my thoughts when I heard a gruff but sincere "God bless you!" My confusion must have been easily noticeable because a female student in my group looked at me and said "I smiled at him." Somewhere along the way, this chain smoking, emotionally needy, train wreck of a high school student had realized something that I had apparently forgotten. Through her, I was reminded that the good news of Christ is bigger than just filling empty stomach.