In Defense of Christian Music Part 2

Alright, I caused a stir with this post! I got people to react, people to agree with me, people to disagree, and lots of discussion on specific/possible issues. How awesome!

Now, this post is simply to clear up/answer any question that many people have from this. I have noticed some recurring things in response to my post, and I'm going to now state them in a FAQ format!




Q: What do you think about Christian music?

A: Well, like with any genre, it depends on the artist, the song, and whether or not I like what I hear or not!



Q: So, you side with Christian music? Does this mean you are "Pro-Christian Music"?

A: No, I am definitely NOT "Pro-Christian Music", and no I don't necessarily "side" with it, either. In case you missed it, I wrote in one of my first paragraphs that "yeah, I am not too crazy about [Christian music] myself". There is no black and white to this. Next...


Q: Then why are you so defensive of it?

A: Perhaps my post was incorrectly named... What it SHOULD have been called was "In Defense of People Whom I Love Dearly, Do Not Know, and Never Will Know Who Like Christian Music." or "BadCatholic Incorrectly Wrote a Post so Now I'm About to Point Out What's Wrong With It". I was mostly sticking up for those who really do love Christian music. Although I knew most (namely my three best friends) would most likely side with the other guy, this is what I felt in my heart and so I spoke anyway.

 I could stick up for Miley Cyrus, for example, for she is a human being who suffers from fame, but not like what she does or what she sings about. Doesn't mean that because she is overly franchised, talked about, problematic, or cheesy, she isn't as valuable as the rest of us. She's human, humans are sacred, thus I defend her even when other people disagree with her. (Why I made the connection between her and Christian music, I don't really know...)

But I digress.

If I defend something, it's usually because of a deeper reason than "I just like this thing a lot". As long as something hits home, I'm ALL over it.


Q: What is your opinion of BadCatholic now?

A: Still love him. Because we're called to love each other. Especially our enemies... *ahem*


Q: What IS wrong with Christian music?

A: I think people who don't really listen to Christian music tend to stereotype. Or judge it based on the dj's. But a "problem" that is very evident is relevance. It's like we're diluting Jesus or something so He's easier to swallow by making him current:

Chillax, man. Don't worry bout nothing. Just call me up homie and just forget all your probz. Give me your wishlist and it shall all be yours cuz I love to spoil you rotten. Cuz I luvva, dude. Phillipians 4:6


But EVERY music industry does this (indie people have nothing to worry about *Josh Garrells, cough, cough*), so it's not surprising that Christian media would do so. But it's disappointing. And unnecessary. But this is a whole other topic I'd rather not get into (it'll take WAY too long) so I'm going to recommend the book "Jesus Shock" to you instead.


Q: What IS Christian music, then?

A: A genre that wanted to be different from the other music that had crappy messages? Perhaps. Or is it separate because society wanted Christianity to stay out of the mainstream world? Very possible. It is true that music is of God, but because we have original sin, our talents have gone through corruption. That is why there seems to be a split.


Q:  But what IS Christian music?

A: Ask God.


Q: What IS music?

A: Go away.



Q: What IS MUSIC????

A: An art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions insignificant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color. 

Origin: God



Q: Since hearing replies and input from others, have you changed your mind at all?

A: Heck no.



Bye.

My Annoying Little Brother is Awesome

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in like, what, a whole week? Ah well. Here's a post for you guys. *begins writing*

I remember when I was 14 years old and I started the my first year of high school at a very small school in Elgin, Texas. The presidential elections were coming up and one day my principal was talking about how great it would be if Barack Obama were in office.  My little brother who, at the time, was only 8 years old stands up and interjects, "But Barack Obama supports abortion!" You can only imagine the shock on Ms. Principal's face. Needless to say, our mom was going to be hearing about this.

Long before that my older brother Davis was being teased and made fun of by another kid his size at a swimming pool. Davis has autism, so it sadly made him an easy target for bullies. Five year old Sam on the other hand, realizes his brother is in trouble and rushes in front of him and yells, "LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE" while thrashing his arms around in the water. The kid backed off. Who wins in a fight? Shorty does.

He didn't hesitate to witness to an atheist kid at library club despite that he knew there was probably going to be criticism or mocking.

He won't listen to the hot new pop song because he knows lyrically it's really gross.

During the Olympics this year my brother pointed out how women do not necessarily need to be wearing bikinis while playing beach volleyball. Yes ladies, bikinis sure feel liberating, but they don't "liberate" a male creature's mind. He also hates the unavoidable fact that several women on tv have their boobs bulging out of their shirts (OK, he didn't say it like that, but that's literally how it is).

He also hates it, and I mean HATES it, when guys take advantage of girls, and he has reminded me several times not to let any fool do that to me. He's done that way more than my dad, actually.

What can I say? This kid tells it like it is. 

Right now he is only 13 years old, and he's got a hard head. But he's also got a really good head on his shoulders.

Aaaaand sometimes that drives me to insanity.

Sometimes I feel like this guy:

But sometimes I am jealous. I know when I was younger I had problems with standing up for what was right because well, I let my fear get in the way. Sometimes I didn't tell it like it was, I just kind of slurred what I had to say or blended it with something relevant in order that it may not come across so black-and-white, just because I didn't want people to do anything to hurt me. Sometimes I just didn't know right from wrong. Yeah yeah, I know this is like, what, EVERYONE'S story?? But alas, tis true. So when I see Sam use his natural talents and knowledge for God's greater glory??? Mentally I'm all:

Perhaps I need to tell him this stuff out loud more often, no? After all the older kids certainly do shape and influence the younger folks. But lately I've been learning that it is also the other way around.

Look, my little brother drives me crazy. He really does, but what little brother doesn't? Whenever he'd get on my nerves I'd just wanna yell at him to grow up and mature. It does amazes me however just how strong and mature he really is for his age. That's something this generation needs, someone with just a little more, who says what is right even when others will wrong him for it. Who knew that the young ones would be the dudes to look up to? Certainly not I, 'till I got to understand Sam a little better. Seems like I was the one who needed to do some maturing, and perhaps take to heart that Bible verses about faith like a child and not looking down upon people cuz they are young. Well, I'm still young, but he's younger.

OK Sam is not evil nor is he trying to kill everyone including me, just fyi. 

If there's one good thing that being all nerdy about superhero or action flicks has taught me it's show me a thing or two about being a good big sister. Take Thor, a not only incredibly handsome guy but a true hero. In both movies The Avengers and Thor, for example, Thor's younger brother Loki betrays him, his family, and his country by killing hundreds of people and trying to take over the world using his powers for evil. Thor probably had every right to hate his brother and want to put an end to his destructive life. Instead, Thor chooses to love his brother and continually invite him back home to start all over again. 

 Even though Loki almost killed Thor twice, Thor didn't change how he loves his brother. That's kind of like how Jesus sacrificed his life to save ALL of his brothers and sisters, despite the fact that we DID indeed kill him. Only Jesus is obviously way more awesomer than Thor, because he came back from the dead, promised us eternal life, loved us as we were, and offered us forgiveness of all our sins. So what do we do? Follow his example. No, more than that, be like him.  I want to be the best big sister ever, and I know the only way to do that is to be like Jesus. 

Perhaps my little brother's character is a reflection of me? Who knows! :)