What Makes Music "Christian"?

I started this post on 3/14 and now it's 4/10. I've given up on any more additions or editing. Here it is!

I received this message from a friend. Apparently I'm open to blog requests:

I took the time today to look up the lyrics to a Natalie Merchant song that they play often on one of my Live365 stations... the song is "Kind & Generous". Trying to track down a bit more information, I came across this website: http://www.ccvonline.com/Arena/default.aspx?page=2082. I was curious about what your response might be to this question: why is Natalie Merchant in the left column instead of the right column in the table, and should she be? Perhaps you could write a blog post about that.

Here's my response:

I took a music appreciation course in college taught by a great professor, Dr. Shantz (I think that was his name). Dr. Shantz is an older man whose favorite band is Metallica. He also taught a course called The Theology of Rock n' Roll, which I didn't take, but which he talked about a lot.

One aspect of class that stood out to me is that one way to evaluate the quality of music is a piece's "fittingness-intensity." I think I previously mentioned this in the post about O Holy Night. The idea of fittingness-intensity is that the lyrics or subject matter of the song is reflected in the music. For example, the song O Happy Day sung to the melody of a funeral dirge would have poor fittingness-intensity.

What does this have to do with my friend's question? The music class started me thinking about music differently, and here's how:

I think music must be a large part of God's character. It is so universal, and since humans are created in God's image, it seems a logical conclusion. Like other forms of art, music is a gift from God to humanity, just because he's good. I also think that people, regardless of their religious affiliation or lack of, can sing and write about truth. Isn't it Ironic by Alanis Morisette is about the despair we feel when something that feels so right is out of reach.

So what makes music "Christian"?

It's not that an artist is signed by a Christian label. Quite frankly, I'm pretty skeptical about the whole so-called Christian entertainment industry. They are in it for the money, and sign artists that will be profitable.

It's not that the lyrics talk about God, religious or spiritual things. A lot of songs have these themes and aren't at what I would call Christian. And what about all the religious Bach pieces that don't have lyrics at all?

To give any piece of music a Christian label does it a misservice. The Bible says "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." So what if a song, like Kind and Generous is not sung by a Christian artist or produced by a Christian label? What if a great instrumental piece like Classical Gas makes me feel good? Are these secular songs unChristian? I suppose they are, but I think they are good things to listen to.

My New Routine - Revisited

I did well on the 5:30 a.m. workout with Sonja for about a week. Then I got sick and missed two weeks. During that time, Sonja moved to Hillsboro (it was a somewhat unplanned move). So I lost my workout buddy. But on the plus side, I don't have to meet her at 5:30.

I've been going consistently for almost two weeks now, from 6:30-7:30 a.m. It's going pretty good - I come home and get ready for work. And as an extra perk, I'm getting to work on time; something I always struggle with (I really like being in bed!).

I should make some friends at the gym, maybe it will help me stay consistent. I am at the nodding in recognition stage with a few people that are always there. And this morning I happened to be on the treadmill next to a woman I go to church with. That was fun. Of course, I speed walk while she trains for the Boston Marathon... Maybe I'll pick another machine next time.

Book Club Excitement

Sometimes my friends are amused at how entertaining I find my book club. Reading World War Z has so impacted my life, that I hope I'm at work rather than home when the Zombies arrive because it's a much easier position to defend.

Friday night was the most recent book club meeting. After discussing the book, we watched Dawn of the Dead. That's right; a zombie movie. I thought that it was common knowledge that if you're bitten by a zombie you become a zombie. My friend Anna said, "No Sarah, everyone does not know that." Which is silly, because what will they do when the zombies get here?

Anyway, when I arrived at the house that evening, I saw that the entire left side of their long driveway was empty. Score, I thought. I turned in, felt something crunch under my tires, and stopped. Tried to back up. Tried to pull forward. I didn't move.

I got out of the car; the driver's side wasn't on anything. I walked in front of the car, and onto a pile of gravel. The right side was firmly wedged into the pile. I went inside, and told Anna. She said, "I should have told you guys not to park in the driveway." Lee arrived, and before he got in the door, I solicited his help. He said, "Cool, I have a tow chain in the Jeep I haven't had a chance to use yet!" I told him that if I put the car in neutral, he should be able to just push me out.

We went outside, and Lee pushed. Then I put it in reverse and tried to help him push. Then he got the tow chain.

As Lee was attaching the chain, a man walked up. "Are you here for book club?" I asked. He said yes, and I told him he's at the right house; go on in.

After a couple tries, the tow chain worked. Lee said I owe him now, but I'm not sure that my little Hyundai can return that kind of favor. Nonetheless, I am indebted to Lee.

Book club never lets me down!

Being a Kid

On Sunday I went to Salem to visit my sister and her family - the one with three kids. The weather was fantastic; clear, cool, and sunny. Rene was at the Oregon School for the Deaf, where there's a great playground and a lot of fields. Her friend, Kate, and her husband and two daughters were there as well. Kate's husband was flying his remote-controlled airplane. It only turned right, so it kept making big circles and then crashing.

After a few minutes, Rene, Kate and I took the five kids to the playground, a short distance away and on the other side of a building. Being the indulgent aunt that I am, I played whole-heartedly with the kids. Kate said I reverted.

At the swings, Sebastien (4 years old) kept saying, "Do a underdog!" and "Look how high I am!" Olivia (2 years old) has started imitating everything Sebastien does, so she sat on the swing next to him and said "me! me!" Sebastien was no help at all - telling me to do an underdog for Olivia. It's tons of fun to play rough with Sebastien, but he doesn't understand that a two year-old isn't quite big enough for a full, run-under-the-swing push like he is. Of course, if I spent two minutes pushing Olivia, Sebastien started begging me to do another underdog. Sean (1 year-old) hasn't decided to walk yet, so he was confined to the stroller. From which he kept trying escape.

When we left the park, I joined Rene and crew for dinner at their house. I watched VeggieTales with the kids while Rene and Bryan fixed dinner. In the middle of everything, people came over to look at some furniture that Rene is selling. They came in the door, and Sebastien was all over the introductions. He told them his name and age, his siblings' names and ages, and "this is my mom." The family included a 4 year-old girl, and Sebastien quickly instigated a game of hide-and-seek. I think their 10 year-old daughter was amused.

At the dinner table, Sebastien asked me, "Sarah, are you a kid?"

"Why?" I asked, "Do I act like one?"

He smiled shyly (or slyly), "Yes."

I told him that I like him so much that I act like a kid sometimes. It was very sweet.