Killing Becky #2: What Makes “Christian” Art Christian?

Becky is one problem. The church has to deal with our fear of Becky, but her existence reveals a much deeper problem: We don’t know what makes Christian art Christian.

A Quick Story:

April 1, 2012 was the launch of my congregation, The Vine. A friend of mine once told me, “If you ever start or re-launch a church do everything you may do someday on the first day.” That’s precisely what we did.

We had women speak and pray, used lots of multimedia, and our band, 31st and Vine, played a feature song, U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name.” In our view, the message is central in every worship service. Everything we do is focused on that week’s big idea. The particular elements of a service are simply illustrations and we’ll do whatever we need to – or can think of – in order to connect. If a preacher can speak words from a song as a sermon illustration, how much better is the actual song?

Our philosophy notwithstanding, some folks were upset that we played a U2 song. We haven’t seen them at worship since. I expected that and it’s fine. There are plenty of churches in central Texas and no one’s soul is in jeopardy.

The objection was that the music wasn’t Christian. I disagreed. Again, that’s okay. I disagree with many people I love and respect and they disagree with me. But the existence of the disagreement highlights an emerging issue in Christian culture: We don’t know what makes Christian art Christian – if anything, in fact does.

Our instinct is to say, “Yes we do.” And I get that. Because we have Christian radio and musicians, Christian painters, comedians, sand artists, speakers, jugglers, wrestlers, and bookstores; it’s easy to believe their existence means we have a definition of it.

But we really don’t know what makes Christian art Christian.

There are – to my thinking – three primary ways Christians define Christian art. None, however, can be accurate.

Option #1: Content. Here the lyrics of a song or poem; the subject of the artwork are Christian-themed or Biblical in nature. Years ago I heard Michael W. Smith bemoan the fact that “only Christian music is segregated by lyrical content.” He said it like he was being left out. I understand that. It sounds like a sound argument. Due to subject matter, Christian musicians are left out of the mainstream listening party. That is, it sounds good until you think about it.
Three years ago, I preached a sermon using U2’s song “Magnificent.” Here – in part – are the lyrics: “I was born, I was born to sing for you, I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up; And sing whatever song you wanted me to, I give you back my voice from the womb. My first cry, it was a joyful noise…”

Sounds pretty Biblical, right? If your preacher told you those words were from a Psalm, you likely wouldn’t question it. It sounds like it might be. But according to Michael W. Smith, this song should be on Christian radio and segregated out of secular radio. But it’s not. The opposite is true. And it’s not just U2. Think Creed’s, “One Last Breath,” Collective Soul’s “Shine,” or any number of songs from Mumford & Sons. These songs and artists won’t be found on Christian radio, regardless of content. Clearly, then, content cannot be the standard of what makes art Christian.

Option #2: The System of Production. In music, this would refer chiefly to the record label, in publishing, the publisher, etc…. Perhaps if the system producing the product is populated entirely or predominantly  by Christians with Christian intent, then that makes the product Christian. But a closer look reveals that this emperor has no clothes. Recording labels and publishers, even the ones who produce products exclusively for the Christian market, are owned by non-Christians.

Thomas Nelson is a wonderful, traditional Christian publisher, and publisher of The Voice Bible, but is owned by HarperCollins. Jericho Books, the new maverick in Christian Publishing, is owned by Hachette Publishing.

The same ownership structure is pervasive in Christian music. For example, Word Records, which is part owner of *independent* Christian label, Rocketown Records, is owned by the Warner Group, which is owned by Warner Bros. and Atlantic Records. Atlantic Records may sound familiar. Atlantic owns and runs American Idol and the lion’s share of the songs performed on the show. Winners of American Idol are signed – by precondition of appearing on Idol – to Atlantic Records. So yeah, when you shop your local Christian bookstore and buy that CD from the band you heard on the Christian radio station, your money goes into the same pot as the folks who bought the latest CD from Kid Rock or Mariah Carey.

There is clearly nothing wrong with this, but it does dismiss the notion that the system of production makes something more or less Christian. Christian music is made for the same reason Jewish performers like Harry Connick Jr. and Kenny G. make Christmas albums.

Option #3: The Faith Commitments of The Artist(s). This option suggests that Christian art is the art created by Christian people. Christianity holding myriad doctrines and beliefs, for the sake of argument, let’s agree that a “Christian” is someone holding an Orthodox confession of faith: Jesus is Lord.

This being the case, we have to address two obvious issues: (1) We have no idea what the actual faith commitments of artists are. While true, let’s not lean too heavily here. We have less knowledge than we’d like about many people of faith – including those who share the pew with us. What is of concern is that for years, some have suggested that a few Christian recording artists are not Christians. They have not or do not hold to an orthodox confession of faith. Rather, they are performers in the Christian industry (it’s not like being a pornstar wherein simply being in the film defines one’s identity and profession).

There’s not enough evidence to indict anyone or really even be very suspicious of particular artists in terms of their faith, but it is a reminder to us that watch we’re consuming is a product. And people can produce the product without beliefs, commitments, or convictions. The creatives we consume – bloggers, writers, musicians, painters, comedians, and even celebrity pastors – are popular because they are talented, not necessarily because they are faithful.

And (2), many “secular” artists hold orthodox confessions of faith. Just as stated under Option #1, much of what is heard on secular radio is produced by Christians – people holding an orthodox confession. Just turn on your local Country or R&B stations for a sampling. I don’t listen to much Country music (read: none), but I’ve heard tale that more than a few think highly of Jesus. Therefore, faith commitments don’t determine what you hear on Christian radio. What’s more, “The Painter of Light,” Thomas Kinkade, is heralded by Christians and reportedly held loose Christian commitments and tragically died from a drug and alcohol overdose.

So what makes Christian art Christian? Perhaps more art is Christian than Becky suspects. I think that’s a good thing.

What does it mean when we say something is and something isn’t Christian? How can we tell? Tell me what you think.