Christian(?) Music

"Do you like Justin Beiber?" my niece asked.

     "No."

     "Why?!  He has a song called 'Pray.'"

     I had two options: try to reason with a nine year old who has a crush on a celebrity twice her age, or drop the subject as soon as possible.  Not surprisingly, I chose the latter.

     "Oh, he does?  Good for him."

     That conversation last weekend was followed by the release of Relient K's new album on Tuesday, which caused much discussion about the topic of Christian versus secular music between Allison, Molly, and myself.  (You can read Molly's blog post on the subject here.)

     I don't listen to much music outside of the contemporary Christian genre, based on the fact that I prefer the thoughts it spawns.  I'm aware that it's not a choice most people make, and that's fine.  Still, I have conversations with a lot of people who feel a need to justify their musical taste to me- and it dawned on me after my conversation with Leta the other day that their logic is very similar.

     "They say they're Christians.  I looked it up."

     "It's not bad music.  I mean, they don't swear or anything."

    Those are general statements.  This one is a direct quote when a friend and I were discussing my distaste and his love of Relient K:

     "I like them because they're Christian, but if one of my friends walks up while I'm listening to them, they won't know that it's Christian."

    

     While I don't necessarily think that we have to listen to Christian music all the time, I think a distinction needs to be made.  I am all for listening to music without bad words and supporting fellow Christians, but if the music doesn't cause you to lift your eyes and your mind to Jesus, then it's not Christian.

     So...  Favorite bands, anyone?  Christian or non-Christian?  :)