Why is Christian anything terrible?

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TosinAsLeader

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Ok come on, we all need to be honest here. Christian: music, movies and various other attempts that failed. Why can't we not make cheesy Christian movies? I mean really why? Why does 'acceptable,' 'Christian,' music have to be contemporary? With the exception of a few things, everything is low quality and poorly constructed. What are your thoughts?
 
First of all, I disagree that everything that has come out is terrible. But I also do watch some stuff from Hollywood and some stuff that is Christian. Some people like cheesy and some do not. I have nothing wrong with that. Again, if you do not like to watch the Christian movies that have come out, then do not watch them, simple. God bless.
 
the ratio of quality christian movies and music to poor is pretty significant. I can think of two out of dozens of christian movies I've seen that were actually good. The rest were cheesy, way over acted, and terribly produced. Music wise to me, it's not so much that it's bad, so much as just repetitive. There's no originality to a lot of it, and most of it sounds the same.
 
Okay I see I think. When's the last time a Christian movie grossed over 100 million?? I say this because the budget for a Christian movie is ALOT smaller than for a Hollywood blockbuster. So yeah you will lose some quality and not be able to pay big name actors to do it. However, they are remaking Left Behind with Nick Cage and Ashley Tisdale lol. As far as music goes I like a lot of it but will agree with zaoman32 that it is quite repetitive. I know from previous post u guys are more metal ;) I seem to have mellowed to rock and maybe some hard rock. I'm on a Third Day kick today.

God Bless
 
Third Day is top notch, I don't think there's a question there. A lot of the newer bands I hear like Tenth Avenue North, or Sidewalk Prophets all just sound like another version of Switchfoot. A lot of modern worship sounds the same too, I really like Jesus Culture because their worship is so raw and intense, but a lot of the Hillsong stuff is uninspired. I like Lincoln Brewster ok too.
 
It's funny, I've been musing on this quite a bit recently. While I wouldn't say all Christian stuff is terrible, there's just a lot out there in Christian media that is just quite "meh."

Case in point: Chris Tomlin. I'd reckon he's almost universally recognized in contemporary Christian music. Every church that uses contemporary music for worship has probably used one of his songs. Now, while I think some of his songs ("How Great Is Our God," "Your Grace Is Enough," "Our God" to name a few) are excellent, for the most part... you know, they're really not all that interesting to me. I grew up around rock, so I guess I've developed a taste for fast tempos and electric guitars. Chris Tomlin doesn't give much of that. But you know who does? Flyleaf. Flyleaf is a Christian band, believe it or not ("All Around Me" could easily be treated as a worship song and "So I Thought" ends with "In all these twisted thoughts I see, Jesus there in between") and they know how to rock. Switchfoot and Skillet aren't bad either.

My issue with Christian movies is that they're so emotional and sentimental. "Courageous" talks about fatherhood. "To Save a Life" screams of teen drama. It's very heartfelt stuff - and I don't have a problem with that - but it just doesn't appeal to me.

I feel like there's a gap in Christian contemporary media today. Maybe the Nicholas Cage reboot of "Left Behind" will fill it. The gap is that it doesn't really speak to the common person, Christian or otherwise. I've seen a lot of emphasis on trying to reach people who are addicts, suicidal, depressed, from broken homes, etc. But not everyone is having those issues. I'm not being eat up by any particular problem. But I'm also not someone who loves to have "heartfelt, intimate" worship with God. That seems to cast me in a minority group.

Why is there no push for Christian electronica/techno/dupstep/etc. music? That's becoming popular, but nobody seems willing or able to step up. Can anyone find a Christian band that has the skill of Red Hot Chili Peppers? Where are the Christian sci-fi programs? I dream of the day there is a Christian show akin to Star Trek or Doctor Who. But until these things come about, Christian media probably won't entertain me and others - hence we will gravitate toward secular media, which might put us at risk of taking pleasure from sinful things. At the same time, non-Christians may look and see what our media is like, and think that being Christian is very, very boring.
 
I know a lot of the problem is the people "behind the scenes" so to speak, in christian media. I've read several interviews with members of bands that started out christian, but were rejected by labels because the executives didn't think their lyrics were christian enough, Lifehouse I know was one of those bands. They even started out as a worship band, and while the lyrics over the years have mostly turned to love songs I felt like their first album did reflect at least some christian background.

I think the push for being "christian enough" is a horrible attitude. If they're solely focusing on the content, and less concerned with the actual quality, then yeah, it's going to get neglected and be unoriginal. It's like all the christian bands there used to be that were literally nothing more than a christian rip-off or take on a non-christian band, and that's exactly what the label had in mind. There was 40DT who was the christian Limp Bizkit, another band (I can't think of the name) was a christian metallica. TFK started out as a christian rage against the machine. The producers were so focused on putting a christian message to the style of something non-christian they didn't really care or not if it actually sounded good.
 
TosinAsLeader said:
Ok come on, we all need to be honest here. Christian: music, movies and various other attempts that failed. Why can't we not make cheesy Christian movies? I mean really why? Why does 'acceptable,' 'Christian,' music have to be contemporary? With the exception of a few things, everything is low quality and poorly constructed. What are your thoughts?
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I know what you mean. At least about the music side of things. Hearing that same song come on KLOVE that was only OK the first time I heard it and now this is the 40th time makes me want to tear my own ears off. I think it's a few things. First, it's not popular to be an on-fire Christian. Consequently, Christian music doesn't make a lot of money. So picking up good Christian artists isn't profitable. Secondly, the mainstream Christian music that is out there is geared toward soccer moms. They won't air anything with the least bit of edge (although I've been told that Christian music is still WAY better than it was 20 years ago). Although I have found that some of the artists that they air actually have pretty good material that doesn't make it to radio. And the best ones never get aired on Christian radio ever.
 
Honestly, it's sad the state that Christian music is in. There is no creativity anymore. I miss the good stuff, when bands like Sanctus Real and Kutless were making music that was different... before they went all contemporary. There are still some great Christian bands (Switchfoot, TFK, Anberlin, Third Day, Relient K, etc.), but the new stuff coming from new artist is beyond repetitive and, dare I say... lame.
 
I think there must be something wrong with me i guess? For when ever i see a movie, and believe me, i have seen many, (we have over 10,000 in collection over the years) and still counting as thats just the ones we have thats ours, not to mention the ones we went to see in the theaters too. And with every movie i have seen, i dont remember hardly any that i can put a song track or artist too except possibly 15 or so, and thats if i think really hard...

What i am trying to say is, when i view a movie, i view the movie.... This means, the cast, the script the theme and how it played, how it made me feel and if it made my reactions at the end worth while to believe their roles enough for me to view it again.. If so, then it did its job... The music is just the extra as far as i am concerned and although it makes the movie more exciting in places, it doesnt make or break my opinion of the movie itself as long as the actors and the rest of the movie did its job to win me over.

I guess i am just too old school, as when i talk about watching a movie, i use all my senses, and when i listen to music i only use my ears mostly.. Even as a Singer/Songwriter/Entertainer as i minister to others, i try to understand and use music as a way of communication with the Holy Spirits direction, and at the same time allowing not my thoughts, but His come through. So i agree that music is very important indeed! But watching movies, to me, means using my eyes, and listing to music means using my ears...

This is why when asked about movie, i dont really think about a music, and visa versa? That is why i say i am old! LOL

You will have to forgive me everyone, as this old brain dont work so good these days and focusing on one thing at a time is hard enough to do... I'm loosing brains cells a i speak,,, hahahha and i dont have many to spare! :)
 
TosinAsleader: yeah lots of cheesy predictable Christian Music. but you have to look in the 70's early 80's stuff - now that was some good Christian music. I am talking about Petra, whiteheart, Dallas Holm, Imperials, Barnabbas, Sweet Comfort Band. SWEET COMFORT BAND ~ GET READY - YouTube You will enjoy especially if you are a bassplayer.
 
There's far more quality Christian music than Christian movies. I could count all of the good Christian movies on one finger but there's heaps of quality Christian music - for example: P.O.D, Flyleaf.
 
TosinAsLeader said:
Ok come on, we all need to be honest here.
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Will do.

Christian: music,
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Lampmode records.


movies and various other attempts that failed. Why can't we not make cheesy Christian movies? I mean really why?
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A lot of the Christian movies are cheesy, that's why I prefer the biographies. I recently watched a biography on Corrie Ten Boom. It shows the strugles and the successes, and it's telling a real story so it's not some Theater Bachelors writing the script.

Why does 'acceptable,' 'Christian,' music have to be contemporary?
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Doesn't have to be contemporary, and I would advise staying away from CCM as much of it is heretical.i

With the exception of a few things, everything is low quality and poorly constructed.
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Agreed.
What are your thoughts?
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Mad props to the hood yo.
 
Tintin said:
There's far more quality Christian music than Christian movies. I could count all of the good Christian movies on one finger but there's heaps of quality Christian music - for example: P.O.D, Flyleaf.
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I agree. I've found quite a bit of great Christian music. But my hearing isn't that great, so perhaps I'm not quite as discerning as others. :)
 
jimmydiggs said:
Mad props to the hood yo.
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Jimmy went gangstah on us!
 
willfollowsGod said:
First of all, I disagree that everything that has come out is terrible. But I also do watch some stuff from Hollywood and some stuff that is Christian. Some people like cheesy and some do not. I have nothing wrong with that. Again, if you do not like to watch the Christian movies that have come out, then do not watch them, simple. God bless.
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Noticed I said ALMOST everything. Your right though, however, I'm looking forward to the new left behind series with Nicolas Cage LOL!
 
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