They are totally Jesus-centric.....and gorgeous!

Every once in a while I find out something that's happening in the "Christian Sub-Culture". It's usually from this very blog network, or from the very rare times Luke insists on listening to the Christian radio station while we are driving. I generally grit my teath and bear it until one of three things happens. A Ray Boulten/Amy Grant/Sandie Patti/Twila Paris song comes on, a preacher/devotional comes on, or they ask for money. Then I throw up a little bit in my mouth and turn the radio completly off and brood in silence because I'm angry at something- but I can't quite put my finger on what.

I've been thinking for about a month about what my problem is. I've boiled it down to a few fundemental reasons.

1. Quality Control

Let's be honest and say that Christian entertainment sucks. I'm sorry but it does. I think it has to do with the fact that Christian media is made seperately from everything else. We have our own recording studios, movie studios, TV Stations, publishers, ect. It's out of touch, and has poor production values. Every once and a while I come across a glowing exception. I still like Caedeman's Call and Waterdeep.

2. Message

One of the reasons I think the quality of Christian Media is low is because the message is the most important part. Quality and nuance is secondary to making sure that the reader/listener/watcher has the perscribed reaction. The easiest and most effective way to do this is through emotion. In his book Everyday Apocolypse David Dark says that this is the very definition of propoganda. He finds it immoral and repugnant. I agree. When I listen to film-makers that I respect and admire they never say "This is what I want people to do/feel as a result of this movie". They tend to say "I wanted to explore the dynamic between these things." I know it's a subtle difference- but important to me.

When I hear songs like Thank You or What I Do For You I get scared. And I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know. This isnt' a secret. As an evangelical culture we are comfortable with "tugging the heart-strings" if it brings people close to Jesus. We will admit it. I took classes about how to do it! I can no longer say "the end justifies the means". The line between being a bit emotional and being manipulative is just to hazy, if it exists at all.

3. Message Part 2

When the answers are the most important part of the artistic equation it makes it impossible for us to explore areas of life, or the Christian walk that have no answers. The result is that we completly ignore them in our media. To be fair I'm sure that there are exceptions, but they are so few and far between that I don't bother to look for them anymore. We also tend to ignore the crappy side of life. According to our media we become Christians and suddenly we are happy, fulfilled, purposful, ect. I guess that great when it's true about you- but if it's not it can develop a bit of an complex- ultimately hurting your relationship with God.

4. Sub-culture

This one's been done to death, so I don't really need to. Some people like being able to escape using their media. That's fine I suppose- but don't then try and convince the rest of us that you are being more spirtual because you can't maintain your relationship with God if you hear a dirty word.

5. Money

We spend billions of dollors every year on the "christian sub-culture". On Christian T-Shirts, the 35th vegietale DVD, on our own rock concerts and "testimints". We could be helping people instead. It's unconscionable and we should be ashamed of ourselves.