As Christians, we must do our part to watch and support Christian television and radio. To grow as children of God it is necessary to go to church, study our Bible and we must not stop there. We need to watch and listen to Christian television and radio programming.
Christian programming is also a tool to help us learn the teachings of God and the way He expects us to live our daily lives and bring glory to Him. Secular programming is fast approaching unwatchable for Christians. Even gum commercials are using sex to sell their products. Cartoons are blatantly teaching our children to act badly, disobey parents, act out, fight, talk back and act disrespectful of their parents and other adult figures in their lives.
Christian music is great. Whether it is praise and worship, traditional, contemporary, rock, or hip hop and rap, Christian music is out there for everyone and for all ages. Christian music has come a long way from when I was a child. Growing up I did not like Christian music very much. It was slow and mostly hymns we sang at church on Sunday. I always liked upbeat, fast-paced music you can really sing and dance to and Christian music back then just was not like that at all.
I remember when Christian music first began to change. Christian rock groups were the first on the scene that I can remember. I also remember the controversy over the new sound of the music between many Christians during that time. Many Christians were against the idea of anything other than gospel music being played on the radio. I personally thought it a wonderful idea. What better way to reach out to Christians who need to be inspired and empowered by what they are listening to? Even my dad was against it. Many Christians thought it was more or less the devil’s way of worming into Christian’s lives through their own music, etc.
Most Christians really seemed to be opposed to the idea. However, the idea seemed really great to a lot of younger Christians. Teens and even young adults and kids like to fit in with the different groups at work, at school, and when they are out at other places. The Christian music industry changing made it where Christians could fit in and still listen to rock, heavy metal, rap, hip-hop and a lot of other music genres. The ability to listen to all the different types of music and still with a great message behind has made it where Christians can now listen to Christian music instead of having to listen to gospel only or secular music.
Secular music has many bad messages, especially rock, rap and hip-hop. Secular music plays a strong role in attitude and other problems in society in general. It is not the fault of the artist singing the songs in my opinion but more the fault of parents or people listening to the music for taking everything so serious and literal. Kids, teens and young adults believe the lyrics in these songs to be true and most the time it is just glamour being sold to make money. People strive to be like the artists who are writing and singing these songs. Secular music has done a lot to damage our society and is a tool used in order to wedge between Christians and God. It is hard to change and listen to only Christian music. This is why Christian music being so widely available to all different walks of life and different people of ethnic background has been so important.
It is great to be able to raise my children listening to Christian rap when you have artists out there in the secular rap world that so many kids are listening too. Rap and hip-hop have a beat that kids like and want to hear. Many people like songs they have never listened to but like it because of the music. Within the last 5 years I have changed. I listen to the words first and then determine by the words I am hearing whether or not it is something I can or want to listen to and this is very important for Christians.
Christians have also crossed a divide in television. Never before has there been just a satellite for television that was primarily Christian until the new satellite company out there right now. I do not name them here because I do not have their permission to use or name their company in this writing. I will be contacting them however for future reference. Christians have made a big hit in the book industry as well. This is not only in selling books on how to live and about the Bible, but just regular everyday books about different stories that draw in crowds and actually end good with hope and inspiration without all the adult content, language and material that seems to be selling all the secular books currently.
Christians have also been impacting television through different channels offered on cable and other satellite companies such as TCC (the church channel), TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network), Daystar, and many others. As Christians we need encouragement, inspiration and uplifting in all parts of day even at work. And so as Christians we need to support those who are trying to support us. We need to take time out and email or write letters to all the Christian companies, authors, publishers, television stations, radio stations etc and just let them know that we as Christians appreciate them being out there.
Love in Christ,
Sandy
|