A Son Of Liberty

One of my pastor's pet peeves is the use of "Christian" as an adjective. And it is quickly becoming one of mine. And you should consider it a problem, too. You see, there is a bunch of craptastic crappiness that is being marketed to a subculture that firmly believes that any product prefixed with "Christian" is morally filtered and, therefore, acceptable to them and their children. There are "Christian" books, "Christian" magazines and "Christian" blogs. We live in a "Christian" nation and vote for "Christian" policies based on our "Christian" worldview.

Genuine Christians, I believe, have fallen for the same PR spin that is prevalent in our culture of consume that requires branding to attract and befriend a subculture in order to make a sale. Take for example some other subcultures which have nouns that are poor descriptives. There are "green" businesses, gay holidays, biker pubs and yuppie coffee shops. Part of the appeal of Starbucks is the atmosphere created by their marketing department. But it always seems devious when religions engage in the spin.

For example, while shopping for a new Bible at a Lifeway Christian Store, I was audibly assaulted by a man outside the front door with a keyboard and karaoke machine. Behind a sign that said something like "Christian Worship Songs" or the like, the man stood, eyes closed and oblivious to the passing crowds and crooned into the mike. It was absolutely horrible. The pitch was flat, the feedback was unnerving and ... well, it was just cheesy. Simon Cowell would have poked fun at his mother. Why? It wasn't because he was just there to praise God and make a "joyful noise." No, he was there to make a dollar off of me and other passersby. I have a general rule: I don't buy crap, even if it is prefixed by "Christian."

The word "Christian" is, in its purest sense, a noun. It is used to identify followers of Christ. A book, song or hairdryer cannot "follow Christ." So, by using "Christian" as a descriptive word is nothing but emptiness other than its use as a marketing term -- targeting a specific demographic.

Whether you agree with his approach or not, Rob Bell, the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI, writes effectively about the subject. In his book, Velvet Elvis [link], he writes:

Something can be labeled "Christian" and not be true or good. . . It is possible for music to be labeled Christian and be terrible music. It could lack creativity and inspiration. The lyrics could be recycled cliches. That "Christian" band could actually be giving Jesus a bad name because they aren't a great band. It is possible for a movie to be a "Christian" movie and to be a terrible movie. It may actually desecrate the art form in its quality and storytelling and craft. Just because it is a Christian book by a Christian author and it was purchased in a Christian bookstore doesn't mean it is all true or good or beautiful. A Christian political group puts me in an awkward position: What if I disagree with them? Am I less of a Christian? What if I'm convinced the "Christian" thing to do is to vote the exact opposite?

Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective.

I recommend this: Instead of producing dreadful art, terrible movies, appalling music and other half-baked junk and selling it as "Christian" stuff, let's work hard to produce magnificent artwork, music, books and other works of our hands to stand on their own alongside secular contemporaries. If it's good, it's good regardless of a label. We give glory to God through excellence, not mediocrity. Remember, "Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way" (Colossians 3:17, The Message).