Bitter…

Written by

It always amazes me when I hear someone who was involved in Christian music “bag” on the scene. I’ve yet to hear someone who experiences success in it so passionately criticize it. It’s always those who have tried and failed. According to them, it’s always someone else’s fault. But when things go right, it’s because of you? Taking credit for the positive and blaming others for the negative is a victim mentality.

Stop throwing rocks at the parade you want to be in!

Take some responsibility!

I think of a time in the late 99 & early 2000′s when I was searching for a solo deal. I would get so close and then door would shut. Looking back now, my heart wasn’t right. My motives were selfish. I was a poor example of a Christ-follower and was living off the fumes of Grace. Should I become bitter and blame God? No! I should thank Him for not allowing me a bigger public position at the time. I was a mess. I needed to deal with “me”.

Christian music is not perfect. It’s like anything else. People doing their best to play music and spread hope. Flawed humans jack things up…no matter where they are at! :-) But, I am grateful to those who get in a van/bus/plane every week to encourage other believers and to have an opportunity to be used by the Spirit. Galatians 6:9 ya’ know…

’nuff said.

jamie


  • AnnJanette

    Amen brother!  

  • Phil

    That was well said…

    I often have to check myself when I criticize Christian music/radio as a whole… like any other business, it must cater to what the current trend/style/”flavor of the month” (for lack of a better term) is.

    As an independent Christian artist whose band(s) have opened for Geoff Moore, Lincoln Brewster & Rebecca St. James, I’ve witnessed the ups & downs of the industry as a whole. I never “made it” because deep down, I really didn’t want to make it, I didn’t desire to tour, move to Nashville, etc… I was simply content playing for my church & opening for these artists. Though my avenue of ministry is now almost exclusively coffeeshops, I do have to admire & applaud those who have chosen to tour or go on the road for the sake of their art & ministry.

    On a side note (but somewhat related), one of my beefs w/ today’s Christian radio is that it seems there has been no honor in recognizing (& giving air time) to the Christian artists/groups that have paved the way for the current generation of artists/groups, most of whom sound very much alike. 

    There’s an entire generation that have no idea who Stryper, Bride, Whitecross, Whiteheart, Guardian, Mastedon, A.D., King James, The Choir, The Kry, Fear Not, Dogs of Peace, Barren Cross, Phil Keaggy, Ken Tamplin & countless others are -

    There are many who are tired of this “cookie-cutter” sound that has taken over the airwaves & though some do love, admire & pray for those who are currently involved in the Christian music scene, they would prefer to have more variety, but I guess that’s what CD collections are for…

    Do you have any thoughts on that?

    Thanks for your post, it caused me to once again, “examine myself” - 

    Be Blessed - 

       

    • TommyW

       You forgot Guardian!

      • Phil

        It’s between Whiteheart & Mastedon! I would never forget Guardian! :)

    • 8kount

      It’s funny, because I was talking to an A&R rep from a Christian label who didn’t know who Glenn Kaiser was (he had made some good comments about my band). When I mentioned, Rez or Resurrection Band he said he “thought he had heard of them before.” lol

    • Kris

       Glad someone else remembers all the bands I love.  Wish someone would play them again!

    • BackSpinRadio

      AMEN jamie & Phil! That’s why BackSPinRadio exsists!! BackSpinRadio.wordpress.com

  • http://rolandmann.wordpress.com/about/ Roland Mann

    Isn’t it great that God’s plan is the perfect one? I’d have messed my own plan up multiple times. Thanks for posting this.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000645160172 Michael Hokett

    well said jamie
     

  • Dale

    Good form ol’ man, good form!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/bradley.schafer Bradley Schafer

    My biggest disappointment along with never hearing the oldie but goodies on the radio anymore is when a christian band covers a mainstream group and they take heat for it.  

  • Phil

    Even though we’re all pretty much agreed that the current playlist of Christian radio today is not what we’d like to hear, I do agree w/ what Jamie said, it’s not perfect & we can applaud the current artists for doing what they’re doing: touring, playing, ministering & making a difference to their generation; loving, encouraging & supporting them. 

    This is my prayer: “Lord, bless them all & thank You I still have my CD’s!”

    Blessings - 

  • Michael Baldwin

    Every Christian in whatever vocation, or artistic genre, needs to remember what Jesus said in Matthew, chapter 5, we are that salt of the earth, that city on a hill. That is our number one obligation. Then there is what Paul says in Colossians 3:17, that whatever we do, we do for Christ. But for one Christian to put another Christian on a pedestal, is hypocritical, in my opinion. Before I was a Christian, I was searching for this “alternative in Rock-n-Roll. If such artists like Petra, and Larry Norman, caved into the pressure of the mainstream church, how many others, such as myself, would not have heard about a saving relationship with Christ?

  • Lee

    Good words Jaime. I’ve been on the Christian Radio side of CCM on and off since the late 70′s. I’ve seen this over and over again and your honesty here seals the deal. People need to look at their hearts, that’s the answer! Thanks!

  • http://warrencbennett.wordpress.com/ Warren C. Bennett

    Interesting POV from someone that has been through it.  Reminds me of my writing career, heh.  

  • Anti-Seraphim

    Hail Satan.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Paul-Whosoever-Portell/630623173 Paul Whosoever Portell

       You know 99% of those who read your post are laughing at the stupidity of your comment right now, correct?

  • fear not

    Very insightful! I have also been on both sides of the fence and I know now that is was the decisions I made on my own that caused the hand to be removed. it was hard to see that in the midst of the storm

  • Rshevlot

    Spot on Brother!  My wife and I have been hosting  both “Christian” and christian bands in our home for over 15 years and we have seen and heard just about every excuse, complaint, compliments and bitterness imaginable toward the “scene” which includes and towards venues, labels, promoters, booking agents, management, church’s and yes fans.  The ones who complain the least have a true understanding of their calling and know and understand that they will face obstacles from all fronts BUT as long as they stay true to their calling and surround themselves with solid supporters, accountability teams and don’t get swayed by outside forces they reap the benefits and almost 100% of the time this is not financial but spiritual in nature.  My wife and I being products of the true Jesus Movement learned from the likes of Larry Norman and Keith Green both of whom had their issues but neither really compromised on their calling and both endured, as well as others during this time, the fierce arrows fired at them with most of them coming from the church which is still the major entity firing these arrows today on the entire music scene or at least those who are trying to follow their calling outside of the traditional CCM scene that continues today to be the sell outs.

    My 2 1/2 cents,

    Rob and Jane S
    Indianapolis,

  • Sandypandygsr

    I’m not a musician, but I’ve learned over the course of my walk with Jesus that the things I (or others) might see as failures, if they cause me to die to myself so that He might live more fully in me, are actually a GOOD thing, and I’m learning to be thankful for them.  I’m also learning that if people are following Christ and being faithful, then even if I don’t “get” their style, it’s not because their style is wrong, it’s just not my taste, which is also fine :-)