I love Google alerts, because you find the most interesting things you'd never see otherwise.
I read this post today from a blog written by "students in Dr. Jim Miller's print news writing course at Harding University."
According to the university's website, "Harding University is a private Christian institution of higher education committed to the tradition of the liberal arts and sciences."
And yet, according to the blog, the university won't let Christian bands perform there. They'll let mainstream bands, but it seems the reason Christian bands can't is because Christian music offers a more worship-like concert environment, and an entertainment-focused concert isn't the environment for worship.
The issue, as the reporter Rachel D. writes, seems to center around not just worship, Citing Corey McEntyre, director of Campus Life, who is in charge of booking entertainment, Rachel writes that Harding has a written policy of no Christian bands.
Apparently Switchfoot (pictured) has performed at the university before, which I think is funny, because Switchfoot is a bunch of Christians who don't label themselves a Christian band. So what's the criteria? You can be a Christians as long as you don't call yourself a Christian band?
The whole thing is really weird. A Christian university with an actual policy of not letting Christian bands play, but letting mainstream bands perform? I've seen Christian universities that don't let any bands play (can't have electric instruments, you know), or only allow only CCM or Adult Contemporary Christian music and not rock or screamo (because CCM is godly and rock isn't).
But this is really odd, don't you think?
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So do we file this under 'Hypocrisy,' or 'ignorance?'
Probably both.
For decades I've heard the argument, "I won't let my kids listen to that SO-Called Christian rock. I'd rather let them listen to the radio," as I've tried to promote good contemporary Christian music to people in my church. It seems that people are OK with the idea of their kids listening to absolute garbage, but the thought of a Christian band playing rock & roll makes them frightened that there might be some things outside of their little box....
Bands that are made up of Christians but play outside the CCM market, then, present an ethical problem for this thinking. Oops! I didn't know Mute Math were Christian guys... gotta' return that CD fast.
The next thing you'll hear will be complaints that Christian bands don't want to play at that college.
Can you imagine....?
One day Jesus is going to come back and we are all going to be kicking ourselves in the behinds for missing the point that he made us all different to reach the world not separate ourselves from each other. Christian university banning Christian bands is hilarious.
PS No wonder the world hates us, we spend a lot of time hating ourselves.
I go to this school, and some of the rules are absurd. I completely hate that the deans approve of mainstream music and not Christian. I would so much rather listen to music like Bebo Norman or Jars of Clay rather than Taylor Swift or whoever else has come to Harding. People have twisted rules in such bizarre ways, and instead of showing the world how Jesus wants us to love one another, this kind of crap goes on. (Just because a university is considered Christian, does not mean it reflects Christ in everything. This is something I've had to learn from experience.)
Also.. to clarify, Harding is affiliated with the Church of Christ, which is known for not using instruments in worship. Therefore, having Christian bands would result in having instrumental worship at the concert. Personally, I prefer instruments, but the majority of people here do not. It's not doctrinal, so I say to each his own, but some people obviously think it's a huge deal.
Emma, I so appreciate your thoughts! That story had me wondering: can't a Christian band come and just entertain? It doesn't have to be worship, right? I mean, Jars of Clay can play a whole show and not play a worship song, and the whole thing can be totally acceptable to the school.
I thought the policy was definitely weird, LOL. Thanks for your feedback!
Joanne
host of the GS blog
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