Anybody who follows Christian music has probably heard the old saw from Christian bands: “if we cross over, we’re going to carry the cross over.” Really, though, when was the last time you heard a Christian pop band sing about the cross on, say, MTV? In fact, when the dust of 2007 cleared, there was an album called †–”Cross” when you’re speaking–nestled snugly into album-of-the-year and single-of-the-year lists everywhere, but it wasn’t by a CCM artist. The band was a French dance-rock DJ act called Justice.
Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay perform as Justice in front of a giant wall of Marshall stack amplifiers emblazoned with a huge cross, list their genre on their MySpace page as “Christian/Club,” and named their album freakin’ †, all of which raises the dilemma of what the heck we’re supposed to do with a totally not-Christian band that wholeheartedly appropriates Christian symbols.
One thing’s for sure, the record really is infectious, fun, and celebratory. From “Genesis” and “Let There be Light,” to the unshakably compelling single-and-video-of-the-year “D.A.N.C.E.” to the super-distorted, super-danceable “Waters of Nazareth.” What’s with all the Christian language on an otherwise hedonistic party record? Well, here are four possible ways of looking at † (and I don’t mean theories of the atonement).
Pop satire: It’s patently absurd the way we put rock stars on pedestals, and Justice knows it. By setting themselves up as objects worthy of worship–totally not true if you’ve seen how scruffy and hung-over they always look, the duo pulls the rug out from under us before we can blab to our friends about the next saviors (eh?) of music. They’re just a couple of French dudes who made a good album. Get over it.
Christian pop satire: After 30+ years of Christian rock, we’re still not sure who we’re cheering for when the band takes the stage: is this about Jesus or awesome hooks? And is it possible that making it about Jesus and awesome hooks is just a little, I dunno, irreverent? †, with its absurd baptism of coked-out dance grooves, forces us to consider whether disposable–but catchy as hell–pop should be a vehicle for worship.
Music as religion: Probably the closest to the truth: raves, concerts and dance parties have functioned like a religion for years. Blogger Jack Oatmon described a Justice show this way:
“An altar on a raised platform, a luminous cross, a spacious hall with a grand ceiling, shuddering with the ominous wailing of classical organ and hundreds of devout worshipers, hollering in tongues as they consume cleansing wines and rejoice…”
Ambiguous: Yes, there’s a giant picture of a cross on the record, and some of the song titles come from the Bible–as is true of most of the best music–but it’s up to us what to make of † . To some people, it’s sure to be blasphemous, to others, a record like this may come close to expressing the kind of unadulterated joy we believe, ultimately, comes from God.
If you don’t like trashy Eurodance music using Christian symbols, stay away; in fact, as a “thinking Christian’s record,” † falls utterly flat. So if you’re into that, don’t burn the CD – but you’d have to be downright soulless not to download “D.A.N.C.E.” and do what it says.
–written by Joel Hartse
posted March 7, 2008 at 12:23 am
I just discovered Justice after doing some research today from a song I had been hearing on the soundtrack where I work. The music is very enjoyable so far (I’ve been listening on MySpace). I think the commentary is good and doesn’t jump to conclusions that just can’t be made at this point. I’m still trying to figure out why they would choose the symbol of the cross and use the song titles they do, but I think it definitely could be an entry point to good spiritual discussion.
posted March 21, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I’ve always been that kinda Christian that listens to good music not necesarily christian. Nd I don’t see why i should change that, because I believe God is in all music,some exeptions, and I have found spiritual help in many non-christian songs. However wether the band Justice are christian or not are a question I’ve had in mind since i first stumbled upon their myspace. In fact I’m gonna send a message to em about it. First I made up my mind on them being christian but when I heard the track DVNO and it confused me completly, since it’s about a guy (possibly Jesus) who is cool and makes girls sweat, but he only wants to bounce!?!?!?. Regardless the lyrics it’s a great song. So…. if Justice are christians I tell you they’re the greatest and most talented christian band i’ve ever heard of, but if they’re not let’s just marvel at way God is able to comunicate through unaware sources.
posted April 24, 2009 at 4:55 pm
“DVNO” is an electronic dance single by the band Justice from their album †. According to band member Xavier de Rosnay, “DVNO” stands for “Divino.” de Rosnay states, “In every suburb of the world, in every city, there’s always a nightclub called El Divino… Clubs where you have to wear a white shirt to get in.”[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVNO
Yeah, don’t make the mistake of thinking this band is “christian”. They make good and catchy music, but it’s definitely not about what you want to think it’s about.
The music video is quite clever, they too a bunch of media intro’s from television and movie companies, and jazzed it up. The most creative vid I’ve seen in a while.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etWi1bOotd0
posted January 11, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Christian music is so incredibly bad. Justice is good. Hence, Justice is not Christian music. Should be just the kind of logic you sheep can understand…
posted March 22, 2010 at 4:54 pm
James,
You’re totally entitled 2 your opinion. But the fact is, that the Truth is not subject to your opinion in the least bit.
So that “equation” you just explained is completely subjective, and by definition, faulty.
Have a great day! *bleats loudly and proudly*
posted May 12, 2010 at 6:46 pm
well what i feel is that what was previously said from Jonatan That God is in all music with some exceptions is true God gave us ears to here and i feel music is a good way to get it out, if your like me i sometimes just listen to music disregarding lyrics and only paying attention to the sound, Justice without knowing could have possibly influenced people towards God by using the Cross as a symbol for their album. Even though it was unintentional. Not all christian music is bad in the way that i mean by its sound there is many types and many different ways to get the truth out but whether you want to hear it or not some time somewhere God will speak to you and if you choose to ignore it then thats your decision and if you choose to listen it is by far one of the best decisions you can do in your life. God has shown me so much that it is quite frankly almost impossible for me to even consider the thought of God being non-existent, and once again thats your choice. What Justice did i personally feel is sort of confusing for many people and is also possibly giving off an incorrect view of Christianity to non-believers but all it really does is turn people away from our creator. There is so much confusion in the world today about whose right and whose wrong because everyone is searching for truth in someone else or society and all their getting is what Satan has wanted to run amuck for eternity. If you want to find out about God and his plan for you start looking he won’t reject you. Our God is an all forgiving loving God that will change your heart in a second if you give him a chance.
jdickeldesigns@yahoo.com email me if you want to talk
posted June 24, 2010 at 8:25 am
I like to think they’re atheists poking fun at religion, it goes from religious vocabulary to whore to something that doesn’t make sense.
They sound awesome and if the idea of calling their album “Cross” was to make people curious they totally succeeded.
posted July 8, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hola,
I speak to sheep not the world. These guys look like a typically worldly group, demonically inspired and worshipped by the masses handed over to the lusts of the world. Because demons are better at music then humans, pseudo-quasi intellectual types can make it seem like “I’m only listening because the music is good” when in reality the music is filled with lust. All these people want to do is lust and drink and party. That’s not holy.
How ironic the one song I saw was called justice, and featured a cross. Wow. Really people? That’s like being in hamlet, when you’re the culprit?!?!?! They’re all cheering-they wont be.
To the person who God is working in: I’ve been there. Intellect, tolerating everyone, doing what you want, and secretly striving after sex and money wont work–it just wont satisfy.
Peace and Love
posted August 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm
So, jonesy, lemme get this straight. You think that justice are devils. They use the cross as, well, read the article, you narrow-minded fuck.
Want to argue with the fact that I think that god is a load of bollocks?
Aski@mail.org
posted August 18, 2010 at 5:52 pm
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posted March 28, 2011 at 12:28 am
How about another conclusion… What if they are doing it to show that God loves all people, even the ones that get drunk, have sex, and party. But I think that the Christian Pop Satire view makes sense. It could be to show that people shouldn’t worship the people making the music but the God who loves us all.
posted March 30, 2011 at 5:02 am
@Fizz
You’re the narrow minded fuck. That user was claiming this band was inspired by the devil and that it promotes lust. What to argue why I think atheism is a load of bullocks? I won’t give you an email, I’ll just tell you to look at the universe that has been created, that’s proof.
Goodbye fuck face.
posted September 16, 2011 at 9:43 am
My problem is I don’t WANT to listen to a band that tries to push Christian symbols, ideaology & dogma or uses it like a tool. I despise Christianity and religion, but these guys are awesome so I just wanted to know what I’m really dealing with, or do I just let them go?
posted October 15, 2011 at 11:17 pm
I think people don’t realise just how taboo religion has become as a topic for some sections of the youth living in secular societies around the world. You almost *have* to be seen to be an atheist to be cool in Europe. What they are doing is bucking that trend, putting their big middle finger up at the atheist trend, and having a good time anyway – leaving religion for another day. I think it’s a very healthy thing, compared to the alternative.
posted October 28, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Justice has found a great tactic for their marketing. The cross is an international symbol, so exploiting it to market their music and set them apart from all other electronic artist is brilliant. Unlike most electronic artists these days, Justice has a reoccurring theme, which is appeals to their fanbase. So stop acting like a bunch of Christian pussies, the cross has existed before Jesus and is only a symbolic reference; it’s completely subjective. It’s funny when someone sees a representation of the cross, they automatically think…oh ya Jesus, Christianity…the context in which this cross is used is purely Christian. Just because I think the pentagram is a cool geometric symbol and wear it on my shirt does not mean that I’m a Satanist.
posted January 19, 2012 at 10:05 pm
“….hat the heck we’re supposed to do with a totally not-Christian band that wholeheartedly appropriates Christian symbols.”
it was a Roman Torture device before it was a Christian symbol of worship. Food for thought.