Amen. I fully agree with you, especially the last paragraph where you took your critique introspective. I have found the same flaws in my life even as I have become increasingly disgusted with the radio stations that are "uplifting and encouraging" to me rather than to the Lord Jesus. It's so easy to lose the focus, even though the Bile constantly calls us to the straight and narrow.

Pot: "Kettle, thou art black!"

You said: "Second, we must resist presenting immediate fixes for felt needs."

There are 11 ads on this post that promise me everything from total pastoral competency to being able to evangelize the masses with my church website. With. One. Click.

Chad, I realize that you don't have any control over the advertising on Out of Ur, so I'm not blaming you.

I'm just saying that we really want to not admit to ourselves that communications is a huge business.

Radio gets the most static (pun intended) because it tends the most toward sappiness. But this sappiness comes from a desire to please the customer: the advertisers.

Is there really any less sentimentality in CT? Or are those fancy new chairs really going to change my ministry forever?

Ad supported publications are going to tend toward becoming a mouthpiece for the folks writing the big checks, and I agree with Chad, we are better off when we tune out.

I've never listened to Christian radio my vehicle or home, ever.
Could not stand the "soft caring voice" that spoke in low tones, or the "praise voice" that echoed in my ears, "What world does this dude live in?" was my often expressed question.
Now you may ask, "But sheer, how do you know this when you said you've never listened to Christian radio on your car or in your home?"
My friends...whenever they drove they would have that "sound" on, and I would ask, "seriously, how is it you can listen to that, and not cut off your ears to spare your sanity?"
Obviously, I'm not a very good car pool person.
Now, I listen to nothing...and what sweet sounds I hear. When I'm idling at the light, I hear people talking, or the breeze blowing. I hear birds, and the occasional close call between two other motorists...oh yes, what colorful language is expressed in those moments, but thats the world I live in.
I heartily recommend everyone try turning off the sound of the radio, the iPod, or any other form of isolation mechanism...just try it, and listen to the world around you.
It's truly amazing.

You really covered a bunch of different aspects, but I for one, want to hear really GOOD music. I don't want to listen to contemporary Christian music because it is "Christian" I want to hear great musicians.

You have some very good points and I could probably reply with as much as you wrote, so obviously you hit on a good topic.

What made me tired of Christian radio was the slogan they began broadcasting every 15 minutes: "Safe for the whole family."

Christianity isn't safe.

Likely what they meant was that parents could let their kids listen to Christian radio and not worry about what the songs condone. But I worry about what Christian pop condones all the time. There are too many songs that state, "Jesus is awesome" or "Jesus is all I need" or "I repent and turn to Jesus" but very few that actually delve into Jesus's teachings. The music does great on the "Love God with all your heart" command, but what about the soul, mind, strength... and the neighbors?

The other dumb thing is that the groups that are singing the most profound Christian stuff out there -- U2 and various country groups and artists -- aren't on the Christian radio stations because they're not on Christian labels. Obviously programming has less to do with content and more to do with packaging.

Christian cruises? You rightly mention the dangers of bigger, better, and having it all. But I was struck by the “reserving the entire cruise for our listener family” line. I recently got an ad from Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho promoting their Christian weekend. Go ride roller coasters with a whole bunch of other Christians and avoid all the worldly people.
Exactly the opposite of Jesus’ approach. He didn’t insulate himself from the world—he got into the world. And his word to us is be the salt of the earth. Gotta get out of the shaker to do that. He says the kingdom is like yeast working through the dough. That means transforming the world, not escaping it.
Christian radio, Christian TV, Christian art, schools, festivals, events, etc., etc.—how easily we can get wrapped up in our Christian subculture and cease to have a voice and influence in our communities.

Good post and good points.

I like listening to the "contemporary" Christian music but the "talking" between the songs does get a little "sappy" at times. It can sound, as Chad said, like it's all "peace, love, and prosperity" when you become a follower of Christ and I can tell you that aint so.

And I especially don't like it when the ad comes on --

"Broadcasting from the most powerful city in the world [this station is outside Wash DC] followed by a sappy jingle...

America! The red, white, and blue. We love you. WGTS!"

It just suggests that God is up there waving the flag, that every Christian is a patriotic American. Sheesh! I turn the radio off when this comes on -- even if just long enough to get through the insipid jingle.

Chad, good thinking!!!
Welcome to Evangelicalism!

I'm not sure what kind of Christian radio the author listens to, but nearly every morning I listen on my car radio to outstanding messages from pastors like James MacDonald, R.C.Sproul, J. Vernon McGee, and Chuck Swindoll. Ocassionally I catch Steve Brown. My spiritual life grows every day listening to these men, none of whom offer quick fixes for my problems. These are great Bible teachers, and I listen to them in order to hear the Word. Maybe the author should try a different station.

Yeah, I tuned it out a few years ago, for many similar reasons. Safe and sappy? Give me a break. Plus it tends to promote the Christian ghetto experience where you can try to escape from thinking critically about what you are listening to. But enough suburban soccer moms dig that stuff so don't expect it to change anytime soon. The radio stations found their niche.

Chad, glad to see you are seeing the light. Now what about Christian T.V.?

Stanley Hauerwas put it this way, "The greatest enemy of the church is not atheism, but sentimentality."

Good thoughts Chad! Sappy Christian radio may have promted your post, but your thoughts extend way beyond. Hype can never replace the real thing and usually leaves us feeling empty and dissatisfied. Only Jesus can provide the water for life that is really life. Too bad when our living stops short of the real Jesus in the real world. Thanks for reminding us!

I find it funny that at the very moment I read this article I am listening online to a very popular Christian radio station.

I feel like maybe, Chad, you have become overly cynical about Christian radio. That's too bad.

As a fellow Pastor, my convictions are solidly in place and not prone to be swayed by anyone or anything (unless convicted by the Spirit, of course). I also understand marketing. The radio stations need to market..our churches need to market in our own ways too.

I urge you to look past the "emotion" of it all and appreciate the testimonies of those whose lives have been changed by Christian radio. It's important for us all and for the Kingdom.

Bless you, brother.

A hearty "Amen!"

I tuned out of "Christian" radio quite a while back. If I do listen to the radio in the car, it is usually to the public station. When that's not on, and I want something in the background besides the sound of the wheels on the pavement, I put in some classical, or a book on CD.

I thought, a few years back, when "Christian" music took a more worshipful turn, that things were looking up. Unfortunately, the big-business moguls took that over, too.

Like Scott, the incessant "Safe for the whole family" and "family-friendly radio" refrains really get under my skin.

American Christianity is already too "safe." Too many American Christians have no idea that there are believers around the world suffering and dying for their faith, and that faith in Jesus is supposed to cost us something - like our lives.

"Christian" radio continues to anesthetize Americans to the real calling of the Gospel.

AMEN!

Lot's of good points in the article and in the comments. I too like to listen to good Bible teachers like Sproul, etc. But a couple other thoughts occur to me too. What happened to "Be still and know that I am God?" I also spend some of my time listening to the Bible on CD. After all, that is where we should begin and end. So, I strive for balance, some good quality music, lots of different genre, some good quality teaching, some quiet time just listening for and to God and His creation and Scripture.

Part of the problem of Christian media in general is that it is often uncreative. It is either beholden to crusty ideological rehashed preaching, when we live in a world that demands a fresh word. The Spirit is always waiting to blow one. On the other hand here in Los Angeles, the "Christian" stations are way too "sappy" if not cheesy.

But the worldview of modernity out of which Christian T.V. and radio were birthed presumes that Jesus' gospel was primarily by spoken word. Ironically in the gospels Jesus gives us an active, in the mud, way of living. Jesus did not have his disciples ascent to systematic theologies and expository sermons. They were stuffed full of that already. Jesus came and said, "Hey you know all that stuff you 'know' well I have come to put flesh on it, I am the living Torah and Temple." Then in all boldness and sheer brilliance he said three words. Just three: "Come follow me."

Amos said it best, "You can say all the right things, have the biggest temples or "ministries" and make all the right sacrifices but God does not care about any of these things unless you DO justice and righteousness."

Maybe we need Christian radio that points people towards the activites of God's love, mercy, and justice in the world so we can get out of our cars and go join in.

Excellent points above regarding the ghetto, but the thing that really struck me was the "friends and family music cruise," and the underlying implication that Christianity is pro-family and pro-friends. I have the funny feeling that if Job, Jeremiah, and Paul showed up for that "friends and family music cruise," they would be kept off the ship as undesirables.

One of the major advantages of living overseas is not having to avoid or defend so much of the cringe-worthy programming that steadily flows through religious broadcasting channels. Even presenters that I know, love, and respect often make me cringe as they speak as if "THE OTHERS" (i.e. people Jesus really loves and care about) can't hear or understand what they say.

While I accept reports that some people regularly find their way to Jesus through Christian broadcasting..I personally know that many others are repelled, angry and cynical because of the absence of grace and love that comes through thoughtless comments expressed with self righteous, triumphant, and judgmental attitude.

So for the past year or so I personally never "tune in". I far prefer selectively tapping into podcasts or online resources for teaching, perspective, news, and even music.

Amen.

I consciously choose not to listen to Christian radio for many of the reasons in the article. I've chosen to follow Jesus out into the marketplace and be among those who need Him. One small light in the darkness. Come join me.

So, "negative and discouraging" would be better? "Smaller and poorer" would be better?
Christian radio is an attempt to bring a Christian "spirit" and influence into the world. I think that attempt deserves fanning, not dousing.
The etymology of a word (such as, amuse=not thinking) doesn't cover what that word means in current common usage. The line is fine between "quality" and "entertainment."
My default station is Christian, to remind me who I am, what I'm about and who I serve.

I got involved in Christian radio in the late 70's mostly on the ccm end. Over the years i felt like ccm was getting caught up in the "business" and becoming more secular. Some of the artist seemed to have an attitude. I started to get that way myself. I think there is a place for Christian radio today but perhaps we need to get back to our roots, (the original vision).

i think i gave up on any kind of radio (except for WREK in atlanta) - Christian or otherwise - years and years ago.

right now, i'm listening to 'awaken' by yes - something that's at least thirty years old.

but, there's light at the end of this disappointing tunnel of love: iPods, podcasts, and car adapters. do you own music programming. eliminate the ads.

you can even pick the kinds of messages you want to hear from the podcasts at iTunes.

i mean, after all, picking what we choose to hear has become the hallmark of evangelicalism anyway, hasn't it?

:)

mike rucker
fairburn, georgia, usa

We Christians are a diverse lot, even though we all follow the same Lord and Savior. I listen to contemporary as well as more "straight and narrow" Christian radio. I find edifying as well as non-edifying (AKA dubious, questionable, annoying) content on both. I suggest that as we listen to Christian radio that we pray for discerning hearts and for the Spirit's direction. My experience with God is that more than once, after prayer, when I turned on Christian radio, just the right song, Scripture, sermon or comment was broadcast for me to hear. God speaks to my heart often through Christian radio!

As a "soccer mum" (twenty years ago) I was turned off by the sappy substitutes for true Christianity which began to proliferate around us as a little family. Observing the burgeoning abundance of "Christian-this" and "Christian-that" escapes from reality afforded my husband and me many opportunities to discuss with our two young sons the difference between the genuine life of Christ and cultural religiosity. "Christian Book Store Lady Smile" became a family by-word. Thank you, Sheer, for your thoughts on real life in this fallen world. Those "soft caring voices" of religious radio remind me that God proscribed the ancient Levitical grain offering should contain "no honey." Mum

I too am turned off by Christian radio, and mostly for the same reasons.

-= HOWEVER =-

I still believe very firmly that radio, even commercial radio, can be effective helping to promote a sense of community. Thus, I believe that there is hope for what we know as Christian radio, but that it's going to take a bold new format to make it work.

One that not only isn't beholden to one political framework (the "religious right"), but that isn't reduced to recycling the same 12 pop/ac/CHR songs in an attempt to aim at the 27-49 White evangelical demographic.

One where both the music played and the radio personalities themselves can actively represent and honor a greater level of (yeah, I'll say it) DIVERSITY that more truly represents the kingdom of God, where you can hear acts like LeCrae, 4th Avenue Jones and Christafari alongside the David Crowders and Chris Tomlins of the world, who are now only occasionally flanked by the likes of Kirk Franklin or Israel Houghton.

One where every song doesn't have to be either shiny and happy or heavy-handed and inspirational. Where songs can run the gamut... quirky ... dark... silly... and even sensual. (Remember, sensual doesn't necessarily mean sexual.)

If it sounds like I'm passionate about this, well I am... which is why one of my back-burner projects is an attempt to spearhead such a new format of commercial radio. And if I were more on the ball, I would guide you to an URL with a podcast or a sample playlist or something.

As it is, I can only rant and yearn for a brighter future... please keep me in your prayers.

ummm.. I don't have christian radio where I live but I have heard it when I travelled to other places like upstate New York and Pennsylvania. So when I do listen to these stations it's kind of a weird experience, it's all foreign to me. I'm not used to hearing christian content on the radio nor do I relate with the sappy faith that it exudes. After a half an hour of the surreal experience I'll would most likely shut it off or put in a CD instead.

Though not all on christian radio was sappy. Some of it is really good.

Great post, Chad. I'm gonna quote you from the pulpit tomorrow.

Wow. I think the author of this piece forgot Eph. 4:29. So what if you don't like radio - don't bash the medium. So what if maybe it is for new Christians and children?! About the cruise, what about the verse that mentions be all things to all people? The cruise is like a retreat, where hopefully partakers are engergized to LOVE others. Marketing is a sign of the times. As so aptly another poster commented on above.
If Christian radio is for 1 person to know Jesus more - like my young son did while listening - than it is worth it.
Somehow I get the feeling that if the writer walked when Jesus did, he would have been a Pharisee quickly judging the Lord for dining with tax gatherers, prostitues, and for healing on the Sabbath. In all their "rightness" they were so wrong.

Most of the songs on Christian radio are kind of catchy, but they're definitely safe. And mostly about God's sovereignty, penal substitutionary atonement, or love.

I've always wondered why their is not any good Christian party music. Why aren't their angry Christian songs? Why don't you hear more Christian songs that deal with poverty, economic injustice, or greedy consumerism?

Safe is supposed to mean no swear words; fine. But does safe also have to mean not confrontational or disturbing ideas?

I like thoughts being shared in most of the posts here but was especially struck by the "sentimentality" quote. Having played in praise services and grown up in the era of Carmen, Amy Grant, etc., the contrived nature of most "contemporary" Christian music has kept me from tuning my dial to a station since, well, forever.
While there are secular bands that offer great messages in their music, there are plenty of artists (Jennifer Knapp, Derek Webb, Five Iron Frenzy, Emery, The Almost, Dustin Kensrue, etc., etc) that could be and are considered Christian but don't receive any airplay on mainstream radio because their labels don't package them as sugary sweet, mushy, "I LOVE JESUS!" type artists. Their music has depth, meaning; it requires the listener to think.
There lies my biggest problem with Christian radio, and maybe our faith as a whole; we don't want to be introspective, or swim into the deep end. We want to hear on our radio stations the same thing we want to hear from the pulpit - a nice voice proclaiming our virtue, and how good God is during the good times. Perhaps if we were prodded a little more from our radio speakers and our leaders, rather than being handed a nice little message from both, we could remove the sentimentality , get our hands dirty, and get down to the business of proclaiming the name of Christ to a world that laughs in the face of sentimentality and is anything but sparkling clean and sugary sweet.

Interesting the contrast between CCM radio today and those first few radical rock and rollers who found Christ and determined to use their music to spread the word. I'm thinking of guys like Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, and Keith Green. Those guys sang about real life down in the grit and gore of human experience, and people listened. Not the church of course. The church had no use for such wild-eyed radicals, but their music had a powerful impact, a far cry from the sappy, separatist approach of CCM today. (It's hard to picture Larry Norman going on a Christian cruise, isn't it?) There's a great article over at Michael Spencer's Internet Monk entitled, "So Long Ago When CCM Wasn't Awful". Find it at http://www.internetmonk.com/articles/L/larry.html
It's a great, informative read.

Thank you for this.

I concur with the critique of the smarmy "safe for the whole family" dreck. "Family" is just a marketing ploy.

And I LOOOOOOOVE when these on-air DJ'S(?) who do nothing but segue from song set to song set go on and on about their "ministry".

The icing on the cake for me was when I recently heard on the local Christian station a commercial for the local "christian" home security system business.

Their actual tagline was:

"Name of Company", protecting the home.
Trusting Jesus to protect the soul.

I just about got in an accident, since I was such a conflicted mess of outright anger, laughter and fighting the urge to throw-up.

I don't even know where to begin describing how deeply problematic that message is.

The local "christian" dentist commercial was no better.

At the same time, these stations do reflect what passes for what is "normal" in the cultural ghetto of evangelical Jesus-land.

Face it. That's why they're still on the air. It starts with leaders openly critiquing that stuff. However, considering the inability of leaders to critique the excesses of Christian cultural (ahem) "engagement" (ahem), I'm not holding my breath.

I find it most telling that amongst all of the caterwaulings and criticisms of Christian radio in this blog entry and subsequent comments, one cannot find a single Scripture reference to substantiate the criticisms. 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) states:

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."

So, what is wrong with Christian radio encouraging people? Encouragement of fellow believers is an important function in the body of Christ. Let's also look at Matthew 7:3 (NIV):

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

What are all of *us* doing to encourage our brethren? Tearing down other Christians doesn't seem to me to help in this regard. In the words of St. Augustine: "In Essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity". Let's show a little charity here, folks ...

I was riding in the car with my 18-yr old son who likes to change stations like he's playing the keyboard or something. He loves the Christian bands you don't hear on the radio - one was called, "The Devil Wears Prada". If "Christian" radio stations started playing the younger sound they'd reach tons more people - at an age where they need to hear it.

My problem with christian radio stations is that they are marketed to christians. I don't know any of my non-christian friends that would ever listen to a christian station. How can a ministry be christian if it is not fulfilling the great commission? I do not have any sort of problem with groups or churches that buy the airtime of a secular radio station and use it to play christian music because that seems like it is meant to reach out to non christians.

i can't handle most Christian music. as a youth pastor i find it difficult to encourage kids to listen to "wholesome" Christian music when most of it is pretty bad. why would i want to listen to a crappy version of music i actually enjoy?

Honest critique is not tearing someone down. An opinion is not tearing someone down. Showing where something is falling short is not tearing it down.

I personally don't listen to xtian radio because I don't like the style of music. That's my honest reason. I like harder music. Xtian radio doesn't cater to my musical taste, therefore I don't listen to it. I get my Bible studies online, I have an online community that I regularly check in with as well as a live community that I worship with, and mentors that I learn from.

I've always found xtian radio to be too 'soft' and 'safe' for my calling and have abstained since I was in jr. high. It's great if you have young children under the age of 7, but other than that, it serves very little purpose. At least for most 'real world' use that I've found.

Nathan, your sadly hilarious post stirred a memory about Christian consumerism.

I knew Christian marketing had jumped the shark when I went into my local Lifeway store one day and found a box of candies for sale.

They were called "Testamints".

Blech!

Interesting thoughts and comments. (It is sure easy to be critical!) I am the station manager for a Christian radio station. I certainly believe we can always be better, but I also believe what we do is a ministry calling and I know that God is using us in our community. I hope we receive as much prayer as we receive criticism. Please pray God will give us daily wisdom and strength to use this powerful tool to honor him and share the Good news of Christ with all who choose to listen.

I am certain Christian (xtian) radio programming reaches some people, helps some people and teaches a few. I am certain of it or perhaps I am making a leap of faith hoping it does those things.

I do not listen to much music because I find most music boring and irrelevant. This is true of all radio stations in my area. It is disappointing and inexcusable that music (or anything else) inspired by God is so bad. Our paintings, our music, our speech, everything we do as Christians is an offering to and celebration of God, it should be the best there is. Sadly it is often closer to the worst.

Every "Christian" teacher, pastor, etc. I hear the rare times I turn on a "Christian" station sounds more interested in recovering the fabled and mythical USA of the 1950's than in inspiring people to worship God.

See, and as a guy from Lowell, Massachusetts, I STILL wish we had SOME KIND of Christian Music Radio (the AM station doesn't count)

However, after reading this, I'll know what we want to strive for.

THIS IS TO CHRISTIAN DAVID: WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN GHETTO EXPERIENCE? ARE YOU FROM THE GHETTO? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE GHETTO? WHO ARE YOU TO PUT DOWN PEOPLE FROM THE GHETTO! I FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CHRISTIAN RADIO! BUT CHRISTIAN RADIO NEEDS TO BRING BACK THE OLD SCHOOL REAL GOSPEL!!! THEY NEED TO CUT DOWN ON A LOT OF CONTEMPORARY BECAUSE IT SOUNDS TO WORLDLY!! THAT I CAN AGREE WITH BUT YOU HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT TO LISTEN TO. NOT ALL CHRISTIAN RADIO STATIONS ARE LIKE THAT. CHAD HALL YOU ARE NOT PERFECT, SO DONT PUT DOWN THE RADIO STATIONS, SEEK AND ENCOURAGE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE CHRISTIAN RADIO STATIONS!!

So, Chad, I guess we won't be seeing you at the National Religious Broadcaster's Convention this year. Thanks for the insights. I can't wait to read what you think about Gospel Music Televison.

Christian radio does not have to be soft and sappy. I live in Canada and my local Christian AM radio station is anything but. Every morning (7-9 am) they have interviews with missionaries from around the world. For the rest of the morning they broadcast various preachers (Swindoll, Jeremiah, Stanley, etc.).
They probably broadcast on the internet too, a little searching might turn up just what you're looking for.

To H. Cox from Christian David. In case you check back on this blog, I wrote the post above my name, not the Ghetto piece below it. Mine began, "I'm not sure what kind of Christian radio the author listens to...."

I too am all for the "real Gospel", but why does the real Gospel have to be "old school?" This forum is full of responses (every week and on every topic) that are way too critical and uptight. Jesus taught his Truths in the form of parables, presented them in the form of stories that could be understood by the theologically untrained. For me, as long as the message is true to the Gospel, I'm not going to fight it.

Romans 10:15 says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" That may be too sappy for some or the responders to this blog. For me, its a message to align my life. God bless you.

I too quit listening to Christian Radio for pretty much the same reason. The "sugar coated" commentary on the morning show was getting on my nerves, but the "I believe" statements pushed me over the edge. These were one sentence recordings that people could leave and then the station would play them intermittently.

Thanks for the reality check.

While I'm not inclined to sign-up for a 'Christian' cruise and I don't listen to 'Christian' music, I find it curious that many who condemn such things tend to do so because of personal taste and not for any Biblical reason. The words 'smarmy' and 'sappy' have ambiguous meaning at best. If one were to use such language to describe, for instance, the new HOT HOT HOT 'Christian' novel, "The Shack" (heavily promoted at this site) one can just imagine the outcry. Though I've not read the book, the many reviews I've seen would indicate that while it might be an interesting work of fiction, the above adjectives could certainly apply. I'm sure that many of you would respond that the book has really blessed some people and deepened their spiritual walk. So if you don't care for 'Christian' music, why would you condemn someone who does? Do you not care about the people who do listen to 'Christian' radio and as a result begin to seek God more seriously? What if we all boycotted the Chrsitan Bookstore and it's proliferation of books that promote questionable theology? Plenty of that stuff gets swooned over at this site. How about all those pastor's conventions and youth workers conventions? Think of the excessive money that is spent by pastors and youth workers looking for the next 'new idea' to get your church to grow? What if that money were used for local ministry instead? Why must politics be brought in? From what I do know of 'Christian' radio, very little air time is given to such things.

A question for Chad Hall - what kind of radio do you suggest the readers of this post should listen to? - If you said "just turn the whole thing off" I would probably agree.

this is just a belated amen, but i'm a college student who grew up listening to christian radio, and i've stopped recently for similar reasons. i don't know if all christian radio is the same or if there are just a lot of other folks from my area who commented, but the "safe for the whole family" tagline started grating on my nerves, as well. plus the 24/7 sappiness--i don't mind sappiness, but when it's all sentimental, all the time, there's no relation to the real world. but mostly the fact that i feel like i've been listening to the same 10 songs, most of which tend to be bland AC pop, since i was 10.

Thanks to everyone for the great comments that made this conversation work. An offline comment from a friend was that if she'd known I was listening to Christian radio, she'd have arranged an intervention. Seems this stuff runs and cuts deep!
For the record, I don't think all Christian radio is all bad. And I certainly appreciate the reminder from Steve Swanson that there are real people striving to do real ministry through Christian radio.
I also appreciate the comments from several folks about listening to "nothing" -- either sitting in silence or praying as you drive. Those are disciplines that seem more attuned to faith development than my typical button-pushing hope for some satiating sound.
Peace,
Chad

To H. Cox

ghetto: Something that resembles the restriction or isolation of a city

"Christian ghetto" would be referring to the isolation of Christians from the rest of the world.

Chad, good stuff. I too stopped listening to xian radio for similar reasons. The programming was waaaayyyy too repititious on top of it all. I stopped listening to secular radio while I was still an unbeliever for the same reason. Then, on a different station I heard a preacher compare dressing up for Halloween the equivalent to participating in Muslim Jihad...I quit listening altogether.

I was on the same page as many of you when reading this (such as a little sappy-bland music etc) however, the Lord brought to mind when I was a young single swinging adult in downtown Chicago. When flipping channels to work one day, stumbled on a Christian station where the speaker for the morning was specifically talking about the sinfulness of premaritial sex-boy was I mad!! But for some crazy reason, I put that station on again and again and again-and eventually discovered a whole new life in Jesus, found a church (through the radio station), got into Bible study, etc etc. So we should not take our perspective as being the only one-there are a lot of people out there who stumble on Christian radio and get help, healing, prayer, salvation, and comfort. My husband who was saved in his late 30's and knew no other life than sex,drugs, and alcohol-held onto Christian radio for dear life as he worked hard to "retrain" his mind and his heart for the Lord. When recovering from major surgery and in tremondous pain, Christian radio helped me pray (when I couldn't myself), help me worship (when I could not even raise my arm to hold a Bible), and brought me sermons and teachings when I was stuck at home for 3 months. How about shut-ins, the ill, the dying,-do their needs not count or is it only the perspective of the more "sophisticated" Christian that counts. I just feel like this whole converstion is just one big put down of other Christians who are loving God and doing their part.

Could somebody resurrect the four-part series CT published (last summer, I think) on the state of Christian media as a whole? If I remember correctly, it raised many of the issues Hall and others have raised here in a more "journalistic" fashion, complete with info from various folks in the Christian media. That would be a good companion to this solid discussion.

Yes, I too frown on a lot of Christian media. Granted, as a 20-something, my tastes are edgier and from a different ideology than the family folks who have the $$$ to help support the industry. If only Phil Keaggy's best instrumental stuff could get played on air more often (:

Would CT or some other similarly-minded Christian news outlet consider providing a news service for radio? I'm tired of one-sided blurbs dripping with the GOP's line. That's not journalism, and neither is the overly-left-leaning mainstream media. Thanks to CT's writers for their ability to collaborate diverse opinions and present multiple angles. The company provides an excellent overview of the diversity within orthodox Christianity.

One main reason that Christian radio is so generic and sappy is the Christian listeners. That's right, the listeners who get up in arms and call and complain and boycott the moment anything the LEAST bit edgy, non-conformist or interesting is put on.

The stations are just trying to make the masses happy. It's what the traditionalists want.

And you'll never get anything any different unless you start listening to the independant programs or podcasts online. Christian radio is programmed to be as unoffensive and ordinary as possible... or the listeners will complain.

I've been in Christian radio for over 20 years and I can tell you this from experience.

Well, although you do have a few good points, I must say that my radio will continue to stay tuned to my local Christian station. The main reason for this is that I have four children, 2 of whom are definitely of an age where they are very influenced by the media. And while I know that they often hear secular music at friends' houses, etc....when they're with me in the car, at least, wouldn't I rather have them hear Rebecca St. James, as opposed to Madonna? They are paying attention, and music is a powerful tool. Is Christian radio perfect? No? But to me, it's got many more redeeming qualities than my local secular stations.

Having interned for awhile at a Christian Radio Station and knowing the people involved, I can safely say it's another way of reaching people. The radio station I worked for would constantly evaluate what they were doing, what programs they aired, and what message they were sending, in order to reach more listeners and spread the Good News.

I agree sappiness and consumerism is not a good message to share via any ministry, but still, most Christian radio stations don't do that.

P.S. It seems kinda silly to decry 'hype', when that's precisely what Jesus generated in His Jerusalem March...just a thought....

I've listened to Christian Radio off and on for 20+ yrs. -- mostly off -- most American gettheir news from the radio - if i need the news on my way to work - I'm on NPR - none of the Christian stations can touch the coverage and breath of analysis - even though it is biased in different ways sometimes. The Christian stations in my area are faily similar as far a programming goes -- either they try to mimic the Top 40's station(substituting w/ the latest top CCM fare; play only Gospel Music or string together peacher after preacher and call that programming. How great it would be to have station that attempts to reach us all; while still being edgy, informative, analytical, practical (community oriented) and relevant. In trying 'please' the audience and attract sponsors - MUCH has been lost. The gospel is OFFENSIVE (more than caps in a post)to the lost - when it ceases to be challenging it also loses relevancy.

I'd like to encourage those in Programming at Christian stations to move away from advertisements and run the stations more like the local public radio NPR affiliate. Also, avoid filling hour after hour with CCM Top 40, or signing up all for the Christian syndicated programs you can afford..

What would you put on the air..if you had to produce it all yourselves..from within your local community...what would THAT sound like?

As XM/Siruis/Ipod/Slacker/youtube/Pandora's proliferate and mature and people get these installed in their cars -- radio will increasingly lose market share. I hope that Christian Radio really makes an attempt at relevancy before its too late.

It's 2008 and you're just now realizing Christian radio is full of sappy sentimentality? Better late than never, I guess. I occasionally listened to the station-that-starts-with-K-and-ends-with- Love but the on-air prayer requests set to music made me want to vomit. As a Christian I found it embarassing. I'd rather my kids listen to music that's not 100% "safe" than have them grow up thinking Christianity is nothing but a Precious Moments parade.

I agree that there seeems to be present a "conforming to this world" in regards to Christian radio. I am a new believer and I find it strange that "safe" is considered offensive. Would it also follow that being "moral" is also offensive? I may be seeing the world from a new perspective but I somehow find the sappy songs and encouraging words quite uplifting. I don't know what lies ahead for me but I don't think that insisting that the right music be played on the radio is to be my preoccupation. What strikes me strange as well is that there is no sound of joy in the majority of the posts. There seems to be more negativity, anger, pessimism and and not a lot of fruitful stuff.

I have several options for Christian music on the radio. One is what many would describe as "sappy," another is geared towards teens, and a third leans more toward the rock side of things. I like having the choices. I believe there is room for all types of Christian music, even "sappy" stuff that makes me cringe. If it meets someone's need, I can't fault it. I may not want to listen to it but I'm sure not everyone likes my tastes, either.

Personally, I enjoyed Christian music much more back in the 80s and 90s. Deemed by some at the time to be lacking explicit Christian content (except for the last song), the words spoke about living my life of faith in the world and dealt with issues I encountered. Now, most of the music seems to focus on the singer describing how great they feel about God and stuff.

One thing that struck me while reading the article and comments is how people are bothered by sappy music and claims of radio being "safe" to listen. But is it drastically different than the music sung and played in our modern churches today? Most songs featured in contemporary services talk more about how great "we" feel than how great God is. Singing with repetitive fervor, we dump the meat of some songs (the verses) and sing only the choruses because they're so catchy. We have Worship Pastors (as if worship only involves music) that tell us when to close our eyes and what to pray. (This is not true of all churches but I have encountered some like this.) Bland Christian radio can possibly be nothing more than an outgrowth of what our churches have become.

First of all let me tell you that I love our Father, Jesus Christ our Savior and the Holy Spirit our couselor with all of my heart. Let me also tell you that I am sick in my stomach of all Christian radio, t.v. and I must admit of church all together. The hypocrisy of it all. My 15 year old daughter that had never gone to church was invited by another girl from her school, to attend her non-denominational church. She has become the biggest Pharisee, oh I don't want her to read this, because I don't know if I am sinning by telling her the her church is a sect, her and her church friends are making me insane. She talks back to me and tells me that I am so fat and that she can't stand me most of the times. Oh, she is a very decent girl, reads her bible everyday twice a day at least and meanwhile criticizes her two brothers and one sister, telling them they are not going to heaven, because they do not go to church nor read the bible, at the same time, they will never, seeing the way I feel about the whole hypocricy and seeing the person that she has become. Very above everybody else, bitter and not Christlike at all, on the other hand...wasn't religious hypocricy what Jesus hated the most. You tell me... Sincerely and worried for all these Christian that think they are better than thou. Lupe

yep, and Amen.

I took notice when an advertisement for an upcoming station sponsored concert/event/youth something had the DJ lady saying something like...

"pray about it and then buy your tickets"

KL,

A few points...

Sanitized Christian radio, is not inherrantly bad, as there are times and places for such, sort of like the disciples in the upper room. The problem is, a steady diet over a long period of time, could well turn what started out as a good thing, into a huge problem. Ie, rather than preparation to go out... one could retreat inward, and become isolated. Also, the passive nature of radio can lean towards entertainment, more so than edification. Its just something to watch out for, and I think many of the commenters are serving as watchdogs, either having been burned, or seeing what has happened to others. Graciousness in speech is always something to strive for... but when a brother of sister in Christ is aware of the potential for problems, it is the right thing to do, to bring them to light, the difficulty is how to do so, and still show the fruits of the spirit. Its not so easy, especially when brothers or sisters were hurt as a result, and thus its pretty easy to go into condemnation mode.

Fred,

I agree with your analysis. Ie, as soon as something even starts to become edgy, or highly relevant to living ones faith, the complaint lines will start flashing. The largest consumer base of "Christian" labeled material want safe and non-offensive.

Chad,

I like this quote a lot! "While more people may buy into a Jesus who makes us happy, we are called to preach a Jesus who makes us holy." What I find very troubling, is some brothers and sisters, believe a happy, sanitized, family friendly escapist worldview is the only Holy one... and any deviation from such, is not. When material goes into "get real mode" the folks who hold to the above world view are the ones who will light up the complaint lines in a huge way, and sadly, it seems to be all too common in the Christian radio listener demographic.

There also is the issue of the public airwaves, and that things can be too edgy. Imagine the horror of the current audience, to say nothing of the FCC fines, if Ezekiel 23 were to be read on Christian radio.... Songs of Solomon, Or even Numbers 5 depending upon the translation might also fall into that domain as well. Realistically though, there is a huge gap between santizied Christian radio, and the rather intense nature of the aforementioned scripture.