I don’t like Christian radio. Can I say that? This is a dilemma that has vexed me since I began to follow Jesus back in 1997. The bubble gum songs with lysol clean production and sappy lyrics. The lack of diversity in music offering. The general overriding political themes and support for conservative specific values all push me towards nausea. Is that something that I can say about something that is Christian?
See there is an underlying assumption in my head that if it’s Christian I must support it. In other words I cannot criticize Christian art. I feel like if I do someone’s going to find out and I will be punished by having to write “I cannot criticize Christian art” on the chalkboard one hundred times. And if it sounds like elementary school that’s because it almost feels like I can’t have a mind of my own and I cannot criticize or question. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe when people put Christ on something it becomes like one of the shields on the Star Trek Enterprise deflecting all critical thinking. It almost feels like if you do it for Christ the quality standards do not matter anymore because Christ is the only quality.
The funny thing is many of the pieces of art we consider masterpieces were inspired by Christ. Many of the renaissance paintings and Michelangelo’s work on the Sistine Chapel were on Biblical subjects. Handel’s Messiah is a joyful celebration of Christ’s birth. Christ motivated some of the best artistic endeavors. If that is the case then I can criticize artistic endeavors that are not so great including most of what I hear on Christian radio. Just because Christ’s name is on it doesn’t mean that it’s the Holy Grail.
So can I say that I don’t like Christian radio? I can. To not do so would not be speaking the truth and I am called to speak the truth in love. Not only love for those who are part of the that huge consumeristic mass market machine but also love for those Christians like myself who need a little more diversity, realism, and artistic quality in their musical choices. Good thing I have Pandora 
