Why is it that Christian music is the only type of music that society labels by what the artists are singing about?

You can’t go into Musicland and ask for the satanic music or the cheesy love songs. That would make it too easy for White Zombie or Richard Marx fans.

Seriously though, there is a wall between Christian and secular music that needs to be torn down. By categorizing Christian artists, non Christians are turned away solely because they don’t want to be preached to.

I give mad props to Jars of Clay, who have toured with The Samples and other “secular” bands in recent years.

Here is a group of four talented songwriters and musicians who happen to be Christians and happen to sing most of their songs about God.

They don’t put up any walls. They tour with bands of a similar style, whether they’re Christians or not. And most importantly, Jars of Clay don’t turn anyone away.

The thing with labeling Christian music is that it works both ways. Destroying just one of the biases does nothing.

I know a lot of people who don’t listen to music unless it is a Christian-labeled artist.

These are the same people who are so segregated from the real world, they will probably read The Moss Pit today for the first time, and only because they heard what the topic is.

It’s funny how some of my most conservative Christian friends will look through my CDs and ask to hear 90 Pound Wuss or MxPx. These people don’t like punk music, who are they kidding?

They rip bands like Rancid or Offspring to shreds, but when they hear that MxPx are Christians, then all of a sudden punk is worth listening to.

Well, the joke’s on them because you can’t hear a single difference between Rancid and MxPx.

Some Christians say they feel better listening to artists they share a common bond with. This makes some sense, I suppose, sort of like refusing to buy a 2-Pac record for the sole reason that he was a bad, bad man.

But say this is how you decide what music you listen to. Then where do you draw the line in other aspects of life? Do you only take classes taught by Christians? Do you only keep friendships with Christians?

And how can one be so simple in labeling an artist a Christian or not? You don’t know them. Maybe an artist is middle of the road, then the point of their music is going to be to express those frustrations.

You can’t deny a great hero because of one thought they once shared, whether i’s Jim Morrison or Carrie Chapman Catt.

How about artists like Joan Osborne or U2? They are as outspoken about their Christianity as anyone, but because they’re not on a Christian label, many Christians don’t even give them a chance.

Ames has been treated to some great Christian acts in recent years. Newsboys still ranks as one of the best shows I’ve seen in Stephens, while DC Talk featured three of the most multi-talented musicians around.

I’ll never forget when DC Talk played a cover of R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of The World (As We Know It.)” I looked around and saw all these Christians singing along. They loved it.

I wondered how some of those people could enjoy the song so much yet not own any “secular” music. Since DC Talk was singing it, did that make it OK?

I think it’s safe to say that Kurt Cobain doesn’t get much respect from many Christians. But on occasion, DC Talk will do a cover of “All Apologies.” Before the band plays it, the frontmen talk about the different struggles everyone faces.

They are so right, it hurts.

We all struggle, so why put a Christian’s struggles above a non-Christian’s.

I read in Rolling Stone once that Cobain was DC Talk’s favorite songwriter. I think that says a lot about facing up to everyone’s struggles.

Christianity is not simple. It is probably the most complex aspect of life. That is why it is so important not to close your eyes to the artists who sing about these struggles.

I would guess that three-fourths of all songs are about relationships, whether it be with a significant other, a family member or God.

Which ever the case, these songs were written by people that want to share what’s inside their hearts with listeners.

Christians who can’t open their arms to this need to reevaluate their own hearts.

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Corey Moss is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Urbandale. He is the Arts & Entertainment editor of the Daily. This column originally appeared on Nov. 4, 1996.