Dottie Rambo will you marry me?

"CCM has to water down the gospel in order to attract larger audiences"

"Artists uninterested in worship music should go mainstream,"

"Evangelicals have always had to reckon with the fact that God speaks through mainstream music..."

"I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed on concert, if my music... has not provoked you into Godly jealousy or to sell out more completely to Jesus"

"If in our worship we pervert His Word, we pervert the truth about God"

"Christian music doesn't exist, because it's arrogant for sinful people"


Hmm.

Lots of things are said about music because it's like a character trait, something we are fiercely proud of and if someone doesn't share our taste "they just don't understand."
I catch myself using musical tastes to define who I am to my peers. It can create instant, unshakeable bonds with strangers who enjoy obscure 70's Prog rock or know the birthplace of Curt Cobain. It can also polarize entire generations of Christians.
As a fan of Switchfoot I felt they sold out when they put all their most popular songs on one album and introduced themselves to mainstream music. It was a greatest hits album but also a safe bet in entering secular world. I listened to them "before all my friends", and now I was annoyed by everyone asking, "have you heard of Switchfoot? I love their new single."
Yes, I heard that song a few years ago on their second album.
Their next albums began to stray from songs with obvious references to Jesus.
Did they water down for a bigger audience? I feel they did.
Does God use their music less? I don't think so.
Watered down wine is still good to those who've never tried it (untested analogy).
But a frequent wine drinker like myself now has to search for a richer vintage when in the mood for worship music.
But is that the only use of music for a Christian?

For me music is rooted in moods rather than faith. There comes a time in every man's life when he feels sad and like a cowboy, "sings a sad, sad song." But you wouldn't bring an ipod filled with love songs to the gym.
Similarly when I am filled with angst I need some emotional music to help me "scream it out".
Other times I am feeling spiritually depressed or under attack and simply need to hear someone sing about how much they love Jesus. I don't need a sermon or answers to deep questions or philosophical poetry, just someone else singing a song without me having to interpret or put my Christian filter on, it's Christian so I can just "mindlessly" listen. And I find it soothing.
The music I listen to changes depending on where I am and what time of day it is. My faith is only a part (albeit an important part) of what music I listen to.
But wouldn't it be great to marry someone named Dottie Rambo?


Who's your wife?
Oh, you know, Dottie... Rambo!