Why do people assume that Christian artists lack talent?

Don't know there are quite a few talented musicians delivering a Christian message in all genres of music. Here are some of my favorites:

Artist(songs)

Hard rock:

Hawk Neslon(The One Thing I Have Left, Bring Em Out)

Broken Yoke(Vapor, Caught in the moment)

Kutless(Strongtower, Hearts of the Innocent)

Rock

Newsboys(Who, Joy, Thrive, Breakfast, Live in Stereo, It is you, He Reigns, Wherever we go, I am Free)

Audio Adrenaline(Hit Parade Album – Hands and Feet and Big House)

Third Day(You are mine)

Casting Crowns(Voice of Truth, Lifesong, Does Anybody Hear Her, Praise You In This Storm)

Building 429(The Space between Us)

Matthew West(Happy, I can’t hear you, Out of my hands)

Downhere(A better way)

RelientK(Two lefts don’t make a right album – forward motion, getting into you, mood rings)

Pop/Praise

Chris Tomlin(How great is our god, Indescribable, Made To Worship)

MercyMe(Here With Me, Homesick, Shine on, So long self)

Superchic[k] – (Stand in the Rain)

Matt Redman – (You Never Let Go)

Aaron Shust – (My Savior My God)

Jeremy Riddle (Sweetly Broken)

People are very good at making snap judgements over things, and if they don't like Christians or Christianity because of bad experiences in their life, they tend to let that negativity carry over to comments about the music. Even if they don't know anything about it, or very little. Also, sometimes even if you are a Christian, the heavy handed lyrics can be tedious. Also, Christian music tends to be milder in general, and people often go for stronger and more aggressive lyrics, even if they're bad.

Christian music that's worth a listen to might be Phil Keaggy, Mortal (more aggressive), Bryan Duncan (very smooth, mellow voice), Jars of Clay, NewsBoys, Collective Soul. But then if someone is very sensitive to Christian lyrics and the Christian message, chances are they won't like any Christian artist no matter the talent because the lyrics are the problem.

Honestly, I am just coming to the conclusion myself that Christian music does not suck. I feel like a jerk admitting this, but I always just kinda figured, (even though I have always considered myself a Christian), that people who sang Christian music couldn't make it playing 'regular music'. (I know, but its hard to admit when you have been narrow minded so give me a break :) However, I have been flipping through the radio stations (over the past about 6 months), something will catch my ear and I will like it then realize its was a Christian band. I think Christian artists just need a little more exposure, or to be played on more radio stations. Then just Christian stations. There are a lot of good songs, artists etc. that I never get to hear unless driving through a certain area in my car.

1. Lighten up.

2. Agree 9/10 of current music artists lack talent, that goes ditto for Christian artists as well...9/10 of it is poorly done as well, so you're not saying by default Christian artists music/artists is/are better are you?

3. You are categorizing or making this statement in reference to whom? The standard pop-music top 40 radio listening audience? Then yes, they will think Christian music/artists suck as they cannot relate to, and have no connection to Christianity or faith, no shock there...should be no surprse there because...

4. People don't want to be preached to, check yourself, rap artists speaking about selling drugs or being shot is NOT preaching. They are telling a story, a f'd up one, but a story nonetheless, this is much different than telling someone or group how to live their life. To many people, music is entertainment, an escape, they don't want to hear about how their life should be or how to make it better...why do you think love songs, ballads, metal and rap are so popular? They describe and sing about a life with more excitement, fun and adventure than most will ever experience. Many Christian artists and acts do not cater to this....

5. You gotta get off this soap box and realize the Christian music thing is perpetuated by the labels and Christians themselves.

Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton and many other popular artists have made religious/gospel albums and songs of faith and have strong religious backgrounds but are not listed or found in the Christian section of the record shop, ever wonder why?

Thats because Christian must IS A GENRE, your own question says "I hear alot of people these days make claims that Christian music sucks".

Now why use "Christian music" as a definer (you did this and you used a term that people understood, yes) if you don't think it is a genre? Like it or not, its classified as a type of music, this is due to the of greed record companies trying to make a buck, the Christian artists bands themselves AND THE CHRISTIANS WHO WANT THE MUSIC CATEGORIZED AS SUCH SO THEY CAN MAKE SURE THEY ARE LISTENING TO MUSIC THAT FITS THEIR BELIEFS. (I.E. Christian Bookstores, Christian-friendly businesses, etc.) You can't blame the non Christian public for the label, Christians did this themselves...

6. Further and most importantly, when record companies really saw the potential for "Christian music" as it was categorized and came to be in the mid 80's, many bands, Christian or not, were greedy and trying to make a buck, jumped on the band wagon. Many were untalented hack bands and artists making vague clones of pop songs with enough "Christian" phase and words put in for effect. The public saw through this and the entire genre got labeled poorly by the general public, unfairly, but thats what has happened.

7. Lastly,no one is suppressing your views. You asked a question and got responses, some you didn't like.

If your a talented artist, your a talented artist, Christian or not, if you like it, like it, who cares? If you are a struggling artist or band who is talented but feel the Christian label is holding you back from being popular or famous, then, yes, you have a problem. That I understand it, being Christian, you shouldn't be worried about self praise, wealth, fame or adornment. You should be happy with the talent and gift God gave you, share it with others and be happy with that. Music is an art form, not a means to progress ones stature in life.

Love what you love, do what you do, and never mind what everyone else thinks, respect for what you do and who your are comes from within (or your faith). The majority of the public is ALWAYS wrong anyway, so move on with your life...

Well first of all, in today's society, people tend to rebel against Christians and what they stand for. I'm a Christian, and I don't think that Christian artists lack talent, but sometimes I think that a bunch of the Christian singers kinda sound the same, and they all have the same message in their songs, even if it is a good one. And there are some Christians singers that don't have music that most people consider "Christian". Like Amy Lee from Evanescence is a Christian, but there music isn't just stuff directly from the Bible, and Flyleaf's lead singer Lacy is a Christian, and they're music genre isn't Christian.

I would imagine the people that say this are the ones that donl't like anything that doesn't have themes dealing with sex, drugs, swearing, etc in them. To them, that is talent.

I have only heard a small range of music by Christian groups and have enjoyed them and would consider the artists as having a lot of talent. I've also watched rap videos and find nothing entertaining about them. But some people do. Personally, the chicks in those videos don't know how to act and neither do the rappers. The chicks look like dogs humping the air and the rappers walk around making hand/arm gestures but some people think that's acting. Some people think that is art and that it's great to have their little kids listen to it and watch it. Some people think acting is what Paris Hilton does while others like Audrey Hepburn.

Well, "U2" started as a Christian Band, and so did "Creed". "Jars of Clay" is a Christian band, as well as many others that are now considered "main stream".

I would have to guess that those who criticize it, have either never listened to it, or have a very limited history of listening to it. I personally do not judge music by what "genre" it is considered. I judge it by the quality. Thus, I also listen to jazz, pop, reggae, country, R&B, etc. If it is good, I listen.

I think you get into trouble when you classify any whole grouping negatively as there will always be exceptions. It is just really naive and uneducated to do so.

I'm angered by the responses!!

People need to be more opened minded and most Christian music has a message and that really is whats important. There are alot of talented Christian singers that if they decided to sing R&B, Country, Jazz, or Rock I gaurantee you would buy there CD. I don't think there music suck at all as long as they can sing or bring a message. That is what any talented singer does anyway if you really think about it. Just cause its labeled Christian people freak out.

I don't think is that they assume, its that they are not willing to listen. A lot of people are too into the world and basically listen to who is on tv or friends listen to. When I listen to Christian music it is uplifting and motivating. Now don't get me wrong I do listen to other music, but what I have come to find out is that what you listen to determines a lot of peoples actions. If you spend all day listening about drugs, and sex that's what you will be thinking about even when you aren't listening. Christians singers do infact have alot of talent, what I think people do assume is that they are "singing" the bible word by word. Which you know is not the case.

White.sale sorry mate but everyone eventually conforms to something besides one of Christianity's tenets is free will when you really research it. Now onto the topic at hand.

Because they're judging based on message. It's true. some people automatically reject anything "Christian" to the point of becoming near obsessive kinda like Bushophobes who will insert his name into a discussion on the merits of Ford vs Chevy just to have a chance to hate on him.

People don't realize it but there are a few bands that started out doing Christian music and moved on to secular music like Sixpence None The Richer and so forth. Sarah MacLachlan started out doing Celtic music. Moby and U2 use Chrsitian themes in some of their music as do many soul and r&b singers.

If you take music appreciation in college one of the firs tthings they'll teach you is that all music is in someway related and their is no music that sucks there's just what you like and don't like.