Christian Music Store
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A Christian music store can be found in many big and small towns and cities across the country. For those who aren't familiar with this genre of music, it is a billion dollar a year industry and many persons that would not even call themselves Christian listen to this music because of its uplifting message of peace, hope and love. A strictly musical only store for this genre of songs and compositions will be difficult to find, however, as a Christian music store will probably be a part of a larger Christian merchandising store selling not only musical CDs but also books, Bibles and other Christian related merchandise. In most of these all encompassing stores, the CD department that encompasses CDs of popular albums as well as some printed musical pieces is an important but certainly not the only profitable part of the store. The large markup on Bibles and books also is a part of the profit strategy in making a retail Christian merchandising store a success.
The majority of customers going to a supplier of Christ centered merchandise are, admittedly, Christ-centered in their life philosophy. While many persons who are not followers of Jesus Christ cannot understand this motivation or taste in musical pieces, Christians who have had a radical life change truly have a metamorphosis in regards to what is listened to in terms of music and what is watched on TV and other media. This metamorphosis in thinking and in culture is not something that is a decision, but rather a response to a radical new way of looking at life. As a result, musical pieces that are sexist, sensual, violent and negative just naturally begin to rub the Christ follower the wrong way. As much as the rapper often naturally dislikes country musical compositions, or the classic musical composition lover often decries heavy metal, the Christ follower suddenly gains an aversion to musical pieces that have a message counter to the message of Christ. Thus the Christian music store or department becomes a haven for someone who has gone through this metamorphosis of thought and culture.
But make no mistake: lovers of heavy metal can find their genre of musical choice at a Christian music store. The words of much different, the message is totally changed, but the feedback, distortion and grunge guitar is still present. And just as true, Christian rappers have found their market within the community of Christ followers as well as those who like the steel guitar and banjo in country gospel musical choices. There are plenty of critics of modern Christ centered musical pieces who feel that anything other than an organ and piano are unsacred and so shall there always be critics. In reality, the great hymns of the 1700's often used the musical compositions of the beer gardens of the era in which to couch their powerful words. The critics howled then also. But others more supportive of the Christ centered musical pieces that are sold in a Christian music store hold tight to the philosophy that the methods for presenting the changeless message of God's love and grace are not sacred so long as they do not overshadow that message.
Going to a Christian music store or the department within a larger bookstore is a great experience to find out just exactly where the church is today in terms of worship. There are usually in one corner the top 10 in sellers for that week or month. Within the Christ centered recording industry are cross over artists such as Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant in the 90's and now artists like Sarah Masen, Bill Mallonee, Switchfoot, Sufjan Stevens and others who have had their Christ centered compositions played on the usually disdainful major radio stations around the country. Whether a person loves urban gospel, country, classical, southern gospel, pop or praise, these various styles can be found in a Christian music store. Oops, that's not quite true, because some independent store owners will limit the kinds of musical compositions they carry, basically because of a philosophical issue they might have with some forms of modern Christ centered musical songs. In the Bible there are principles and precepts, and with music in the church, there are no precepts or black and white rules written in stone. Instead, a principle rules and that one is this: "Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
If a person worshipping in a service hears a soloist get up and sing a song to a pre recorded piece of musical composition that has strings and other orchestral instruments on it, the chances are that soloist was in a Christian music store and found that song available on an accompaniment CD and purchased it. Oftentimes young couples who are seeking to have a Christ centered wedding with very explicit worship music that could be especially appropriate for a wedding ceremony go and spend hours listening to the section of these bookstores that carry just wedding music. Just try and find that category in a large secular bookstore; a person can look forever and not find just that genre of music even in the megastores that have sprouted up around the country. Christ centered music is unlike any other musical composition in the world. It speaks of the relationship that a human being can have with the God of the universe, the relationship not unlike a healthy parent-child relationship where the parent would lay down his or her life for the child.
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