Is that an Oxymoron?

I was looking for some new music and came across this article and really liked it and thought I should share since it's basically what my blog is all about.

According to some critics and cynics, the words Christian and hardcore become an oxymoron when linked together. At their association, images of loud music, yelling, moshing, and, most of all, apparent anger become tangible reflections. But is this appropriate?

"They sound so angry," a friend said to me once while I was playing Grammatrain, a now defunct Christian rock band who are, by coincidence, not so heavy. "If they're filled with the love of God, why are they so angry?"

Grammatrain is, by far, not the most brutal of the genre. Whenever I play Zao or Living Sacrifice albums in the presence of friends and comment on the music's Christianity, their brows furrow as deep as the dunes along this Carolina coast.

"I just have one question," I was asked recently while playing "Desire the End" from Zao's 1999 release, Liberate Te Ex Inferis. "What is he saying?"

It is true that we, as Christians, often disregard exactly what we're doing as long as we're told it's Christian. Music is as fine an example as any.

As in much hardcore, whether Christian or secular, some of the Christian bands making the rounds are mostly indiscernible as far as their lyrics are concerned, Zao, Living Sacrifice, early Embodyment, and Overcome not the least of those. If it is impossible for me to hear the message, does that make it no longer Christian or even positive?

I've been asked over and over why I listen to Christian hardcore. No matter my response, their conclusion is they don't agree with it, no matter where their faith lies. Christian hardcore is a ministry meant more for recruitment than strengthening. While someone already deeply rooted in the Christian faith may not gain much from the messages in the lyrics of Zao or Living Sacrifice, one who does not yet know God may learn more than they ever thought they could know.

A Christian hardcore concert is, while being much the same, an opposite from your typical secular show. While moshing and shouting may still persist, and while violent rhythms and burning guitars may still burrow through the crowds' hearing like flesh-eating earwigs, there is also an air of holiness about the place. There is ministry performed by the band members between songs, and there is an effort to "lift up your brother, don't put him down," as P.O.D. says to their fans when the mosh pit breaks open as violently as a Northeastern storm cloud in front of their stage. A hardcore Christian concert is all about enjoying music and praising God, as well as trying to bring those who are in the hardcore scene and thus most detached from God closer to His will.

I read a review on CDNow.com recently of Zao's Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest LP. They described Zao's message as "holy/evil." If critics are confusing the Christian hardcore scene to such an extent, it is time that we Christians stand up and proclaim the benefits of these holy messages, no matter how muddled they may be within all the distorted noise.

There will remain those who disagree with this approach to bringing in lost children/young adults who frequent the hardcore and punk clubs. There will remain friends in my life who will scold some of my more disturbing Christian CDs. There may even be those who will lose respect for me because of the brand of music I listen to. As far as I'm concerned, God is the One who introduced me to this music and it is a strong stream of ministry. Do not compromise your faith for the warnings of those less holy than yourself. Take it up with God. And rock on.