Music Paradigm #3

1.      This paradigm has more to do with the secular music industry than the Christian music industry, but it definitely relates to Christianity and Music.                  

As I watched the memorial for the late Michael Jackson with the rest of America on Tuesday afternoon, I couldn’t help but notice how many religious/gospel songs were sung at the King of Pop’s funeral.

Michael was carried on to the floor of the Staples Center in LA, while the audience heard the old hymn “Soon and Very Soon” - a song with an obvious message of Jesus Christ. There were many performers/speakers at the funeral service who spoke and sang/played songs with a gospel message or at least touched on concepts of God and heaven. Legendary R&B performer, Stevie Wonder said:

 "This is a moment that I wished that I didn't have to see coming... but I do know that God is good, and I do know that as much as we may feel that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more."

 I’m not an expert on the music of Michael Jackson. I do know that he released about a hundred songs, none of which (that I’m aware of, I could be wrong) ever touch on the concept Jesus Christ or God. 

Now. Please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t know Michael Jackson. I didn’t know his heart. I enjoyed his performances and appreciate what he did for pop music. That’s not even what this blog is about. I only say all of this to pose a question and hopefully point out yet another paradigm worth reviewing in music - and probably in an even broader sense, American pop culture.

---- Why is it immediately cool/acceptable to talk about God when someone dies? ----

Think about it.

You don’t hear God talked about on TV. You don’t hear God talked about in movies. You don’t hear God talked about in the mainstream music market. The only time you ever see God getting a mention in pop culture is when He or His church is the butt of joke, or someone of cultural notoriety passes on.

Hollywood’s image of God - the ultimate life-giver,  seems to come with connotations of death. We (as a culture) don’t thank God or acknowledge Him in life, but we’ll be the first to associate Him with death. 

God should only be glorified in people's deaths... and in people's lives too for that matter.