Like many of you, our family is very active with all the kid's activities, going to the libraries, church, visiting sick relatives, shopping, etc., and so we go out to eat fairly often. On one of our recent visits to a local inn, a pizza restaurant, it dawned on me that the often distasteful and sometimes even obscene and vulgar music played on the jukebox was a result of the silent majority of Americans in general and the silent Christian minority in particular. We have allowed a very vocal minority to dictate what we must endure in public places. It appears we have gotten to the point that we are so willing to blend so invisibly into the fabric of our society, or separate ourselves from it, that we are willing to be silent while some aspects of our society decay around us at an increasing rate. I began to wonder what we are teaching our kids about social responsibility? What are they learning from us when we say we are for certain values but then are not willing to even try to promote them in our own little town? Do we really want our kids to grow up as just another sheep in the flock of the silent majority of Americans or slip comfortably into the silent minority of socially impotent Christians? Do we really stand for anything? As you can see, there were quite a few thoughts that rattled around in my mind while the rap of ultra bass vibrations and other accompanying noises continued to assault the young and old alike.
I thought maybe I should be just a bit more assertive and possibly even raise the spiritual level in this place by playing a couple of Christian songs. I know that may associate me with Christianity and identify me as a "church goer" but I do believe and should not deny Him. So I went to the jukebox and rambled through the selection and was soon disappointed to find very few Christian related songs. I played the ones there and went back to my seat and found I was irritated with the wholly inadequate selection of gospel music available. After all, I read somewhere the vast majority of Americans consider themselves Christians. Certainly in our little town the vast majority consider themselves Christians, even if not very good, or very active or even practicing believers. I feel certain few consider themselves non-believers. Certainly, there are more believers than are being represented by that meager music selection. Those few songs were by only one artist too. That wasn't a selection, it was an insult. So I thought I would request more Christian music. We began brainstorming for Christian artists and albums and between the kids and us we came up with a list of about eight recently popular artists written on a napkin. The first opportunity that came up I approached the assistant manager and requested she have the music company include some Christian music and here was a recommended list to consider. She appeared to reluctantly agree that she would and I felt like we were making some progress.
Several weeks later we went back to this pizza inn expecting to find a much improved music selection but again was disappointed to find no better selection than before. I asked the assistant manager about it and was told she gave the list to the music company several weeks ago but hadn't heard anything from them. A week later I called the restaurant one day and talked with the manager, telling him the whole story. He stated they have no say in what music is in the jukebox. I think I am beginning to hear the sound of excuses as the buck is being passed. But surely if the restaurant requests certain music to be removed or added the music company would comply. The manager said he would be willing to make the request, assuring me he had nothing against Christian music.
I then called the music company and spoke with the owner. He had heard nothing about any such request. He assured me he had nothing against Christian music and would place whatever music the business asked for. In over thirty years of business this was the first time anyone had ever requested Christian music in one of his machines. That is remarkable! But, they may not want it in there since people going in to eat pizza and drink a beer might get uncomfortable with Christian music playing. Umm, well I get uncomfortable with music that promotes sexual promiscuity, raping, killing or getting drunk to solve problems. It's up to the restaurant.
I then called another hut where pizza is sold to request the same thing and was given the same story about the music company decides but they would be willing make the request, grudgingly it seemed. They must teach this in pizza school.
I believe, as Christians we are not partly citizens of this county, state, and country but still full citizens with fully equal rights under the law, even more under God. I don't think when we accept Jesus as our savior that we have given up our rights as Americans but by the Grace of God and the blood of Christ have inherited even more rights. Yet, by our silence we permit the unanswered assault on the quality of our daily lives and that of our community in countless small ways that in total amount to the moral degradation we claim to detest and insist needs correcting. Since we were silent while the moral decay was slowly progressing, is it time yet to try to correct, even in a small way, any of it?
Imagine if each of us asked every restaurant, and any other business that we support, that plays music to include Christian gospel music that we enjoy listening to. Imagine if they had enough requests that they couldn't refuse but complied. Imagine if non-Christians began commenting on how much they enjoyed it and it even caught on to the point of music companies including it in other places. Imagine if only one customer in one of those restaurants decided at some time to accept Christ as their savior as a result of something they heard in one of the songs. Imagine if only one person depressed to the point of contemplating suicide found hope from the upbeat music and lyrics of a brotherhood of life in Christ. Imagine if only one young person discovered that Christianity and Christians were not so stuffy and self-righteous but ordinary sinners, just like her, saved by the love of Jesus and given eternal hope. Imagine if each of us called the popular rock and other local radio stations and asked them to play selections from certain gospel albums. Imagine if they did. Imagine how easy it is to make the request. Imagine the difference it could make. Imagine making that kind of difference. Is it worth the effort? Is it time yet?
Steve Bonner
