LTRP Note: Regarding the following news article from Christian News Network, we have a clip of the “Christian” band in question from YouTube, but we do not want to put it on our blog so here is the link to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLg118JfEWE. Here is another link to the band as they sing a “Christian” song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvadaaQGkP0. This is where today’s Christianity has come to. We have posted other articles about other “Christian” musicians that are being used by evangelical churches. For instance, two contemplative/emerging promoting groups called Gungor and David Crowder have often performed at Calvary Chapel churches. Please refer to our Related Articles below this news story for some of our coverage on this issue. Also Mike Oppenheimer’s article on the Mars Hill debate is helpful in understanding what is the role of the Christian in reaching the lost.
By Heather Clark
Christian News Network
PHILADELPHIA – Questions are being raised over the decision by Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusade to invite a band whose members dressed as women for Halloween to perform at their city-wide evangelistic event this past weekend.
NEEDTOBREATHE is a multiple Dove Award-winning band from South Carolina, and is comprised of brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart, who grew up in the church as preacher’s kids. While initially overtly Christian, the group now considers themselves a crossover band, meaning that they sing for both the Church and the secular world, keeping their lyrics non-religious for the most part.
Signed to Atlantic and Sparrow Records, NEEDTOBREATHE released their first album, Daylight, in 2006, to critical acclaim. Their song “Signature of Divine (Yahweh),” from their second album, The Heat, was nominated for “Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” in 2008, and the following year, they took home the award for ”Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year” for “Washed by the Water,” a song about baptism.
NEEDTOBREATHE’s third album, The Outsiders, released in 2009, featured a song entitled “Girl Named Tennessee,” a secular tune that speaks of falling in love with a girl on the dance floor. . . .
Last year, NEEDTOBREATHE appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien on Halloween night. The taped broadcast featured the band performing the song “Girl From Tennessee”–but all dressed as women. The men decided to dress as some of the most popular female musicians from Tennessee: Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Reba McEntire and Minnie Pearl. Click here to read entire article.
Related Articles:
The Music and the Mystical by Larry DeBruyn
When Popular Music Becomes Obscene & Immoral by Berit Kjos
It’s All In Place – A song by Trevor Baker
New Tool by Deception in the Church Ministries Rates Christian Worship Songs
