Band Beliefs

[TCCMatt]

I get this question a lot:

OK, i dont know if or when you might respond, but to stat off i will tell you that i am a big fan of you guys and i was just wondering one thing, i know people consider you a Christian band and i do too, but do you consider yourselves that? And looking at the lyrics and interpretations of We All Look Elsewhere and i see the Christian interpretation of it and i, myself see it that way but people from varius sources see it as a song about getting over drugs as well with the "straight line" portion of the song referring to cocaine. Get back to me if you can.


God Bless,
A South Dakotant

I'd like to answer this on our news forum, because I think a lot of people have asked if we consider ourselves a "christian" band or not. The answer is no, and there are numerous reasons why. Hopefully by sharing those with you I can shed some light on the topic.

Reason #1: We feel the term "christian" has been abused in years passed, especially by Americans, and thus has been associated with other words like; judgemental, narrow-minded, pious, self-righteous, exclusive, etc. Jesus was none of those things, and we're sure He would not want us associating who we are with those types of words.

Reason #2: We believe faith is personal, and can be only held by an individual person. To entitle a group "christian" would be to assume that the group has a collective soul, or at least individual souls tied to a  solid collective belief. Not everyone in our band is decidedly set in their faith, and we respect that.

Reason #3: We do not prefer to endorse an industry that currently thrives on exclusivity.

Reason #4: We would like our music to reach the mainstream. Bob Dylan once said, "People want to label you so they can limit your accessability." We do not want our accessability limited by labeling ourselves something that has negative connotations in todays day and age.

To the Christians who listen to us: Thank you, we welcome your ears and your hearts. Its understandable you may have expectations for us based on the label we are signed to, but our music is not exclusively for you, and we cannot accept a label that will in most ways limit us to you alone. We also cannot accept a label that in its purest form we cannot live up to. "Christian" literally means, "little Christ." We are far from that in many ways, and we cannot live up to those heavy expectations, not to mention the added religious expectations of the "western church." All this aside,  I do encourage and endorse people who wish to seek out and learn from the works, life and death of Jesus.

To everyone else who listens to us: Thank you so much for relating to our songs. The music we write is for people who struggle, people who have questions, and people that want to change their surroundings. We've all individually struggled with a lot of things, and we hope you can relate to our experience as its portrayed in our music. Thank you for looking deeper than surface level. We hope to continue our artist/listener relationship with you for a very long time.


With love always,

Matt and The Classic Crime

[The Classic Criminal]

Thank you, that was very informative, I for one agree with all of those points as a Christian and understand how you probably feel about that. Might you guys consider switching labels?

[rawr]

I love the reasons you gave. <3

.. and I don't think it should matter if you (or any band at that) are Christian or not. People should listen to a band because of their music - not their beliefs.

[The Classic Criminal]

But be mindful of the message. I'm just glad that TCC has the influence from Christianity at least to write good songs.

[Anathema]

But be mindful of the message. I'm just glad that TCC has the influence from Christianity at least to write good songs.

That's utter bullshit. I'm sorry, but I have to say it. A band's beliefs mean NOTHING. He Is Legend are signed to Tooth and Nail, and Schyular is nearly permanently on mushrooms. Not your idea of Christian, is it? And theres so many more. And then you get secular bands who arent in that scene, who are in it for the music.. AND so many bands adopt the christian label, because it means they appeal to a larger audience! It's a marketing gimmick through and through. You can find christian undertones in many a secular song, and secular undertones in many a "christian" song. it should matter what religion the band claims to be, because they are a band, you dont know them at all, they can just claim that theyre christian and you'll be none the wiser if they're actually satanists out to make some money. Religion is a bloody stupid concept anyways. Every christian I know is one of the most judgemental and obnoxious people i know, and if not, they are so fake its not funny, they put on a front because they are scared of the obnoxious judgemental ones. your beliefs and your choices are your own. not part of a collective. that goes for bands too.

[The Classic Criminal]

That's often the case, but you are stereotyping Christians into a box that only includes judgemental, stuck-up snobs. I never did say the label had anything to do with beliefs. A label is just a label. I do agree that most bands should not be called Christian bands, but that's the only way to tell someone that they generally have Christian beliefs and are in a band. It would be kind of awkward to say, "Hey did you know TCC is a 3-Christians-out-of-5-members-that-happen-to-play-in-a-band"?

[Anathema]

TCC is a band that plays music. Why do you people have this need to box them in as christians? They are a band. A group of individuals. That all have different morals and beliefs. You cant just lump them together.

[The Classic Criminal]

That was my point in my last post. I don't want to argue, so, if you want, go make a debate topic

[Phoenix]

*Referring to the main post*

I think you hold a lot of good points there, but I'm not sure I agree with the approach.

Yes, the good name of Christians has been abused. To many people, it has all the horrible contexts you mentioned... and while "Christ-follower" is probably a more appropriate term, changing the term isn't going to change the false stereotype the rest of the world likes putting on the Church (And by Church I mean collective body of those redeemed by Christ). The idea would be to actively set out to change the stereotype rather than to call the term a loss and abandon it.

I've never understood why many Christians (I will continue to use the term) think that "Christian Rock" Bands should only play "Christian Rock" music on Christian labels... the very nature of Christianity tells everyone to do the complete opposite. God's people aren't supposed to keep to themselves- they're to be the ambassadors to everyone else, so in that sense I applaud you, even if that wasn't the motivation behind avoiding that label.

I know that not everyone in the band may not be a Christ-follower either, but to those who are, don't be afraid to show it. Either way, keep strong. I can't wait for Seattle Sessions and your upcoming studio stuff, whenever it comes.

Peace!

[Drummer For God]

But be mindful of the message. I'm just glad that TCC has the influence from Christianity at least to write good songs.

That's utter bullshit. I'm sorry, but I have to say it. A band's beliefs mean NOTHING. He Is Legend are signed to Tooth and Nail, and Schyular is nearly permanently on mushrooms. Not your idea of Christian, is it? And theres so many more.

No one ever said Christians are perfect. Christians struggle with the same things everyone else does. Just because he does that makes him no less than a Christian than me, because I don't.

For the rest of your post, that is really generalized. A lot of Christians might be judgmental and things like that, but not all of us are. Its just that persons personality, and shame on them if they think they are any better than non Christians.

[Anathema]

I know Christians arent perfect. I used to go to church all the time.
And you have to be generalized when you are talking about a collective group. Plus thats the main image portrayed by most christians, and every single one I've met is like that, even if they are quiet about it.

[The Classic Criminal]

Granted, but you really shouldn't generalize unless that is even a significant, much less predominant attitude in the group.

[Anathema]

It IS a significant predominant attitude in the group.

[The Classic Criminal]

I definitely wouldn't say that, but go ahead and judge. I'm not stopping you

[Drummer For God]

A lot of Christians are judgmental, I will give you that, and I don't know if the majority is because I don't know everyone and everyones heart. I'm sorry that the ones you now are, and you said everyone you meet is like that, well you met me now, and I try not to be the best that I can. Also another point I would like to make is people say all Christians are judgmental, but if you think about it, everyone is a little.