Portland Biblical Community

I was recently loaned a Christian CD. I feel that I need another musical influence other than what I have had in the past. I like the CD but I really dislike paying for Christian music, art, writing, things that I feel are meant to build the body of Christ. I remember the idea that a “workman is worthy of his support - Matt 10:10″ (also I think this idea relates to a specific type of work, but that’s another topic), but I still have an uneasy feeling. There are a couple of reasons that I feel uneasy about buying a Christian something. (These are just my views not an attempt to state fact or truth, and I am interested in more views so that I can hopefully gain perspective.) First “buying Christian” seems to promote a subculture that makes it more difficult to live “in the world and not of the world.” Second, purposefully limiting, intentionally or unintentionally, who in the body of Jesus has access edifying material because of there financial status sends up red flags within me.

It seems to me that Christian American culture already struggles with having a consumer mindset toward relationship with Jesus. I am not saying that having a visibly different culture from the world is bad or that where the church is should be labeled bad. I will say that it makes me nervous. In general, the impression I receive from contemporary Christian culture is set apart (as the priest abstaining from the unclean, Luke 10:25-37), set above (as the Pharisee morally righteous, Luke 18:9-14), and correct(as the Pharisee outwardly desiring the appearance of righteousness, Matthew 23:27,28). I feel this takes the idea of God being holy, righteous, and just and twist it. I feel this because the culturally “set apart, set above, correct” evokes an image of Mont St. Michel: isolated, unapproachable, self-proclaiming, regal, magnificent, a place to go to and from, its “image” needing defense. (I know the impression I just described is an unbalanced generalization, but I don’t think that invalidates the view. Similar to an ant describing an elephant, my view may not be an accurate representation of the whole but it may be useful also.) I guess what I am trying to say is that generally I do not view the subculture, the American Christian, as something I want to support because it does not appear to line up with the Bible.

Another area which does not appear to line up with the Bible, to me, is paying the body of Jesus to do what it was designed to do, build up. I do not see where access is limited by financial affluence. If some means of spiritual growth comes through others, and others choose saleable media, then money becomes a focal point for growth. If someone can’t afford to buy a CD, book, attend a lecture, pay for seminary then his/her relationship with God is limited because of their financial means. Again, I realize this is an oversimplification.

These are just some rough thoughts that need input. I want to go by the CD, but I am more inclined to just record our gatherings worship times. What do you think?

Christopher