Musical Sustenance

     Contemporary Christian radio is a mixed bag.
     Some of what airs on the radio is worshipful and meditative and points listeners to the grandeur and majesty of God.
     Praise God for these songs and song-writers!
     A significant portion of it, though, is loaded with therapeutic, me-centered anthems. God is portrayed as nothing more than the Savior who sole purpose is to rescue us from the messy circumstances of life. It feels like chewing bubble gum, or like eating a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast and expecting it will satisfy us until lunch.
     During Christmas 2012, KLTY in Dallas also felt a need to flood the airways with sentimental, secular holiday music. There seemed to be more songs about "Jack Frost nipping at your nose" than Jesus and his birth.
     Each of us, no doubt, is free to turn to a different station. Markets and target audiences are certainly a reality in the Christian music industry and it makes sense that radio stations and Christian record labels would court the loyalties of teenagers and families who want "safe" alternatives on the radio. But many times, it seems like the best alternative in my vehicle is to tune in to ESPN Radio or country music stations, or perhaps invest in satellite radio.
      I know it does not sound like it, but I am thankful for Christian radio. There are moments -- when I drive to worship services on Sunday mornings for example -- when I can catch some live worship songs from Michael W. Smith or Chris Tomlin. But these days, it doesn't seem like there are many consistently "safe" stations on the radio dial.
     The radio airwaves are better off with Christian music stations in the mix, for sure. And instead of lumping all of them into the same category, maybe I just need to try something different than KLTY.