Christians on American Idol and the Conflict Within the "Christian" Community

There was an editorial in the March 7, 2007, World Magazine entitled Religious Idols (unfortuately, the link does not show the whole article - you have to be a subscriber for that).

One of the idol contestants, Chris Sligh, was from Bob Jones University. That was until he was expelled for going to a 4Him concert. The Greenville News in his hometown in South Carolina did an article on him.

Friends and fellow church-goers at Seacoast Church in Greenville -- where he served as music director until the whirlwind of "American Idol" -- have gathered to hold viewing parties during each performance.

At Bob Jones, where the son of overseas Christian missionaries studied music before leaving for North Greenville, his Hollywood adventure hasn't been embraced institutionally.

While not on an overt mission to denounce Sligh's participation in "American Idol," BJU spokesman Jonathan Pait said the school has distanced itself from any connection between Sligh's affiliation with the university and the talent show watched by millions.

"One of the reasons he left Bob Jones is he had chosen another direction musically, and he was not going to get that type of training here," Pait said.

The show, Pait said, doesn't represent the values of the university.

"It's not any ill thoughts toward Chris because he made that decision," Pait said. "Chris is a likeable guy. We wish him well in his life."

It is common within the Christian community for some to become guerilla fighters for Christ. They want to slap bumper stickers on the back of their cars. They want to wear shirts or bracelets with catchy Christian phrases. Others get Christian tattoos (probably frowned upon by the Bob Jones crowd). Whatever it is, Christians have a tendency to jam our faith in the face of those around us. We feel that is a good witnessing technique.

1 Peter 3:15 reads: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

It appears to me that it is our hope that is to bring about questions as to why we are different. Even when asked, we are supposed to deal with people with gentleness and respect; something that a shirt, bracelet, or tattoo might not be able to do. If you have been depending on tattoos, shirts, or bracelets to get the message of Christ, maybe you should get them removed, take them off, or throw them away and just depend on the pure unadulterated hope we should have in Christ.

The writer of the World magazine editorial ending his article with the following: "Sligh, alas, was voted out of the competition March 28. But if Sparks or Doolittle or Stacey wants to sing "Peace Like a River," go for it. But what will surely be more pleasing—to the judges, to us, to God—is for them to sing well."

I could not agree more.