Post by tyler walk with me / Redsky

thinking once again of jon foreman’s answer when someone asked him if switchfoot is a christian band

be honest, this question grieves me because I feel that it represents a much bigger issue than simply a couple SF tunes. In true Socratic form, let me ask you a few questions: Does Lewis or Tolkien mention Christ in any of their fictional series? Are Bach's sonata's Christian? What is more Christ-like, feeding the poor, making furniture, cleaning bathrooms, or painting a sunset? There is a schism between the sacred and the secular in all of our modern minds. The view that a pastor is more 'Christian' than a girls volleyball coach is flawed and heretical. The stance that a worship leader is more spiritual than a janitor is condescending and flawed. These different callings and purposes further demonstrate God's sovereignty. Many songs are worthy of being written. Switchfoot will write some, Keith Green, Bach, and perhaps yourself have written others. Some of these songs are about redemption, others about the sunrise, others about nothing in particular: written for the simple joy of music. None of these songs has been born again, and to

about the sunrise, others about nothing in particular: written for the simple joy of music. None of these songs has been born again, and to that end there is no such thing as Christian music. No. Christ didn't come and die for my songs, he came for me. Yes. My songs are a part of my life. But judging from scripture / can only conclude that our God is much more interested in how I treat the poor and the broken and the hungry than the personal pronouns / use when / sing. I am a believer. Many of these songs talk about this belief. An obligation to say this or do that does not sound like the glorious freedom that Christ died to afford me. I do have an obligation, however, a debt that cannot be settled by my lyrical decisions. My life will be judged by my obedience, not my ability to confine my lyrics to this box or that. We all have a different calling; Switchfoot is trying to be obedient to who we are called to be. We're not trying to be Audio A or U2 or POD or

confine my lyrics to this box or that. We all have a different calling; Switchfoot is trying to be obedient to who we are called to be. We're not trying to be Audio A or U2 or POD or Bach: we're trying to be Switchfoot. You see, a song that has the words: 'Jesus Christ' is no more or less 'Christian' than an instrumental piece. (I've heard lots of people say Jesus Christ and they weren't talking about their redeemer.) You see, Jesus didn't die for any of my tunes. So there is no hierarchy of life or songs or occupation only obedience. We have a call to take up our cross and follow. We can be sure that these roads will be different for all of us. Just as you have one body and every part has a different function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each of us belongs to all the others. Please be slow to judge 'brothers' who have a different calling.

aug 19, 2025, 2:57 am • 150 19

Replies

FWIW, Lewis absolutely mentions Christ in the Narnia books, most notably when Aslan sheds the lion fursona and turns out to literally be Jesus at the end of The Last Battle.

aug 19, 2025, 6:07 pm • 3 0 • view

true

aug 19, 2025, 6:10 pm • 2 0 • view

Wow, great answer

aug 19, 2025, 12:02 pm • 0 0 • view

I had a friend who said they saw Switchfoot live a few years ago and it felt super self-serious and kind of cringe compared to the "fun" of Relient K's set at the same show but this explains a lot (complementary)

aug 19, 2025, 3:13 am • 0 0 • view

I will say the copy of "Learning to Breathe" that was in the youth room CD rack at Bicknell First Baptist was the best album we had there by leaps and bounds, though

aug 19, 2025, 3:13 am • 2 0 • view

Oh man, I won that album in a youth group contest. It's still really good. I don't care much for their more popular riffy music, but that album is pop rock pristine.

aug 19, 2025, 3:31 am • 0 0 • view

they both bang in their own way

aug 19, 2025, 3:31 am • 3 0 • view

This is why he’s always been a fave of mine.

aug 19, 2025, 4:24 am • 1 0 • view

Wow, those first 2 paragraphs perfectly articulate something I've tried to explain so many times.

aug 19, 2025, 3:25 am • 3 0 • view

Can't think about Switchfoot without thinking about how they went from "band that the intern from my church's hs ministry told us about bc he knew the singer back in Virginia Beach" to "multiplatinum-selling rock band known by everyone's mom" in about 2 years.

aug 19, 2025, 4:26 am • 3 0 • view

got to go on the road with them a few years ago for what is, on some days, my favorite thing i’ve ever written

aug 19, 2025, 3:02 am • 25 0 • view

And this is why I’ve always loved Switchfoot.

aug 19, 2025, 3:00 am • 10 0 • view

they’ve never let me down

aug 19, 2025, 3:02 am • 10 0 • view

Even if they did, it would be beautiful.

aug 19, 2025, 3:17 am • 41 0 • view

aug 19, 2025, 3:25 am • 8 0 • view

aug 19, 2025, 12:49 pm • 11 0 • view

That band has brought me through my darkest moments since finding them in 2003. Regardless of faith, Foreman's words & message is that of a bigger picture of self & living well. Those experiences aren't limited by a God or book. It's human.

aug 19, 2025, 4:00 am • 2 0 • view