We will return with our regularly scheduled edification after this brief rant:
I recently had a conversation that went something like this:
Local insipid, soulless, Christian radio station: “Give your praise to the Lord / Come on everybody / stand up and sing one more / hallelujah / Give your praise to the Lord / I could never tell ya [sic] / just how much good that it’s / gonna [sic] do ya [sic] . . .”Me: “Man, that is one annoying, stupid song.”
Annoying person singing along: “What’s wrong with this song?”
Me: “Where shall I start? OK, first, the melody, if you can call it that. It sounds like it was written by an asthmatic who can only sing two measures before stopping to gasp for air. But that’s not the worst of it. The words are horrible.”
APSA: “What’s wrong with singing praise to the Lord?”
Me: “Nothing, but if you’re praising the Lord because of how much good it’s going to do you, you’re not really praising the Lord. You’re practicing self-help therapy.”
APSA: “You’re so picky.”
Me: [Sigh . . .]
I can’t stand it. Discernment is out. Ignorant enthusiasm is in. According to a scientific study I am about to make up, 92.7% of American Evangelicals don’t know Paul of Tarsus from Paul McCartney. They don’t know Simon Barjonah from Paul Simon.
They think John Bunyan needed a podiatrist, and that Polycarp & Spurgeon are fish.
If Christian radio is a fair representation of Evangelicalism at large—and, according to the study cited above, it is—then Evangelicalism is a dead movement, utterly bankrupt theologically and intellectually brain-dead. If there was a convention for truly artistically gifted CCM performers, all the participants could ride in one car. If all the Christian broadcasters who are able to distinguish R. C. Sproul from Joyce Meyer had a party, they couldn’t get up a Bridge game. If all the Christian publishers who know the difference between John Owen and John Eldredge went to the gym, they couldn’t field a basketball team*. If . . .
[Sigh . . .]
*I suppose "field" is the wrong word here. If all the bloggers who know anything about sports had a party, I wouldn't be invited.
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11 Comments:
#1 || 07·09·06··22:08 || Brother Hank
Did you hear that? That was me sighing with you all the way from Kentucky...
And to top it off, those "annoying people singing along" try to play the "if you don't like this music then you're a grumpy Christian" card. When Charles Wesley wrote a hymn, half the time it was 15 verses long; but some of these CCM songs can't even finish one verse in the entire song - and to make up for it, they just get louder and louder and then "sing it one more time". Granted, there are exceptions, but just barely enough to man a chess match...
sigh, indeed.
#2 || 07·09·06··23:15 || Camp Director
YOWCH! This sounds like my wife and I fighting over a song titled "I will Dance Like David Danced." The dialogue was similar but there as no sighing, only yelling. She's on the worship team at church and can't see my problem with "When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart, I will dance like David danced" and "Dance, dance, dance like David danced" repeated over and over ad nauseum, ad infinitum. When I asked "admittedly in sarcastic tones" who exactly as being worshipped in this "worship" song, she told me she learned from a class that this was "horizontal worship" to "edify" the worshippers. I told her there was no such thing as horizontal worship, only the vertical kind, this began a 30 minute shouting match. We still don't agree, but she says she sees my point. For my part, I refuse to sing this and other tripe at church. It ain't worship if it ain't glorifying to God.
#3 || 07·09·07··05:12 || Johnny T. Helms
My "sigh" song, the bump and grind, "You make me move, Jesus."
#4 || 07·09·07··07:33 || Don Fields
He! He! He! He! I loved the rant!
This is why I love being a pastor who leads the congregational worship (also known as worship pastor). We don't sing to please people, attract people, keep people, or appease people. We sing to worship, praise and glorify God.
#5 || 07·09·07··11:09 || donsands
Well expressed frustration.
That particular song was written by Rich Mullins way way way back when.
He seemed to grow much more mature later on.
However, CCM on the radio is an embarressment for the most part, and more somgs than not, make me want to strangle the radio.
The theology is shallow at best. The tune or melodies are all Brittnay Spears type of stuff, and the voices are irritating.
Although the voice isn't as important, say like a Dylan voice, if the lyrics have some meaning. Or if it's supposed to be a hymn or spiritual song for coorporate worship, it needs to be about God, and His truth, mercy, and power.
Thanks for giving some of us an outlet. Though my words are crude, I'm glad I was able to release my frustration.
#6 || 07·09·07··15:58 || David
"Though my words are crude . . ."
Yeah, and mine are so refined. This is venting day at the Thirsty Theologian. We'll allow a little crudeness.
#7 || 07·09·08··17:32 || Garry Weaver
Reminds me of an experience I had several years ago with a bus load of Baptist pastors. I might rant too.
#8 || 07·09·10··09:53 || Brad Wilson
selah
#9 || 07·09·10··18:01 || J.Clark
Well, the Lord has done me a great deal of good (His kind) since entering into the Kingdom. And it would sure do a few million American Christians to learn something about dancing and standing up with some sort of enthusiasm. As if enthusiasm and reverence are diametrically opposed?? I've been in American churches that were so dry that the if the fire of God came it would surely burn completely.
#10 || 07·09·11··07:05 || donsands
"American Christians to learn something about dancing"?
What do you mean exactly? If you don't mind me asking.
#11 || 07·09·11··09:16 || David
"I've been in American churches that were so dry that the if the fire of God came it would surely burn completely."
I'm sure it's true that many churches are dry and dead and lack any true "religious affections," but by what are you judging those churches to be "so dry"? If it's simply by the degree of animation in their expressions, then you don't know anything at all about them. There can be--and usually is, I think--far greater devotion in a quiet, bowed head than in any amount of clapping and shouting. Physical gyrations are no sign at all of a humble, contrite heart.
And, coming back to the topic of this post, no amount of excitement that is not based on solid, biblical truth, and focused on God, is true worship.
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