Posted on 08/04/2014 8:38:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Admitting the problem is the first step towards recovery. So let's admit it: if we swop the lyrics of a Taylor Swift ballad with some of today's contemporary Christian worship songs, no one would know the difference.
Others have noted the "Jesus-is-your-boyfriend" style worship songs clogging the airwaves of contemporary Christian radio and Sunday morning worship sets lack depth and reverence to the Almighty. They're right. But there's an even bigger problem when contemporary Christian songs downplay, even scold Christian's public witness for the sake of couch-potato Christianity.
Last week a fellow pro-life, pro-family activist turned on his local "family-friendly" contemporary Christian radio station while driving his kids to camp. As his kids were belting the words to a new hit, my friend was shocked by the lyrics.
The song was Family Force 5's "Let It Be Love," number #14 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs list. Of course this means it is one of 20 songs that local contemporary Christian radio programs play over and over ad nauseam. The song's lyrics go:
I've never seen a soul set free Through an argument I've never seen a hurt get healed In a protest… It's not about the stand we take But the grace we give
For my friend, the first line "I've never seen a soul set free through an argument" couldn't be further from reality with the conservative Christian movement. In addition remembering that the Apostle Peter urged Believers, "[A]lways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)
My friend witnessed a life changed from a same-sex lifestyle to a redeemed follower of Christ thanks to a bold, counter-cultural argument presented at a Parents and Family of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) event. A young gay man made the decision to offer over his life to Christ after listening to Robert Knight, Senior Fellow for the American Civil Rights Union, described God's love for humanity and purpose for sexuality and marriage.
Most devastating is the lyric's second line, which reads, "I've never seen a hurt get healed in a protest." I'm not sure what kind of protests these band members have attended, but they must not have been pro-life oriented.
A beautiful example of lives transformed at a protest is told by Wendy Wright, former President of Concerned Women for America and Vice President for Government Relations and Communications. Wendy spent many days peacefully protesting outside of abortion clinics. She and her fellow protestors not only offered hurt women prayer and side-walk counseling, but worked to save the lives of their unborn babies.
Wendy was blessed to come face to face with a young woman whose mother protected her from abortion because of Wendy's abortion protest. "After speaking to Generation Joshua home school students, telling stories of rescuing babies from abortion," explained Wendy. "A young woman asked, "Have you ever met one of those babies that you rescued?"
Shaking her head no, Wendy explained that while she hadn't she would love the opportunity. "I was rescued from abortion and adopted because of you," the young woman told Wendy.
Lives are changed, in part, through vessels willing to "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people" (Jude 3) Sadly you wouldn't know that based on the premise of this "Christian worship" song.
To be fair, Family Force 5 is correct that grace is a necessary component to lead others to salvation in Christ. But it alone it is not enough. Grace without substance is pity and nothing more. Behind our compassion must be a willingness to share the totality of Christ's character and His command to turn from sin.
Contemporary Christian music has a tremendous ministry opportunity that expands beyond the borders of the local church. Christians cannot present half-truths for the sake easy listening and broader audiences. As followers of Christ, we can do better. Or at least turn off the radio.
-- Chelsen Vicari serves as the Evangelical Program Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. She earned her Masters of Arts in Government from Regent University and frequently contributes to conservative outlets
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3141112/posts?page=361#361
The prayer I posted on Monday, April 07, 2014:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
My Lord and My God, how truly wonderful and glorious you are.
Forgive me for my transgressions and weaknesses of this day, as I am sorry for how they hurt you, especially for slighting my wife and daughter last night.
Thank you for all the gifts you have bestowed on me and my family, as we have been blessed out of all proportion to what we deserve.
I ask for for the grace to better serve my family who I know represent you on earth, and I ask for patience and forbearance from those I don’t understand.
I ask this through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns world without end amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
For the Greater Glory of God
361 posted on Monday, April 07, 2014 1:37:41 PM
liberal, communist, socialist politics - pure and simple.
please don’t confuse the faithful Catholics from the evil ones.
AMDG
I hope you return the favor to non catholic Christians you disagree with.
protestants who have no idea about praying or meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary call it vain repetition.
when I hear pop ‘Christian music’ I hear the same phrase repeated over and over again - which I call vain repetition.
maybe you could explain why it isn’t vain repetition.
plain enough?
AMDG
the only time I disagree with protestants is when they make statements about the Catholic Church that I know to be false and then I just make the correction, quote them a source and include a link for their edification.
AMDG
And the most amazing thing about His salvation (psalm 51) is not so much the saving, but that He keeps me saved, mostly in spite of myself
THAT, sir ... is AMAZING Grace.
INDELIBLE GRACE is a group founded about 13-14 years ago, by an RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) leader, named Kevin Twit, from Belmont College in Nashville.
INDELIBLE GRACE takes very old Hymn texts, some more than 300 years old; marries them to new music, resulting in terrific new interpretations of the older hymns.
Kevin Twit has said,”Indelible Grace Music was begun to help the church recover the tradition of putting old hymns to new music for each generation, and to enrich our worship with a huge view of God and His indelible grace. Putting old hymns to new music allows us to hear afresh the rich theology and emotion that fill these hymns.”
INDELIBLE GRACE records, and releases their albums independently of any record company. Anyone can listen to their complete albums for free, at the BANDCAMP website; if you like them, you can purchase an album there..simply click on any album cover to listen to the entire album.. (My favorite album currently is their THE HYMN SING,LIVE IN NASHVILLE album)... here’s the link.. Enjoy the music! http://indeliblegrace.bandcamp.com/
And if you take us out of it, you lose the personal relationship with Christ of it.
Man is the pinnacle of God’s creation. His saving us cost us more than we can imagine, but that salvation isn’t done in a vacuum. Without us, there would be no point to it.
So how can you praise God for working such a powerful salvation without mentioning us or mankind? In order to tell what He has done for us and praise Him for it, there HAS to be mention of us and what we’ve done.
And *Amazing Grace* is not self centered, it’s God centered, focusing on the grace of God, which is significant in what it can do for us. Without us, there is no need for that grace. You can’t focus on the grace without the mention of what the grace was for.
And just in case: /s
Sometimes.
:-)
My goodness.
Is all you can focus on is whether you perceive someone to be *anti-Catholic*????
This thread was going along just fine. Why do you have to start with those accusations?
Get over it. Not everything that disagrees with Catholicism, or doesn’t for that matter, is *anti* Catholic.
Amazing Grace isn’t anti-Catholic because it nowhere mentions Catholicism. Quit being so stinking sensitive and offended.
Quit whining to the RM fer crying out loud.
It’s as predictable as the sunrise.
That’s a perfect example.......
And people will see what they want to see.
One person can look at something like that and see the focus on God and His goodness and provision, etc.
Another person can look at something like that and see only selfishness.
Like I keep saying, projection is an interesting thing.
Why is K-Love so very popular?
What is wonderful is that He is big enough to carry us past all our failings, and so I wish for you what I wish for myself (Philippians 1:6):
I consider “Amazing Grace” my favorite hymm.
If I had to guess….the offering plate is the reason. Just like Mafia dons….
And just why is the PRIEST not doing that?
sounds like a cool project!!
And FIFTY Hail Mary's qualifies as what exactly, if not repetition?
And when you can recite them without even thinking, it has certainly reached the point of being *vain*.
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