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
asked and answered five times
buy a clue
“Well, in the most technical sense, under the grace of the New Covenant, they are ALL optional as far as salvation is concerned. And ALL OF US will FALL SHORT of them, and NO ONE can save themselves through the law.”
God’s word disagrees with you:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel(law) of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel of Christ is the New Covenant(law).
Now, those who are saved by Grace will not continue to live a lifestyle opposed to the Commandments however. Really appears as though you are absurdly legalistic in your interpretation. Perhaps you are surrounded by those who flaunt and take advantage of Grace. Both mindsets are wrong.
There is one far more legalistic than I. Here is what He said about His new covenant or law:
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
1 John 2:3-5 “ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Not only that, it is His word(law) by which we will be judged for the good we have done or bad.
John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
2 Cor. 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
You totally misunderstand God’s grace. His son’s commandments aren’t optional. They are law. They are the new covenat. They are the New Testament which is sometimes called: The law of Christ(Gal 6:2).The law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2).
Try as you may but you nor I can get around God’s Law. We will be judged by it and we must live by it.
John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Walking with Christ means obeying him just as He obeyed His Father.
no, you haven’t answered the difference between certain organizations and money laundering….
I only quoted scripture(the words of Christ Himself).., your disagreement is with Him, not me....!
..and totally mis applied it.
If you don’t like the way the Religion Moderator does the moderation on this forum, stay off of the Religion Forum.
I didn’t say I liked it, or disliked it. I simply said to another poster that a moderator’s deletion was not my definition of what is or is not a good post. And that’s not just you, that’s any mod on any forum from boating to politics to guns to homeschooling, etc.
I was making a point. You took it personally. Don’t.
God’s word speaks for itself. You either believe it or you don’t....!
Unedited.....!
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1John 2:4)
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.(Romans 3:27)
“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law”(Romans 3:31)
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.(Romans 4:15)
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”:(Heb. 8:10)
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.(James 1:25)
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well”:(James 2:8)
“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty”.(James 2:12)
“There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”(James 4:12)
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”(1John:3:4)
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and none of that, NONE OF IT, contradicts what I said. Not a jot or a tittle….
We restored your post because you missed the point entirely.
“I figure the mod for this forum is biased anyway.”
That was the reason for the Mod message to you, which you completely ignored in your post back.
Again, if you don’t like the way this forum is moderated and wish to continue to denigrate the Religion Moderator stay OFF of the religion forum.
I wrote: “. Now please tell me which of the commandments(laws) that Jesus gave us you think are optional?”
You wrote: “ Well, in the most technical sense, under the grace of the New Covenant, they are ALL optional as far as salvation is concerned.”
Jesus says: “ “ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
John Writes: ““Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”(1John:3:4)
You wrote: “ and none of that, NONE OF IT, contradicts what I said. Not a jot or a tittle….
God’s laws optional.....!!!! I don’t think so....!
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