The Controversy of Christian Lyric

[Joshua Rhodes]

Hello all... reading another post just now I was reminded of how many times through the years Christian music has dealt with the controversy over a specific lyric... many times the heat coming directly from the church itself. I wondered if anyone else had noticed.

Sometimes a lyric could be "too deep" and people get offended without reading into the message of the song. Likewise, many times, the message may be something people just don't want to hear, and they try to put it away. Now obviously, not every single controversial lyric is controversial for those reasons. However, can you name a few that make people uncomfortable? I'll start:

Asleep in the Light by Keith Green

Do you see, do you see all the people sinking down
Don't you care, don't you care, are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb not to care if they come?
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.

"Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord," you know, it's all I ever hear,
No one aches, no one hurts, no one even sheds one tear.
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs,
And you just lay back and keep soaking it in!
Oh, can't you see it's such a sin?

Cause He brings people to you door, and you turn them away,
As you smile and say, "God bless you, be at peace,"
And all heaven just weeps cause Jesus came to you door...
You've left him out on the streets.

Open up, open up and give yourself away,
You see the need, you hear the cries, so how can you delay?
God's calling and you're the one but like Jonah you run,
He's told you to speak but you keep holding it in!
Oh can't you see it's such a sin?

The world is sleeping in the dark that the church just can't fight,
Cause it's asleep in the light!
How can you be so dead when you've been so well fed?
Jesus rose from the grave and you, you can't even get out of bed!

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead, come on, get out of your bed!

How can you be so numb not to care if they come?
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.
Don't close your eyes; don't pretend the job's done!

Come away, come away, come away with Me my love,
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, my love.

 

[ScottEmerson]

Spiritual One Night Stand, sung by AVB

Your heart is high tonight
You feel like doin' right
Your faith is outta sight, you're gonna hold on tight
Never felt like this before
Didn't know there's so much more
Now you're really gonna soar, You're walkin' through the door

But tomorrow when the pressure's on
You undo the things you've done
So many promises and now there's none

Chorus:
It's a spiritual one night stand
Love is here today but gone tomorrow
Peace and joy right here in your hand
But you leave it all behind for pain and sorrow
Yesterday, today, and always

He'll go to church today
His ten percent he'll pay
He'll bow his head to pray and listen to the words they say
He'll sing the holy songs
It seems he does no wrong
He's got his best suit on, he wears a mask 'till Sunday's gone

'Cause tomorrow when the pressure's on
He'll undo the things he's done
So many promises and now there's none

Repeat Chorus

Bridge (just another day)

She feels the heat is on
She knows she's doin' wrong
Her burden ways a ton, it's too late, the deal is almost done
Her parents love her so
They taught her well she knows
She sees which way to go, it's not the way the river flows

When the pressure's on
Can't undo the things you've done
So many promises and but now there's, now there's none

It's a spiritual one night stand Love is here today but gone tomorrow
Peace and joy right here in your hand
But you leave it all behind for pain and sorrow
It's a spiritual one night stand
Love is here today but gone tomorrow

 

[Molly]

Scott,are you saying this is a good song or not a good song...?


Molly

 

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Molly:
Scott,are you saying this is a good song or not a good song...?


Molly

It's controversial. Some people think it's wrong to combine spirituality and the idea of a one-night stand. At the least, it makes a person think

 

[Mike McK]

I remember Petra's song "For Annie" was quote controversial because it was the first Christian song that dealt with such a serious topic (teen suicide).

 

[Baptist in Richmond]

Originally posted by Joshua Rhodes:
Sometimes a lyric could be "too deep" and people get offended without reading into the message of the song.

Hello Joshua:
Frankly, I find this very disturbing. If the listener gets offended as a direct result of ignorance, then how is it the fault of the songwriter?
Nevertheless, I understand the point you are making.

How about "He" by Jars of Clay? (child abuse)

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Mike McK:
I remember Petra's song "For Annie" was quote controversial because it was the first Christian song that dealt with such a serious topic (teen suicide).

That should read, "quite controversial".

 

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Baptist in Richmond:
How about "He" by Jars of Clay? (child abuse) [/QB]

I loved that song. It's an inspiration to me after I deal with children or adolescents who are victimes of abuse.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Found another one. Before I list it, I'll just go on record and say that I loved all the songs that have been listed. "He" is great, "Asleep in the Light" is a classic, "Annie" is a fine song too. Try this one:

God's Own Fool by Michael Card

It seems I’ve imagined Him all of my life
As the wisest of all of mankind.
But if God’s holy wisdom is foolish to men,
He must have seemed out of His mind.
For even His family said He was mad,
And the priest said, “A demon’s to blame!”
So God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane.

When we in our foolishness thought we were wise,
He played the fool and He opened our eyes.
When we in our weakness believed we were strong,
He became helpless to show we were wrong.
And so, we follow God’s own fool,
For only the foolish can tell,
Believe the unbelievable and come be a fool as well.

So come lose your life for a carpenter’s son,
For a madman who died for a dream,
Then you’ll have the faith His first followers had,
And You’ll feel the weight of the beam.
So surrender the hunger to say you must know,
Have the courage to say, “I believe,”
For the power of paradox opens your eyes
And blinds those who say they can see.

 

[Travelsong]

I the only people to be offended by "Asleep In the Light" would be those it's directed at.

That line.."the world is sleeping in the dark, that the church just can't fight, cause it's asleep in the light" is one powerful punch, especially the way Keith delivers it.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Agreed Travelsong.

 

[Dr. Bob]

I agree, too, that last one delivered a real message.

But the "one night stand" - well, bringing any sexual inuendos such as JC Superstar's "I don't know how to love Him" - is too much for my taste.

Solution? I just throw the baby out with the bathwater!

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Here's another one... by an independent artist named Ross King.

CLEAR THE STAGE by Ross King (C) 2001 Reliance Music

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
If that’s the measure you must take to crush the idols.
Jerk the pews and all the decorations too
Until the congregation’s few then have revival.
Tell your friends that this is where the party ends
Until you’re broken for your sins, you can’t be social.
Then seek the Lord and wait for what He has in store
And know that great is your reward so just be hopeful.

And sing all you want to, but don’t get me wrong:
Worship is more than a song.

Take a break from all the plans that you have made
And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper.
Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak
And pray for real upon your knees until they blister.
Shine the light on every corner of your life
Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open.
Read the Word and put to test the things you’ve heard
Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken.

And sing all you want to, but don’t get me wrong:
Worship is more than a song.

Anything I put before my God is an idol.
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol.
Anything I can’t stop thinking of is an idol.
Anything that I give all my love is an idol.
We must not worship something that ain’t even worth it.
Clear the stage, make some space for the One who deserves it.

I can sing all I want to and still get it wrong:
‘Cause worship is more than a song.

 

[Pete]

While on the topic of Keith:

To obey is better than sacrifice,
I don't need your money, I want your life.
And I hear you say that I'm coming back soon,
But you act like I'll never return.

Well you speak of grace and my love so sweet,
How you thrive on milk, but reject my meat,
And I can't help weeping of how it will be,
If you keep on ignoring my words.

Well you pray to prosper and succeed,
But your flesh is something I just can't feed.

To obey is better than sacrifice.
I want more than Sunday and Wednesday nights,
Cause if you can't come to me every day,
Then don't bother coming at all.

To obey is better than sacrifice.
I want hearts of fire, not your prayers of ice.
And I'm coming quickly, to give back to you,
According to what you have done....

Keith's biography (No Compromise) mentions there was some interesting discussions around the use of the line "Then don't bother coming at all."

Pete

 

[Baptist in Richmond]

Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Baptist in Richmond:
How about "He" by Jars of Clay? (child abuse)

I loved that song. It's an inspiration to me after I deal with children or adolescents who are victimes of abuse. [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]God bless you in your work. Let's see if I can get Edifier to give you a blessing for that, as he does this more eloquently than I do!

BTW, with respect to Jars of Clay, what did you think about "I Need You" when it was released? I heard someone criticize it for being too worldly. Seems to me that the song is about the Holy Spirit.....

 

[DanielFive]

Keith's biography (No Compromise)

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Yes Enda?

 

[DanielFive]

Sorry Joshua, I'm assuming we're talking about Keith 'Can God Use Rock Music?' Green. Is this a different Keith Green who doesn't believe in compromise?

 

[gb93433]

Just some thoughts:

Wesley converted bar songs.

After 1000 years of no church music the church had music again.

 

[Baptist in Richmond]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
Sorry Joshua, I'm assuming we're talking about Keith 'Can God Use Rock Music?' Green. Is this a different Keith Green who doesn't believe in compromise?

I'm curious: are you implying that God cannot use "Rock Music" as He sees fit?