The Controversy of Christian Lyric

[Joshua Rhodes]

Yes BinR, Enda's implying that Keith Green is compromising by using "rock music" to reach the masses.

However, if anyone would be willing to read his book No Compromise , I'd really like to hear what they thought after reading it. Maybe we should start some sort of Music Forum Book of the Month Club. That could be the first one.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Here's another lyric: The singer/songwriter is Caleb Carruth. The song is called Vegas.

Vegas words and music by Caleb Carruth © 2002

A brief encounter in the city of sin,
In walks the devil, isn't she so beautiful?
She says "I hear they grow nice things in Texas,
That will mind-alter your perceptions..."
I correspond the secret, no, respond with a smile.

Don't believe my lies, I've been known to let you down,
In practice, I preach it's better not to offend than to change a life.
Forgive me, I've sentenced you to die.
As it all comes down to this one thing:
I know my faith it is a lie.

It's not nerves that I won't speak
Nor the apathy within me.
She chose or HE chose and if I speak will she be culpable?

I've had it up to here now,
I do this all the time.
Make war with my insides and insights that blind
And I know that you are the way the truth and life!
A gift freely given;
And I know You know...

 

[DanielFive]

If we're honest most of us can relate to the problem highlighted in this song. The difficulty I'd have with these lyrics is that they highlight a problem but don't provide the solution.

In short the lyrics are not edifying.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Amazing.

Don't worry, Enda. You wouldn't have been edified anyway. There's drums and guitar and meter-changes. You know, "wild-stuff."

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Joshua Rhodes:
Yes BinR, Enda's implying that Keith Green is compromising by using "rock music" to reach the masses.

However, if anyone would be willing to read his book No Compromise, I'd really like to hear what they thought after reading it.

I had the book many years ago when it first came out.

It didn't exactly paint him in a favorable light. I enjoy his music but if the book is accurate in it's portrayal of him, I would have no interest in meeting him personally.

I did think the stories about Randy Stonehill crashing in his bathtub were pretty funny, though.

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
If we're honest most of us can relate to the problem highlighted in this song. The difficulty I'd have with these lyrics is that they highlight a problem but don't provide the solution.

Maybe that's not the point of the song?

 

[Mike McK]

You know if we're talking about controversial Cristian music, then I can't believe that nobody's mentioned the king of the controversial Christian lyric, Steve Taylor.

Sunday needs a pick-me-up?
Here's your chance
Do you get tired of the same old square dance?
Allemande right now
All join hands
Do-si-do to the promised boogieland
Got no need for altar calls
Sold the altar for the mirror balls
Do you shuffle? do you twist?
'Cause with a hot hits playlist, now we say

CHORUS 1

This disco used to be a cute cathedral
Where the chosen cha-cha every day of the year
This disco used to be a cute cathedral
Where we only play the stuff you're wanting to hear

Mickey does the two-step
One, Two, Swing
All the little church mice doing their thing
Boppin' in the belltower
Rumba to the right
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Get me outta this limelight
So, you want to defect?
Officer, what did you expect?
Got no rhythm, got no dough
He said, "Listen, Bozo, don't you know"

CHORUS 2

This disco used to be a cute cathedral
Where the chosen cha-cha every day of the week
This disco used to be a cute cathedral
But we got no room if you ain't gonna be chic

Sell your holy habitats
This ship's been deserted by sinking rats
The exclusive place to go
It's where the pious pogo
Don't you know

This Disco (Used To Be A Cute Cathedral)
written by Steve Taylor
Copyright © 1985 C.A. Music/Birdwing Music (ASCAP)
==================================================

I Want to Be a Clone

i'd gone through so much other stuff
that walking down the aisle was tough
but now i know its not enough
i want to be a clone
i asked the Lord into my heart
that said that was the way to start
but now you've got to play the part
i want to be a clone

chorus
be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
clonlieness is next to Godliness, right?
i'm grateful that they show the way
cause i could never know the way
to serve Him on my own
i want to be a clone

they told me that i'd fall away
unless i followed what they say
who needs the Bible anyway?
i want to be a clone
their language was new to me
but Christianese got through to me
now i can speak it fluently
i want to be a clone

chorus

send in the clones
ah, i kinda wanted to tell my friends about it, ya know...
WHAT?
you're still a babe
you have to grow
give it twenty years or so
cause if you want to be one of His
got to act like one of us

chorus

so now i see the whole design
my church is an assembly line
that parts are there
i'm feeling fine
i want to be a clone
i've learned enough to stay afloat
but not so much i'd rock the boat
i'm glad they shoved it down my throat
i want to be a clone

everybody must get cloned

==================================================
Whatever Happened to Sin?

the Christian counselor wrote, quote,
"it's the only human choice ahead
if you can't support it
why don't you abort it instead?"

you say you pray to the sky
why? when you're afraid to take a stand down here
cause while the hold talk reads like a bad adlib
silence screams you are robbing the crib

say it ain't none of my business, huh?
a woman's got a right to choose
now a grave digger
next you pull the trigger
what then?
whatever happened to sin?

i heard the reverend say, "gay
is probably be normal in the good Lord's sight
what's to be debated?
Jesus never stated what's right"

i'm no theology nut, but
the reverend may be a little confused
for if the Lord don't care
and He chooses to ignore - ah,
tell it to the people
of sodom and gomorrah

call it just an alternate lifestyle, huh?
morality lies within
consciences are restin
please repeat the question again
whatever happened to sin?

when the closets are empty
and the clinics are full
when your eyes have been blinded
by society's wool
when the streets erupt
in your own backyard
you'll be on your knees
praying for the national guard
if you don't care now
how the problems get solved

you can shake your head later
that you never got involved
cause the call came ringing from the throne of gold
but you never got the message cause your mind's on hold

a politician next door, swore
he'd set the washington arena on fire
thinks he'll gladiate em
but they're gonna make him a liar
we'll he's a good ol' boy
who was born and raised
in the buckle of the Bible belt

but remember when you step into your voting booth
he'll never lie, just embellish the truth

promises were made to be broken, right?
you gotta play the game to win
when you need supporting
tell em that you're born again
whatever happened to sin?

 

[DanielFive]

Maybe that's not the point of the song?

Well then, what is the point of the song. Mike? Joshua?

Don't bother saying its supposed to 'challenge' us as Christians, we've got the Word of God to do that, assuming that we read it daily that is, and besides, a Christian wouldn't be listening to this tripe anyway.

Come to think of it, whats the point of this thread, are we supposed to rejoice in the failures of these songwriters? It's certainly not doing the pro-CCM argument any favours.

Keep this up and I might even retire from the music forum, you boys are doing a good job here. Keep them coming.

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
Well then, what is the point of the song. Mike?

What am I? Kreskin? Ask the guy who wrote the song.

It sounds to me like he's simply expressing a thought.

Don't bother saying its supposed to 'challenge' us as Christians, we've got the Word of God to do that,

Then why does the Bible call us to exhort one another?

besides, a Christian wouldn't be listening to this tripe anyway.

No, you wouldn't be listening to it.

Come to think of it, whats the point of this thread, are we supposed to rejoice in the failures of these songwriters?

What failures?

Keep this up and I might even retire from the music forum,

See ya.

 

[DanielFive]

Then why does the Bible call us to exhort one another?

To exhort means to encourage one another, by means of persuasive argument (eg, Scripture) we must show each other how to do good. This song only highlights a weakness.

See ya.

Dream on!

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
To exhort means to encourage one another, by means of persuasive argument (eg, Scripture) we must show each other how to do good. This song only highlights a weakness.

There are many ways to encourage one another.

 

[DanielFive]

Do you find these songs encouraging?

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
Do you find these songs encouraging?

Yes.

 

[DanielFive]

How exactly?

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
How exactly?

They encourage me to examine my faith and encourage me on a personal level.

 

[DanielFive]

Have you seen positive changes in your life as a Christian through listening to any of these particular songs. What is it you find encouraging about those songs you quoted?

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
Have you seen positive changes in your life as a Christian through listening to any of these particular songs.

Taken as a small part of the things around me that edify me, yes.

What is it you find encouraging about those songs you quoted? [/QB]

I find that they encourage me to examine my faith.

You're awfully full of questions for somebody who still hasn't answered mine.

 

[DanielFive]

What am I? Kreskin?

Do you really want an answer to that?

Could you elaborate on any of your previous answers?

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
Do you really want an answer to that?

No, enda. That's called a rhetorical question.

Could you elaborate on any of your previous answers?

Yes, I could but I don't see any reason to humor you.

You don't like contemporary music. We get it already.

 

[DanielFive]

What question do you want answered then?

I'm only looking at these songs froma lyrical point of view, thats what the thread is about. If I could see anything positive in the writing I would acknowledge it. I like poetry, even some modern poets believe it or not.