Lordship Paper

Our church is decidedly anti-Lordship, while I am decidedly pro-Lordship. Last year I wrote this paper for English because my Bible Quiz Teacher, Mr. E_____ gave a lecture against lordship. I gave it to him and my youth pastor. My youth pastor critiqued it for me. So I thought I might start into a series on this as the issue had come up lately. 

Here it is: Lordship Paper.

Warning it is 32 pages total (There are ten pages of verses). So set aside some time before you get yourself bogged down.

Music

Moving away from the American Idol controversy to music in general, I want to write a short post dealing with a couple questions and clarifications on what I have said in the American Idol posts.

First

In American Idol-Shout to the Lord (pt. 2), made it clear that the only criteria for discerning between appropriate and inappropriate music is its social context. I was wrong. There is one other criteria–content. Content matters. What you sing is as more important than the style of the music.

Second

The question of cross-cultural music appeared as I read up on the issue. Often, musical conservatives are accused of a form of racism. They are accused of looking upon the music of black origin as disreputable and rebellious. This is because some musical conservatives condemn rap, jazz, blues, or large black gospel choirs with a “stomping” beat as sinful.

Some of these styles, such as rap, are rooted in rebellion and are wrong; others are a matter of preference. Preference is important. You would not want to to put a large black gospel choir in front of 90 year old white women; neither would you want to put a bluegrass band in front of a youth group full of black kids. Preference is important, but it is not supreme. It does not dictate morality.

We should seek to praise God in all of our musical choices. We should avoid any music that is rebellious or associated in rebellion. Rather we should seek the things that please God. 

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Third

I made a statement in passing in American Idol-Shout to the Lord. 

“[This] type of rock and jazz music is heavily associated with rebellion”

I want to make a clarification on Jazz because of its social context. Jazz used to be heavily associated with rebellion, drugs, and women, even as rock and roll is today. Most forms of Jazz are not considered rebellious in today’s culture. No one that I know of would associate Louis Armstrong with rebellion. However, the style of music he learned and grew up on was played in “dirty” dance halls and brothels all over New Orleans. Yet, no one associates his music with prostitution.

Today, rock and roll has largely replaced Jazz as the music of choice for wicked entertainment. Some of the darker Jazz forms are still associated with drug and drinking dens, but not for the most part. I believe this is where the Christian conscience must come into play. It is still very close to the era where Jazz was and still is in some areas considered rebellious. You must think of whether you view the music as rebellious and whether the people around you view it as rebellious. If either of those groups do view it as rebellious and sinful then you shouldn’t listen to it.

For me, I the music of Louis Armstrong is acceptable.

 

This post ended up being longer than I had planned, but that is ok. There are still more questions I may address in the future, such as music for the worship of the Church. Think long and hard about it and discuss it.

American Idol-Shout to the Lord (pt. 2)

Yesterday, I posted an article about being able to gauge our music by how the world views it. As I thought about it, I began to wonder, would it have been different if they sung a traditional hymn that any Christian could sing without controversy, such as “Amazing Grace”. My first thought was that they would never sing a traditional hymn because it cannot entertain like CCM. But aside from that, would it be any different if they sung a traditional hymn.

The question is, is there a difference, a moral difference in American Idol singing “Shout to the Lord” and “Amazing Grace”. 

No. It is the same for a secular business to sing “Shout to the Lord” and “Amazing Grace”. It is not morally wrong for them to sing either song. If they want to sing “Shout to the Lord” that is fine; if they want to sing “Amazing Grace”, that is fine.

My problem is not with American Idol singing a Christian song, but with the social context of the song. The fact is “Shout to the Lord” was used and “Amazing Grace” was not. This is because “Shout to the Lord” fits into the pop culture and “Amazing Grace” does not. That is the difference. “Amazing Grace” does not fit into the pop counterculture.

That is the only problem I have with “Shout to the Lord”. That song is not as bad as many others, but that an entertainment business can incorporate it into one of the most viewed episodes is disturbing. Too many people that are against CCM get bogged down in trivial arguments about the music itself that do not matter.

The only thing that matters in musical preference for worship is its social context. If it is associated with rebellion, then it is not acceptable for worshipping the holy, separate Lord and Master.

American Idol-Shout to the Lord

I have not been paying much attention to news this week so I missed the singing of “Shout to the Lord” on American Idol. For those of you who do no know, on Wednesday, as the closing song for the Idol Gives Back fundraiser the final eight contestants sang the popular praise song “Shout to the Lord”. They did make one change to the song. They changed the lyrics from My Jesus, My Savior to My Shepherd, Me Savior.

Let’s think this through from a Christian perspective. Is there anything inherently wrong with non-Christians singing a song of praise? In and of itself, is it wrong for people who do not love and even hate the Lord to sing a worship song? No, it happens every week in churches all over the world. Unsaved visitors and false Christians sing hymns and worship songs every Sunday. It is not wrong for nonbelievers to sing to God. It can be a powerful witness and opportunity to share the gospel.

Now let’s look at the broader context. Is there anything wrong with American Idol singing “Shout to the Lord”? Again, I have to answer no. There is no difference between American Idol singing “Shout to the Lord” and an apostate church singing it. As a matter of fact it is worse for the apostate church because they are presenting a false and damning gospel.

American Idol did not sing “Shout to the Lord” in order to glorify God; they did it to bring in money–and it worked. This is the problem. They presented this song as a marketing technique and it was successful. That tells us something about the song and/or genre. The lyrics of the song are not bad. They do not display depths of doctrine like some songs, but they do magnify the greatness of God.

The problem is that the world can take a Christian song and incorporate it into a fundraiser with no problem. American Idol is as secular as you get. Everyone knows about American Idol. If something controversial or a unique personality appears on American Idol you will hear about it. American Idol is not as raunchy or “bad” as some programs, but it is not Christ glorifying. It is the opposite. It epitomizes America’s idol–entertainment. When the epitome of entertainment can easily incorporate a “Christian” song into a fundraiser with the potential “American Idol”, there is a problem with “Christian” music.

Christians are to be separate from the world. The world should not find it convenient to use a Christian song as the finale for a charitable fundraiser. Our music should separate us from world. We should not use music that is associated with rebellion. The type of rock and jazz music is heavily associated with rebellion should not be embraced by Christians.

Of the few parts of “School of Rock” I have seen, the one I remember is where the main character asks the class what rock and roll is all about. The class comes up with various answers including “getting wasted” and “scoring babes”, but the correct answer is “sticking to the man”. Even today, rock and roll is characterized by “getting wasted”, “scoring babes”, and “sticking it to the man”.

Jerry Lee Lewis, a famous rock and roll singer, was expelled from Southwestern Bible Institute for playing rock and roll, and when he was later asked if he was still “playing the devil’s music he said, “Yes, I am. But you know it’s strange, the same music that they kicked me out of school for is the same kind of music they play in their churches today. The difference is, I know I am playing for the devil and they don’t.”

Rock and roll is steeped in rebellion; you cannot avoid that. This incident on American Idol is troubling because it shows how like the world we have become. 

Why Think?

Yesterday I posted Thinking Hurts!. In light of that, why do Christians need to think? Since it takes lots of time and work; if it’s so hard, why do it?

 

…because it’s worth it.

 

Thinking is absolutely critical to the Christian life. The Christian who doesn’t think is naive and weak. He will be prone to temptation. Proverbs 13:15-16 shows the folly of the not thinking, “Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. (emphasis mine throughout)” It is is foolishness.

Why do we think long and hard? The Bible commands to be wise. It is a command of God and a gift from God. All wisdom comes from his person. It is a characteristic of God that we ought to pursue. Wisdom leads to holiness. Critical Thinking makes us wise. 

Why think?

God Commands It

Proverbs 8:32-33 “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.”

Proverbs 23:19 “Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.”

Matthew 10:16 ”Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

God commands and expects his children to wise. We are to know the ways of righteousness and flee from sin.

God Gives It

God gives wisdom. It is a part of his being, his character. Apart from God, there is no wisdom. James tells us to ask God for wisdom with the promise that he gives it liberally. Wisdom is a gift from God.

Daniel shows us that wisdom is of God and from God. That is it is part of his being and a gift, Daniel 2:20 “Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.”

And a few verses later, ”To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:23

Proverbs 2:6 sums it up, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

It Produces Holiness

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth

-Proverbs 1:1-4

Here in the very beginning of Proverbs, Solomon reveals his purpose–to know, understand, and receive instruction in righteousness, justice, etc.

Proverbs 2:10-12 says, “for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil…” 

I don’t think it can be said clearer than that, we think critically, even though it is hard work, because it delivers us from the way of evil.