“Does a semi-secular song writer in Nashville with a multi-million dollar music contract have more to say to us about God and the Christian life than the 17th-century hymn writer who lost four children and his wife during the 30 years War?”

Oh thanks Slice! Now my cappuchino has come out thorugh my nose!  Yea, verily the more I read that sentence, I see some validity there. Remember kids, theologians used to be our songwriters.

The writer makes a couple good points, but I must add that the theologians who were writing at their time were writing songs that fit their culture.  If our church is to speak into our culture I find it best to use music that fits today’s culture.  Perhaps you do not have to change the lyrics which were written by the theologians of our past, but the music that goes along with those lyrics must change. 

This is also true about the way people dress for church.  Did Jesus dress up to go to the Temple?  No, of course he didn’t he was poor.  I swear people would condemn Jesus if he were to show up in our churches today.  He’d look dirty and undesirable and would probably be chastising us for how “Temple-like” we’ve made our churches.  We don’t like people like that in our churches. 

I should also point out that the writer is quite upset about people being selfish and only caring about themselves in church.  What is he/she doing in this very article?  It starts out with “I’m looking for...” for crying out loud!!  Well, maybe the person next to you in the pew is “looking for...” relevance, understandable music, preaching, etc.

Just some thoughts to add to the discussion.

Yes there is one of those churches down the street from my house.  The 23 people left are guarding the sanctity of the service have an application for you to fill out and a covenant to sign.

Peter,
I know I couldn’t believe it when I discovered that fact as well.  I guess I was wrong to think I’d be pulling in over $100K when I finish seminary.

I could read more....but why?  It’s not worth the time to click the link...it’s not about her, me, or you...it’s all about Him.  If people could get that, really get that, church would be a much different place for ALL of us.

(sigh....and we wonder why more and more young seekers turn away from the church, seeing absolutely no difference in how they are treated inside the sanctuary as they are on the street....)

(Stepping off my soapbox...)

Peter:

“Uh… please find me somebody who writes worship songs with a multi-million dollar music contract. “

The author was alluding to songwriter Brad Paisley who recently made a song with Sara Evans called, “New Again.” It’s played a lot on country radio, and is supposed to be the interchange between Christ crucified on the cross and Mary, His mother.  It ventures into that dangerous area of putting words into the mouths of people in the Bible where none are given.

Both of them get paid beaucoups bucks, too.  And…

“The writer of this post shoots himself in the foot. “

I’m pretty sure that Ingrid would take offense at being called a man.  =)

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CS

CS,

I think she was quoting somebody in the first part, which is the part noted above.

I find nothing wrong with the song “New Again.” Sorry.

The post is still very sad, for the reasons Brian states above.

Peter:

“I think she was quoting somebody in the first part, which is the part noted above.”

She said in her post just below the signature, “There are many who crave the kind of church I have described in my letter.”

“I find nothing wrong with the song “New Again.” Sorry.”

In this case, I agree with you.  I was more pointing out how there are country musicians who make attempts at bridging the gap into contemporary Christian music.  But it is dangerous to make it a practice of putting thoughts, feelings, or words into people in the Bible when we don’t have them.

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CS

In Ezra 3 there is a great illustration about this whole situation.  They’re building the Temple and the older people, who had seen the previous Temple, are crying because the new Temple was no where near as big or decorative.  The younger ones, born in exile, were just excited to see God moving again.

This is my statement...if “the good ole’ days” were so good, why did God not continue to bless?  The answer, sin.  The older Israelites failed to serve God and were punished, then He began with a new generation...one not so tied to tradition, but tied to God’s movement and blessing.  I’m not accusing people who prefer traditional of sin, I’m just saying something happened somewhere that cost us at least one generation.  I just want to see God move and be a part of it.

Naive Opie:

“They’re building the Temple and the older people, who had seen the previous Temple, are crying because the new Temple was no where near as big or decorative.  The younger ones, born in exile, were just excited to see God moving again.”

I went looking in Ezra 3 to get some more information, because this sounded like a great explanation for why our churches are changing, and it is always great to find pearls of widsom in the Old Testament.  I read through the chapter and found the following in verses 12 and 13:

“But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:  So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was he"ard afar off.”

I didn’t see any detail about the reason behind their crying, as you explained, and it sounded like some of them were quite excited about the whole thing.  Is there additional commentary in another chapter or book in the Bible to expound upon this idea?

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CS

Naive Opie:

That is some good hermeneutics in practice, and it makes sense.  I should have backed up to verse 11 in the first place.  Thanks for the explanation.

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CS

For a modern translation of Ingrid’s letter, go here:

http://hupokrisis.wordpress.com/2008/03/11/bring-back-the-holy-old-fashioned-church/

I thought it was GREAT satire! You should do a spoof of the typical MMI post. That would be easy, too. Be an equal-opportunity offender.