I have long been a critic of the pop culture of American Christianity. It is too often nothing more than a revamped, God-flavored version of the very culture they preach against and seek to counter. Same pop tunes. Same entertaining gimmicks. Same mindless/artless productions that are marketed by the secular media. Many of these artists may have meaningful and Godly motivations behind their songs and books and what-have-you, but its a market just like any other and it exists in no small part to make money. Once in a blue moon will a true gem surface in this market, just like the secular market.
But today I came across something even more revolting than these thieves and salesman in the temple courts found in a song by the band Casting Crowns. Having experienced first hand how this band falls into the category of my previously mention grievance (that’s for another rant) I never expected much from the group in the first place. But now I'm more disillusioned by them than I am indifferent.
The song in question is called, "While You Were Sleeping," which begins as a nice, if not cliché, commentary on the birth of Christ, but quickly degrades into political propaganda that the conservative community is all to savvy for.
Here's the verse:
United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark
There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night, in the night
This is ridiculous. I'll start by saying that I am not a fan of abortion (I'm also not a fan of killing those who have them). There are major problems with legislative law over this issue and the fact that it is happening at all shows a major point of degradation in our society. But what in the world does caring about the planet GOD made for us have to do with being blind to tragedy of human death? Are you kidding me? This is clearly an attempt to label those who care about the environment as liberal idiots who cannot possibly know Christ. This is non-sense. God created this planet. We had better dang well respect that and take care of it. It was a gift to us. We are called to be good stewards of ALL that He has provided, not just money (which I think would be better used helping needy people than fueling political lobbyist groups) and not just babies (though babies are VERY important). It is funny how short sighted we can be. What good is saving the children when the place we're leaving behind for them is wasted?
Ironically, Casting Crowns speak of awakening Christians to the importance of our roles in communities. Sadly, this shows that (in this case) they are still very much asleep. We need to stop letting our politics inform our faith and start letting our faith inform our politics. If that was the case we would be saving babies and saving trees.
The first time I knew I was in the presence of God I was three, maybe four years old. And I remember the experience clearly. My family was driving through the California Redwood forest. I remember telling my parents that I could "feel Jesus everywhere." I think that is my parents' favorite story of me as a child. I want my children to be able to feel God everywhere too. And what would be better than them feeling His presence in the center of His creation and the center of their heart?
But today I came across something even more revolting than these thieves and salesman in the temple courts found in a song by the band Casting Crowns. Having experienced first hand how this band falls into the category of my previously mention grievance (that’s for another rant) I never expected much from the group in the first place. But now I'm more disillusioned by them than I am indifferent.
The song in question is called, "While You Were Sleeping," which begins as a nice, if not cliché, commentary on the birth of Christ, but quickly degrades into political propaganda that the conservative community is all to savvy for.
Here's the verse:
United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark
There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night, in the night
This is ridiculous. I'll start by saying that I am not a fan of abortion (I'm also not a fan of killing those who have them). There are major problems with legislative law over this issue and the fact that it is happening at all shows a major point of degradation in our society. But what in the world does caring about the planet GOD made for us have to do with being blind to tragedy of human death? Are you kidding me? This is clearly an attempt to label those who care about the environment as liberal idiots who cannot possibly know Christ. This is non-sense. God created this planet. We had better dang well respect that and take care of it. It was a gift to us. We are called to be good stewards of ALL that He has provided, not just money (which I think would be better used helping needy people than fueling political lobbyist groups) and not just babies (though babies are VERY important). It is funny how short sighted we can be. What good is saving the children when the place we're leaving behind for them is wasted?
Ironically, Casting Crowns speak of awakening Christians to the importance of our roles in communities. Sadly, this shows that (in this case) they are still very much asleep. We need to stop letting our politics inform our faith and start letting our faith inform our politics. If that was the case we would be saving babies and saving trees.
The first time I knew I was in the presence of God I was three, maybe four years old. And I remember the experience clearly. My family was driving through the California Redwood forest. I remember telling my parents that I could "feel Jesus everywhere." I think that is my parents' favorite story of me as a child. I want my children to be able to feel God everywhere too. And what would be better than them feeling His presence in the center of His creation and the center of their heart?
