In Defense of Christian Rock

 

 

my name is mandy and i love Christian alternative rock.
i am not 18 or a 'new' convert.
i'm a 32 yr. old homeschooling mom to 4.


 lately i have ran across several blogs and a homeschooling book, that warn against the 'evils' of modern Christian music, in particular, the harder rock music.

i am annoyed by this to be blunt.

one of the blog posts went as far as saying k-love {k-love?!} is taking away from the gospel and substituting mushy music for real faith.

to that i say hogwash.

do you have to like Christian rock?
absolutely not!
we all have tastes that vary.
i personally don't care for the Christian hip-hop K-love sometimes plays, and i don't like some of the super hard screaming like stuff, but i don't think it's wrong.
i just don't like it.


i've read that because it resembles the 'world's music' it is just a carbon copy of it with some Jesus thrown in.
that logic kind of baffles me.

i pondered all morning on how someone could possibly say that music with a loud, rockin' sound proclaiming Jesus could think that it is evil or of the world.
and i came up with the only comparison i could.
let's have a look at those loathed television evangelists.
they usually give me the heeby-geebies, i'll confess.
what generalizations could i make about them?
most of them to me water down the gospel, depress you and want your money.
this may or may not be true, but that's the gist of most complaint against them, correct?
so...if i really needed to weed through and see if they are genuinely honoring God, what would i do?
i would hold it up against the lens of God's word and filter it wouldn't i?
if it matches with God's word and doesn't mistreat it, no matter how much i don't like the preaching style,
i can't complain!
i can choose not to watch, i can even question their authenticity, but if what they say and do matches up with the gospel then it is honoring to the Lord! only He can judge the heart!

well, i believe the critics of 'hard' Christian music should be non-judgemental enough to do the same.
i am sure there are some Christian artists who are money hungry.
there may even be some wolves dressed as sheep.
we will see that anywhere.
but let's hold up some of the lyrics of 'questionable' Christian groups to the lens and filter of the word shall we?
in this home, we happen to really like Skillet, so i will pick one of theirs i'm very familiar with.
here is a video for the song Rebirthing:

 

 

 

 

 

       
and here are the Rebirthing lyrics:

by Skillet

Verse 1
I lie here paralytic inside this soul
Screaming for you till my throat is numb
I wanna break out
I need a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this Womb I'm suffocating
Pre-Chorus
Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I've died
Chorus
Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now I come alive somehow
Rebirthing now
I wanna live my life, wanna give you everything
Breathe for the first time now I come alive somehow
Right now
Right now
Verse 2
I lie here lifeless in this cocoon
Shedding my skin cause I'm ready to
I wanna break out
I found a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this Womb I'm suffocating
Pre-Chorus
Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I've died
Chorus
Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now I come alive somehow
Rebirthing now
I wanna live my life, wanna give you everything
Breathe for the first time now I come alive somehow
(I come alive somehow)
Bridge
Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when I'm gonna breathe you in
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'm gonna feel alive
Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when this fear will end
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'll feel alive
Chorus
Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now I come alive somehow
Rebirthing now
I wanna live my life, wanna give you everything
Breathe for the first time now I come alive somehow
(I come alive somehow)
Right now (I come alive somehow)
Right now (I come alive somehow)

 

 

hmmm, let's see.

crying out to God from the depths of his soul for God to come in and fill him up when he is wasting away in the flesh.

sounds to me like a hint of David's psalms as he sat in the cave awaiting the evil of saul's army.

and FYI, my hubby has been to one of their concerts that was full of prayer and praise!

all glory given back to the Savior!

if you'd like a taste of their 'softer' side, check out the song Lucy, which is about the regrets and ramifications of abortion.  an amazingly, beautifully sad song that gives a hugely pro-life message.

i know, totally evil, right?

 

if you don't like the half-screaming lyrics that's fine, don't listen to it ever again!

but you can't tell me that their music is evil.

are they always blatantly Christian?

nope, just like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, you sometimes have to scratch the surface to find the Truth.

But Truth it is.

and i don't know about anyone else, but my spirit doesn't always feel sing-songy.

sometimes my spirit is crying out to God with everything i am, and to me, that's what Christian rock encompasses more than anything.

whether it be a praise song, or a prayer song, or a song about the pains of this world,

it's a crying out to the Heavenly Father!

 

 

here's another one for you to flavor by a new group, who is quite possibly my new favorite next to NeedtoBreathe.

this is the Rhett Walker Band, and as he is new, he doesn't yet have any videos, but here is his song with the lyrics.

um, DRIPPING with the gospel.

p.s. all of his music is fantastic.

as in, i've played it for the last week straight and am not sick of it.

 

 

let's hit one more 'alternative' christian band for the sake of variety, shall we?

this is seventh day slumber performing surrender:

oh sheesh!

just because they play their guitar a little loud and hit their drums with gusto should we label them unholy?

for goodness sakes, let's have their lyrics:

 I'm giving You my heart
And all that is within
I lay it all down
For the sake of You my King
I'm giving you my dreams
I'm laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride
For the promisse of new life

And I surrender all to You
All to You
And I surrender all to You
All to You

I'm singing You this song
I'm waiting at the cross
And all the world holds dear
I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You
For the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy
Even sharing in Your pain

 

i even read a blog that criticized Third Day.

i am sure they are familiar enough to not need to post their work, but really!

those guys LOVE the Lord, their songs are all praise.

at their concert, it was prayer and praise and worship.

 

i believe the Bible allows us amazing freedom within Christ,
and i believe that as long as we walk within the boundaries of His word we are FREE to honor Him as we wish.

For Heaven's sakes, if this music makes you feel dirty, if it tempts you to listen to music that is ungodly, don't listen!

But please don't tell other Christians that it is 'evil' or dishonoring to the Lord.

Some of us are in seasons of falling to our knees in worship, some of us stand with arms high in praise. both are worshiping our God.

 

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.~psalms 98:4

 

 

 

 

 

a song...

Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus friend of sinners the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees

No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever


Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

casting crowns,
jesus friend of sinners
listen:here


blessings,
mandy

let's talk music...

i have no musical talent.

zip,zero,zilch.

i had wanted piano lessons once upon a time.

now it would seem like just another thing on the 'to-do' list that never gets all done.

but i love me some good music.

and, surprise, surprise, my choices are random.

most of the time in the car, i'm tuned into the contemporary christian.

my favorites there include third day (because mac powell is awesome), casting crowns, mercy me, jeremy camp, todd agnew, and matt maher.

  but then i also love the edgier ones.

skillet, thousand foot krutch.

but then i'll turn to country.

where i think that gary allen has the sexiest voice in the entire world.

but i also love zac brown band,

dierks and billy currington, lady a, and little big town.

and then the classics, like good ol mr.strait and john michael.

throw in some brooks and dunn,

and we're calling it good.

fly me to the moon please.

the rat pack,

any of em.

and ella.

and the beach boys.

that fit into none of my categories.

and there will always, ALWAYS  people, be a place in my heart for  bryan adams.

why is he still not popular??!!!

as far as current 'cool' music,

i love 3 doors down, lifehouse, coldplay, daughtry, creed.

and then there is my

ihatetoadmitthisside.

which includes nirvana,

greenday,

and all those naughty bands that sing of totaly yuckiness and yet they sound so cool.

speaking of which, can we please pray for a conversion to the faith for nickelback?

whom i adore but loathe all at once.

i mean really.

God gave you the talent, use it properly.

bon jovi.

and i love the bag pipes

but my favorite group ever?

(are you drumrolling?

you should totally be drum rolling)

NEEDTOBREATHE.

if you haven't heard these guys.

they are musically amazingly, lyrically intelligent,

and just all out studs.

for the first time in my life i want a band t shirt.

i've listened to

this album

about 200 times in a row.

not sick of it yet.

what don't i like?

ANY AND ALL hip hop.

and rap.

(unless it's the french prince of bel aire of course.)

and if you didn't notice?

i'm not into female singers.

i have NO idea why this is.

it dawned on me about 2 years ago that none of my go to music is done by females.

(lady a has a man ya'll)

i'm bizarre, i know.

so all this to say.

i'm totally random.

where would you classify me in the music genre?

what about yourself?

blessings,

mandy



until the whole world hears...

Until The Whole World Hears Lyrics

Lord I want to feel your heart

and see the world through your eyes

I want to be your hands and feet

I want to live a life that leads

chorus

ready yourselves

ready yourselves

Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night

ready yourselves

ready yourselves

May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise

Until the whole world hears Lord we are calling out

Lifting up Your name for all to hear the sound

Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out

as the day draws near

we'll sing until the whole world hears

Lord let your sleeping giant arise

Catch the demons by surprise

Holy nation sanctified

Let this be our battle cry

chorus

we'll sing until the whole world hears

we'll sing until the whole world hears

Want to be your hands and feet

Want to be a life that leads

To see you set the captive free

Until the whole world hears

and I pray that they will see more of you and less of me

Lord I want my life to be the song You sing

Until the whole world hears Lord we are calling out

Lifting your name up for all to hear the sound

Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out

as the day draws near

we'll sing until the whole world hears

we'll sing until the whole world hears

we'll sing until the whole world hears

we'll sing until the whole world hears

we'll sing until the whole world hears

we'll sing until the whole world hears

by:

Casting Crowns

 

 

thought these lyrics were appropriate right now.

so much devastation,

so much hurt.

may it be used for His glory and may the whole world know His love and grace.

 

on a side note, other than this mass scare, there are people in our world hurting on a more personal level.

it seems to be surrounding lately.

 

my best friend in a horrible accident with her children, by the grace of God they're fine,

an aunt going through unexpected medical scares,

a friend from high school with her precious little baby fighting cancer,

and i could go on.

sometimes the preciousness of life just sits heavy in your chest.

torn between gratitude and sorrow,

knowing there is a God who has a perfect plan (Jer. 29:11)

brings hope in an otherwise hurting world...

 

 

 

God Bless,

mandy

2011 Anthem

Happy New Year!!!

I promise to get better at blogging, but I'm still fighting this bug!

Thought I'd share my anthem for 2011.

Yes it came out in 2010,

but roll with it.

Go listen,

you'll love it!!

Something Beautiful

God Bless,

Mandy

Spoken For, by Mercy Me

Take this world from me

Don't need it anymore

For I am finally free

My heart is spoken for

Oh and I praise You

Oh and I worship You

Chorus:

Covered by a love divine

Child of the risen Lord

To hear You say "This one's mine"

My heart is spoken for.

Now I have a peace

That I've never known before

I find myself complete

My heart is spoken for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's amazing to me that He has spoken for me. 

  That I am HIS.

So are YOU...
just ask Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You Lord,

Mandy