Looks like after about 5 years Jason, Laren, and Bobby might finally see some results. There’s a bill that just hit the floor that may see the US taking action to remove Joseph Koney from power in Africa. You can view the full proposal (pdf) or check out Invisible Children’s announcement.
August 29th, 2009
Derek Webb’s “Stockholm Syndrome” controversy
Stockholm Syndrome refers to a hostage sympathizing, identifying, and aligning their loyalty to their captor. With Derek Webb’s habit of criticizing Christian culture, you may see where he’s going with this album.
Webb has done few things that can’t be interpreted as offensive by the Conservative Christian media in his solo career. His very fist release in 2003, after breaking from the Contemporary Christian band Caedemon’s Call, She Must and Shall Go Free, ruffled a few feathers when he used the rather biblical language “whore” and “bastard” that family-friendly radio stations weren’t comfortable with. In 2007, his breakthrough electric album The Ringing Bell criticized politic-pushing-pulpits on the track “A Savior on Capital Hill.” A year later, during the election year, he re-released his Mockingbird album for free on Noisetrade with a bonus track in which Webb communicates to his listeners their right and moral obligation not to vote if they cannot, with a clear conscience, choose a candidate.
In summary, controversy is nothing new to Derek Webb.
Why then are so many fans who have stuck with him through four albums now turning their backs and calling Stockholm Syndrome the final straw? It would seem he has chosen a line to cross that many people are finally unwilling to go over with him.
Basically, in a nod to a speech made by Tony Campolo, Webb uses obscenities on the track “What Matters More” which deals with the Christian community’s mistreatment of the gay community. That’s what is really getting people fired up. To say that is the only song on Stockholm Syndrome that will ruffle feathers would be to overlook other blatant and offensive language on the album, but the obscenities are what’s really going to have Webb dodging all the stones that will be cast at him come September 1st… and some have already started to fly (I found quite an interesting blog entry that really gets behind the song, you should check it out).
While everyone’s turning their attention to “What Matters More” (irony), there are many other abrasive songs that will be overlooked… that also need to be heard.
The Song “Black Eye” calls out Christian passivism, ignorance, and adaptation to culture, stating “Time looks the same at the ones who hate and the ones that do nothing” while “The Spirit vs. the Kickdrum” addresses Christian’s convenience-skewed view of the Godhead. Webb continues his political trend with “The State” and even makes an interesting address to Westboro Baptist Church’s Fred Phelps in what I would consider one of the most notable tracks on the album, “Freddie, Please.” And that’s only the first half.
I recently scheduled lunch with a friend from high school who, since graduation three years ago, has come out as a homosexual. When I made the passing comment about meeting him, I was teased about our “date” by some of my friends and family. There where people very close to me, and the person I was going to meet, who did not really love him at all, and it hurt. Honestly, what Webb has to say on “What Matters More” needs to be said.
However, I believe the greatest risk run by the lyrical content of Stockholm Syndrome is not actually one or two words, but the actual language Webb uses throughout the album. The obscenities are not the greatest concern here. If we’re going to draw the line and mandate language, google the lyrics for the song and look at how many christian bloggers chose to type out “damn” but censor “s—.” Where do we draw the line? My only conern of how this album will be received is that in calling out real, critical points in the American Church in the way that he does, Webb has run the risk of sounding as sharp and in-compassionate as the very people he criticizes.
My final suggestion, for what it’s worth… buy the album. Decide for yourself. Not just if Derek Webb’s approach is right or wrong… but what’s the heart behind the songs, and what will you take away.
Note: Anyone who claims this is all a marketing strategy to sell records is just mudslinging. For $10 you get both the clean and “explicit” versions of the album and the album booklet reads:
“I wholly support the free distribution and consumption of music. Please share this record.”
In other words, Webb is giving away the unedited copy for free. He really just wants this song to be heard.
by Micah Taylor | Posted in Christianity, Music, The Culture | No Comments » | Tags: Derek Webb, Music, obscenity
August 25th, 2009
Dangers of the young “New Calvinist”
There’s a good bit of press surrounding the idea of “The New Calvinist.” The buzz started after Time Magazine gave a name to the idea and deemed it one of the “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now.” The issue was further pushed in the press by the numerous replies from what the article labeled as the fore-runners of the movement.
I think smarter and more involved people than myself can comment on the actual idea of “New Calvinism,” what I do believe I am well qualified to speak about are the dangers I have seen emerge from the new reformed movement because I am reformed in theology, I live on a Christian university campus and get to see these dangers lived out every day, and because all of these warnings come out of self-realizations from the past four months. So here are some detrimental details I’ve observed that we must be very cautious of in the young, new Calvinist:
1) Pride: Upon arriving at College I was bombarded by reformed theology, I had it shoved in my face by people who called themselves Calvinists. I even attended a ministry on campus where I was asked what I thought of predestination and eternal security… before I was asked my name. After the first week of school I swore I would never be reformed. By the first week of my Sophomore year I would candidly call myself a Calvinist, engage in frequent conversations about limited atonement, and make fun of anyone who didn’t read out of an ESV as if I were Steve Jobs asking the Bill Gates of the world why he couldn’t get with the program. The result: I gave good theology a bad name.
It wasn’t until I got very annoyed with a young “missionary” in India who thought it was more important to talk about the Jewish traditions and contexts behind the prodigal son than to use it as a tool to present the message of Jesus that I realized I was disgusted with what I had become, repented of putting my drive for intellect and knowledge before my need for love and wisdom, and started asking the Spirit to interpret scripture for me rather than depend on my own human knowledge.
2) The Approach: Do I really love people and want people to know Jesus more deeply or do I just want them to understand and agree with my theology? Do I care more about Jesus’ words or Paul’s words? Do I talk and blog more about Jesus and His love or the theology behind the Nicene Creed? Am I more concerned about leading people to Jesus or away from other teachers I deem theologically unsound? While these things do matter, I always have to ask myself what matters more. Doctrine is important, very important. But we often use it to alienate people rather than lead them into a deeper understanding and relationship with Christ
3) The Name: Any person who titles himself a Calvinist sends off red flag to me. As believers, we belong to Christ. Not Calvin. We are Christians. Not Calvinists. Not Arminionist. Our theology is one or the other, but our belief is not in any man, organization, our system of beliefs, it is in Jesus.
by Micah Taylor | Posted in Christianity, The Church, Theology | No Comments » | Tags: Calvinism, Theology