11
Apr

Shout to the Lord on American Idol

   Posted by: WhiRL   in Colors of Life, Discussion

You know what? How many of you are fans of that show? I am not a fan of that show but I have been following it closely this season closely. I was so looking forward to watch Idol gives back. But something struck me hard. I have been crying these two days. One of which I will talk about in the other post.

I cried when I thought about when they sang the song Shout to the Lord on American idol. Some of you who know I’m a very sentimental person would think that I was touched thats why I cried. You are far off. I cried because it hurt to see them sing it. It is a song for God only God!

There are ample debates about whether this glorifies God or not and I do not want to dwell on that. For me God takes glory in everything. I mean EVERYTHING. If we look hard enough we can find something to glorify God in everything even this.

But I cried profusely, asking God is this what He wants with our lives. Sure idol gives back gives millions that I could never ever give in my lifetime. But is that what He wants? No. The bible clearly says that He asks for our lives. Pastor Everett Mckinney preached a message that was very convicting on sunday. He has spent 46 years in ministry and more that 30 years in missions. The title of the message was ‘He gave all He had”. Never once did he mention in his message about money. It’s all about lives surrendered to God. So I surrender mine. Lord I make this public confession that I will give all I have.

So I cried because I see a song sung, but not lives lived. The rocks already praise God the creator. So please I think when God asks us to give praise is not with just singing and the clapping of hands. Sometimes I think the rocks can sing louder than us. Ironic. Certainly not! Think carefully of what I’m saying. I am surely stepping on some toes when I say all these things.

I think the song that Pastor Mckinney sings is a song sweeter and louder to God’s ear as it is the song of his life, not the song on American Idol. Lord take glory in the lives we live not the songs we sing.

Please read the comments to understand more what I’m trying to say

Also there is another discussion I am part of about this matter in another blog and it may be interesting for you to read other opinions. Here it is

This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 6:57 pm and is filed under Colors of Life, Discussion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 comments so far

siewlee
 1 

Sorry but I don’t quite agree to all you said.
The main one being, giving all to God and surrendering our lives to Him doesn’t necessarily mean being in ministries and missions alone. I think everyone can serve Him in their own ways with their lives. Giving all you have doesn’t mean giving up your job and dreams for a full time pastoral job or full time missionaries. I mean, everyone can serve in different ways. Not every christian is called to be in full time ministry or missionaries.

Also, why is it that a pastor singing a worship song is sweeter than the rest? Some of the contestants in american idol are christians, they might be standing on stage, singing it as a song of worship just like any other Christ worshippers. How much do you know the lives they’re living to comment that they’re not living a live that glorifies God?

Leon said:

Please accept my humble opinion that it is not right to think that way. We talk about marketplace. We talk about inclusiveness. Where do you draw the line? When God says be part of the world not of it (John 15:19). What does He mean. How do you draw the line?

And worship is about worshipping in spirit and in truth. So therefore I do not believe that just because you stand up there and sing a Christian song and are a Christian you worship. Worship is God directed not man directed.

There has to be a line drawn between worship and entertainment. Can you tell me where the line is drawn here in this situation? God commands us to be Holy. Meaning set apart. Where is the setting apart? I believe there are such things as Christians being entertainers and in that displaying good values and Christ-likeness. But there has to be a clear line when it comes to the church and entertainment which has been diluted. A.W Tozer wrote against entertainment in worship and I totally agree with him.

The Temple musicians were set apart only for duties as such. Therefore I hold steadfast that worship songs are set apart for God alone. I’m not saying only full time pastors can sing. I’m saying that our gifted musicians should set apart their music for God

April 12th, 2008 at 12:12 am
siewlee
 2 

Yes, it’s true that there is a line between worship and entertainment. I agree that in this case, it’s more of an entertainment setting than a worship setting. I know worship shouldn’t be commercialized but singing a worship song in public with the presence of non-believers, acknowledging God, is a form of evangelism in an indirect way?

What if they sung a song which has lyrics that proclaims the greatness of God? Perhaps not a well-known worship song like this. Maybe a song written on their own, or a less popular contemporary christian song. Between those songs, and a secular song which says nothing about God. Which is better then?

Leon said:

I think people again have a wrong concept of evangelism. Which will take a long time for me to explain. It is clear though that evengelism is not done by such means. Read the bible as a whole and you will realise that there is a formula set in the bible about how evangelism is done. So I think people are ignorant again. Sure it has sort of a message and again if God can use a donkey to send a message what more anything else. But it is clear in study of evangelism how God teaches us how to reach people.

I still don’t think I can say that a song belong to both sides. I think a song writer has to choose camps. Sure it can be popular and people love it. But a song sung in worship to God is set apart only for Him. In many cases it is hard to define when that line is crossed. But in this case a non-christian singing a worship song and we deem is as a testimony just because some of them are Christians? That is wrong! I believe that true worship will evangelise but a person can only worship in spirit and in truth. That means he or she has to be a born again believer.

April 12th, 2008 at 12:40 am
wen cheang
 3 

hmmmm yes i do agree too that worship has to be set apart only for God………….. But Leon, could you help us understand why certain churches do hold “christian concerts, rallies, etc” singing fully christian worship songs but in a concert setup encouraging non believers to go and “party” in the church………….for example the planet shakers……delirious?…..etc. The songs they sing are set apart songs too but why do they allow it to be sang in some concert like manner????sometimes even with the christians partying like its an ordinary concert without realizing that it is Gods house and MUST be respected. could you mind answering these?????

Leon said:

Ok let me first explain briefly about evangelism. Through the old testament, the Israelites were to be set apart as a community to show the world that God is real. As long as they did what is right in God’s eyes they blossomed. Now then in the New Testament, it is the same as the church was set apart for God. Called to be Holy. But they were not asked to live in seclusion from the rest.

The way they live were to be how people hear the message. Their earnest preachings were the powerful tool. Only Christians were called to carry this message.

Now here is my proposition, if a non-Christian preaches about God or sings a worship song. Can it be considered as evangelism, a testimony or even a blessing to the people? My conclusion is NO. This is because only Christians have the Holy Spirit in them. Only the Holy Spirit can do the conviction.

So therefore when a worship song is sung, only if it is sung by a Christian will I consider it a testimony and worthy of God’s glory.

Now humans have what we call entertainment and leisure. Sin has corrupted it so much so, sex is considered as a right kind of entertainment in some cultures. Music is highly used as a form of entertainment. Yet we see it corrupted by vulgar lyrics and video clips. But is entertainment wrong in its essence? No. So Christians tried to provide alternative to the worldly entertainment so that Christians will have a safe environment to have leisure and do what they like. But because the lines of entertainment and worship that have been blurred over time nobody knows how to differentiate what is entertainment and what is worship.

Some would say that when we entertain we also can entertain God. But I believe the bible clearly says worship belongs to Him alone. So in doing presentations and all that we bear testimony to God’s glory as Christians but that is only a small part of true worship. True worship is both man drawing to God and God drawing to man. Yes God can take glory in it but only if it is done by a Christian and that person has to responsibly think through his motives. So often times this is the danger. Are we drawing people to God and helping them hear from God or are things making them draw away from God. In a society that is individualistic, they will say each and everyone has their own way to reach God. I beg to differ. There is only one way through Jesus Christ. Not the song leader, presentation, pastor and so on so forth. It is Jesus Christ. Therefore the Holy Spirit must be present. It can only be present in lives set apart for Him.

Where a believer draws that line in church of how much entertainment is allowed is variable. I agree that the church has to be respected. Yet at the same time, it is called a sanctuary because it is a place where anyone can find refuge in God. So we can control if people abuse it to a certain extent. But its God who judges. Who says partying in church is not as bad as other sins in church even like not paying attention to His word? Thats why as Christians Paul says we must be accountable for all our actions.

I hope this answer your questions.

April 13th, 2008 at 12:26 am
siewlee
 4 

I guess i see what you’re trying to say. The people singing the worship song in that show were merely verbalizing the song lyrics for the sake of performance and entertainment. It wasn’t a true worship. It’s like misusing or abusing the song for the wrong purpose. I see now why are you hurting.

As to wen cheang’s question, in my understanding, there’s a difference between those who sing worship songs just for entertainment and those who hold concerts for a different reason. I think those who hold worship concerts, they’re playing a role in worship leading the crowd into worshipping God. The motive of the concert is worship, and for God. I have been to a few of these concerts before, and the people on stage were actually worship leading the people into worship, not so much of performing songs. So maybe that’s the difference. Maybe.

Leon said:

Yes, and in a bigger picture kind of sense, there are consequences of doing wrong right? I’m worried of the consequences.

I personally do not like the term worship concert. It is like an oxymoron. Two opposites. Worship and Concert (Entertainment). Yes I do understand some do lead the people to worship. Yet I think we blur the lines again in areas like that. So as the performers/worship team which to me is a contradiction again, there is a huge tremendous responsibility that I believe we must be ready to be judged by. Just because we have the right attitude and motives it doesn’t mean it is right does it? This is a universal principle. God somehow is merciful enough but it is still wrong. We should be striving to achive things better. How? We need wisdom and time. I am learning how and hopefully one day will be able to give the answer.

April 14th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Mike Leo
 5 

You are so upset about AI singing Shout to the Lord at their stage, but what about churches that sings CNY tunes by changing the lyrics to Christian lyrics? Is it not a disgrace to the pulpit? We brought in Lucky Draw and changed it to Blessed Draw. Did we just spiritualized Lucky Draw? What about those who uses secular love song for their wedding? Are they equally shamed as we condemning AI?

Leon said:

So you think I don’t condemn those things? I do not agree with doing those things in certain contexts. And you are not reading my responses? I said there is a difference between entertainment and worship. Do we teach them that this is just being part of clean entertainment or do we deem it as worship. That is the issue,

Love is a universal gift God gives, So a secular song writer has the ability to write a love song because the experience of love is good. Yet I condemn Chriistians for their inability to find Christian love songs which are plentiful out there. If we condemn the act of writing about love as not right then the whole book of Song of Solomons is wrong. But a plain love song will never beat a true love song to God or for God.

There is another issue about songs being redeemable and not and I hesistate to write a long response on that. But lets just say it requires much wisdom to do that not just pick songs and change them. My challenge is, why not write your own song then if you can’t find one? Too hard? That is not a reason but an excuse. We have to strive and work hard to not water down our faith!

For a long time now we have compromised. AI is a big indicationt that we are continuing to compromise our stands bigger adn bigger. 20-30 years back, the church would have condemn this and would react hugely because they think its wrong. Now we think its alright. That is what frightens me.

April 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
wen cheang
 6 

yes it does answer my questions…..haha…………thanks

Leon said:

You’re more than welcome!

April 14th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Proseng
 7 

leon, did u c yesterday’s episode of american idol?
See wat Carly Smithson sing..

Leon said:

Yes I heard! She sang a song from a musical Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Llyod Webber. The musical itself is a little contreversial. So that is expected as it has been since it had been written a long time ago. So I kind of expected it. It has been performed so many times for the sake of entertainment. The scenario is so different from ‘Shout to the Lord’ which is a worship song. But have you noticed they have been really singing alot of songs with the name Jesus this year? I am getting so suspicious. Sorry I moved your post here since it had nothing to do with the earlier blog.

April 24th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
kim
 8 

hey, i heard that quite a few of the finalists for this season of american idol are actually born again Christians… anybody know for sure? maybe this is why more songs with “subtle hint of Christianity(?)” are chosen this time??

and also, i found that there are two versions of ’shout to the Lord’ available on youtube - both by the finalists - one starts with ‘my shepard’, and the other retains the original ‘my Jesus’ lyrics… anybody know whether both were actually performed, what was the sequence (which was performed first?)??

Leon said:

The My Shepherd was on Idol gives back the My Jesus was on the results show. Actually there is nothing subtle about it. Its America! If you’re in Malaysia that is called subtle.

Even if some of them are born again Christians. What’s the big deal? There are tonnes of famous people who are born again Christians. So if the winner is a born again Christian. I think that has nothing to do with the bigger picture. The person is pursuing a profession. I was making a big deal about singing the song. If I were a Christian I wouldn’t sing a worship song in this situation. I would rather be kicked out of the competition that to do that. I was making an issue about how we have now allowed things like this to happen and not even think it is wrong.

We make a big deal out of the Oprah issue as she teaches wrong doctrines. But we don’t make big issues about the so called small thing but that could potentially destructive nature of watering down our faith in small matters.

We now just go into a mode that says its all a matter of opinion. Is it? Does the bible not condemn it?

April 24th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Proseng
 9 

oh sorry.. i just leave the comment at ur latest post..sry sry
anyway carly smithson went out..lol
they r like, knocking out all the non-americans now.

Leon said:

Apa la I haven’t seen. You ruined my show! Hahaha. No need to apologize la

April 24th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Proseng
 10 

if i wan to ask a random question, which post shud i leave the comment?

Leon said:

Email me at whirl@leonlimkokweng.com. I will then reply on a post. Sorry I don’t make it easier because if people take the effort to ask then only I know they’re serious and I would take a serious effort to reply

April 25th, 2008 at 3:00 pm

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