...worship...

Jesus Just Wants to Give You a Hug?

Over thirty years ago, the great philosopher Paul McCartney asked, “What’s wrong with silly love songs?” Having given this over three decades of serious consideration (OK, at least several months), I have Sir McCartney’s answer.

It depends.

If you want to fill the world with silly love songs, there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you want to fill the church with them, I say, “Stop it!”

Tune into your “get you through your day” Christian music station and you will hear grown men, whining like love sick puppies, “Nothing else can take your place, or feel the warmth of your embrace.” Who are they singing to? The One who holds the universe together by the power of His word, or a chick?

Take the Quiz
Here are six phrases from six contemporary songs. Can you pick which phrases belong to secular songs and which to the sacred?

1. All I need to do is just be me, being in love with you.
2. My world stops spinning round, without you.
3. I never want to leave; I want to stay in your warm embrace.
4. I’m lost in love.
5. Now and forever, together and all that I feel, here's my love for you.
6. You say you love me just as I am.

The first three are from a popular Christian band called Big Daddy Weave, the second half are from Air Supply.

More and more of our Christian music is sounding one note: Jesus loves you soooooo much. Do I doubt for a second that Jesus loves His children? Nope, but it depends on what your definition of “love” is.

God “agape” loves His children. Agape love is not an emotions based, warm and fuzzy kind of love. Agape love is a self sacrificing, “I will help you despite how I feel” love.

William Tyndale was the first translator to use the word “love” for agape. Prior to the 16th century, the word “charity” best described agape. Leaving that debate aside, since Tyndale’s time, the English definition for love has expanded. Our modern day use of love ranges from a love for an object to physical love/sex (eros love). I love that new car. I love that girl. I love that God. That God loves me.

Not only do we use “love” in romantic ways to sing about God, we have added other romantic phrases to our Christian music repertoire: hold me, embrace me, feel you, need you. This criticism is not new, in fact, it has existed since Godly men began endeavoring to sing anything but the Psalms.

John Wesley considered an “amatory phrase” to be language that was more feelings based love than self-sacrificing agape love. John deleted “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” from one of his brother Charles’ collections because it was too romantic sounding.

Amatory Phrasing
Not only are musicians guilty of writing amatory phrases, but they are singing with amatory phrasing. Christian men sing with such romantic longing and neediness it makes me want to scream, “Man up!”

Christian women are singing with such throaty breathiness you would think they had just run from their home to the studio. To whom exactly are they singing? Brad Pitt or the Savior?

There are two consequences to this “Jesus is my boyfriend/girlfriend” music. Needy, emotional women continue to need more counseling, self help books and conferences where they can spread their wings and soar. Men simply are not showing up for church. It is my belief they simply can’t stand the mood manipulating worship times designed to help them “feel the Lord’s embrace.”

Musical Mermaids
Without theology in music, we are offering fluff that will not comfort when bridges collapse and test reports are negative. Songwriters could provide true hope if they would write about the sovereignty of God rather than crying about “how safe I feel when Jesus is holding me.”

Charles Spurgeon had the same criticism of “Hymns for Heart and Voice” published in 1855. He condemned the hymns as being “little better than mermaids, nice to look at but dangerous because they cannot deliver what they promise.”

Is there anything wrong with being reminded that our God is our help from ages past? Of course not, the Psalms are loaded with promises of God’s comfort. But unlike the Psalms (and theology based hymns), contemporary music is void of the reason why we should not worry. We do not worry because someone purrs that we shouldn’t fret, but because God is our shelter in the stormy blast and our eternal home. Our comfort comes from knowledge, not caterwauling.

If you enjoy a silly love song now and then, knock yourself out. But leave them where they belong, in the world or in the bedroom, not in the church.

http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/2749/Todd_Friel




Jesus, Thank You

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end

Lover of my soul
I want to live for You

Sovereign Grace Music

...it's the most wonderful...

Christmas...everybody loves Christmas. I mean... hot chocolate, family, Christmas movies, Christmas music, lights, snow(if your in Texas ..ice..) and the list goes on....but we all know the meaning of Christmas is Christ. right? I mean come on, we live in America where you can hear the name of Christ thrown around like a rag doll. Of course everybody knows we celebrate His birth on Christmas. Everybody knows about Jesus....(just go witnessing), but why is Christmas so lacking in the true message?

"A day" last week, Melissa asked me if I wanted to go to Wal Mart with her to buy some Christmas lights and etc. Well of course I said "yes", and I said yes to going into Wal Mart during one of the craziest times one could possibly imagine. Saturday...now Saturday in general is crazy...but Saturday after Thanksgiving...insane. But we went. Now Melissa can decorate anything, so the first place we went was of course the place where all the decorations were. I stood by the cart as she picked out some stuff. *Next we went somewhere else, then we picked out a card for "lil miss Holt" who was turning 9 that day. After that we walked around some more...and more...then we finally came to a stop. By this time...honestly I'm tired of people, I'm tired of walking....but over all the voices...over all the colors jumping out at your eyes...above everything else....there it was. A song...I dont even remember the name or the lyrics except "Christ is born, God's own Son." That was from God....for me...

Why is the true message missing? Because we can walk through Wal Mart and see all these pretty things with our eyes, get upset by all the people and not focus on the things above. God allowed me to go through Wal Mart to hear this song that touched my heart. That's Christmas. Who knew that God could reveal something to you in the middle of Wal Mart? I'm so thankful that we can celebrate the birth of Chrst. God Bless and Merry Christmas.

*(I'm more than likely adding more to it for the writing effect)

By the way...Melissa had fun!

...what is the Gospel...

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

What is the Gospel

For it is written, not to be ashamed of the Gospel,1 even though it is foolishness to those who are perishing,2 but God gives a yes through the preaching of the Gospel which brings glory to Him,3 because the Gospel is not of man,4 but it is the message of truth, in which we are sealed by the Holy Spirit,5 resulting in conducting ourselves in a manner only worthy of that truth,6 because it is working in us and helping us understand the grace of God,7 only because the Gospel is not of word only, but by the Holy Spirit which brings conviction,8 but also a vengeance from God to those who do not believe its truth,9 even though the Law is for the sinner to show sin, and makes the truth "good news",10 because God saves us, calls us according to His own purpose by the light of the Gospel which abolishes death,11 and brings eternal life,12 even though we will face suffering, pain, and trials for its truth,13 but by the power of Christ, it purifies us from our sin.14

1. Romans 1:16; 2. 1 Corinthians 1:18; 3. 2 Corinthians 1:19-22; 4. Galatians 1:11; 5. Ephesians 1:13; 6. Philippians 1:27; 7. Colossians 1:5-6; 8. 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 9. 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 10. 1 Timothy 1:9-11; 11. 2 Timothy 1:8-11; 12. Titus 1:1-3; 13. Philemon 1:13; 14. Hebrews 1:3

...missionaries...

We here at GFA do a lot of work...outside of the country. As you know, our focus is Asia. But a problem has flooded my thinking. What about my own country? Some of the things I'm going to say in this blog may shock some of you, so be warned.

I'm reading a book now called Persecution. It is talking about how the modern American socieity has pushed Christianity aside. More or less, True Believers are the minority. We have some many differents things here to catch our attention. Even inside the church. I went a church...well i guess you could call it that. They taught out of the bible, but everthing else was all worldly, and carnal. From the music....100s in the choir, trumpets, timpini, strings...and the big dramatic, over emotion, song leaders. My first thought.....door to door sells men and women. Then comes the video bragging about the pastor and his ministry....they mention the name of our Savior twice. Then the message...."weak gospel, who wants to accept Jesus into their hearts, well if so say this prayer." Then everyone left this monster of a building. Where is the humility??

What would Luther, Spurgeon, Wesley, Calvin, Edwards think about this form of "christianity"? Guys that spent their lives fighting for Christ....Better yet....what would Christ think? What is that verse....Rev 3:15-16? Enough said

What are our motives? I or Christ?

Let's just make everyone feel good, while their dying in their sins....no big deal. Tell them God loves you, when the cross is foolishness to them. It is this "pop christianity" focus and what God can do for us. Or like John Macarthur called it the Madison Ave Jesus. The Gospel is about freedom from sin, hell, and the wrath of God....not getting me a fluffy feeling, or a buzz off of Jesus. Like america is preahing. I'm sure everyone has their own opinions about america....i'm not anti american. i'm thankful God out of His grace let me be born here. i'm not proud to be an american. that is pride...which is sin. i will not place my hand over my heart and pledge my allegiance to a flag. My allegiance is to God and God alone! In Christ alone! God has commanded us to submit to the government....as i do. That is my conviction. america needs it's own missionaries.

Just like Tozer along with Ravenhill

" One man who isn't afraid to be called a hertic and a fool " why....for the True Gospel of Christ.

...humility..

" That of His great goodness He would make known to you, and take from your heart, every kind and form and degree of pride, whether it be from evil spirits, or your own corrupt nature; and that He would awaken in you the deepest depth and truth of that Humility, which can make you capable of His and Holy Spirit."
- Andrew Murray

I've been studing a lot, thinking, and praying over books i'm reading, sermons i'm listening to and stories that impact my heart. This one subject has shown up everywhere i've turned.

Humility is the hardest, without a doubt, the hardest thing a human could become. I say become, in the sense that Christ Himself was Humility. So many times, i want to throw out my own tasks and say " look what i'm doing" or not even that, just say "i'm going to do this". how selfish of me. that is just mere flesh. True humility is from God. Murray says that humility brings on death. death to ones self.

some many times in Christianity we see the big names, hot shots, the ones that know it all. the ones that prance around the stage, pulling out knowledge, impressing everyone with their big theological views. Is God moved by that?

or would He take pleasure in one man preaching the simple Gospel, then being martyred?

...what's important..

When you're sharing the Gospel with someone, what is the most important thing?

It is taking time out of your busy day to mention Christ? Showing someone love by hugging on them? Shoving hell, sin, and judgement down someones throut? Making someone feel comfortable in their own flith or darkness? Is it speaking in big words trying to blow peoples minds?

These are some questions that have been running around in my ignorance lil mind.

As I have been reading about some old guys ( Spurgeon, Whitefield, the Wesley boys, Edwards, etc ) they preached a very simple message.

God Himself became flesh and was named Jesus, who was Gods Son..born of a virgin. This man lived a sinless life, unlike us. This man Jesus was without blemish or spot, perfect. He suffered death, death upon a cross. On the third day after that death, God raised His Son from the dead. This Man Jesus, died for the sins of the world. He died because we are all condemned and going to hell because of our sins. Therefore, place your faith in this Man, and you have to forsake the things your once knew. Once you do that, live like this Man.

Why is it so hard today to get that across. Why??

No one wants to worship a Man who died upon a tree. This message is foolishness to the world!

When Edwards preached "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" he didn't preach in this loud booming voice.....he was monotone. It doesn't matter how big you can get the Gospel to be, God can use it!!

The most important thing is that God loved us while we were dead in sin. He sent His Son to die because God hates sin. He put His full wrath upon His Son, the wrath we deserve.

the Gospel is easy, Christ made it easy, preach it easy. God convicts, be a tool He can use.... Forsake your sin, and believe. Follow after the Lamb.....and live.

..remembering 9/11..

6th years after 9/11 I still remember that day. I was sitting in Texas History in the 7th grade with my eyes glued to the TV. Really didn't know what was going on, but knew my world was about to turn upside down. From that day we still see the images of our planes rip apart lives on the day in New York. Sitting here yesterday at work I read report after report of events, prayer services, and other speaking and mourning memorials that went on. Remembering the feeling I felt. I remember wanting to join the Navy to go over there and get even with those terrorist. Watching news reports of and video of us going into Iraq and our boys and girls risking their lives to enter war. But I've grown up since then.

I'm not out to the get them, I can't do that anymore. No...I can't even think about taking ones life. they need Jesus. I feel a burden for the terrorist. The radicals that want to kill us. I can't join the army or anything but I have some thing bigger then the army. My Father in Heaven.

Not to be the super American but we better drop our heads before the Lord and worship Him because He betowed His grace upon us, letting us be born here. He didn't have to. I know that American Christianity has its downfalls and the Church has problems. That doesn't mean we should just give up on our nation. America has been blessed, but we have to remember that we aren't God's chosen nation either.

I live in a world that scares me. Watching the news gets me depressed. War, terrorism, murder, porn, and other evil acts. Lord Jesus come quick!!

But I can't run and I. I must embrace the battle. I can't do anything on my own. I must have the Lord. Pray for America, and for those who shattered our lives.

282,338,631 Americans

2,976 lives lost

19 hijackers

4 planes

2 buildings

1 True God

pray they'll experence the Lamb of God.