Our posting of the comments from your fellow enLighten listeners last week (Is it Scripturally true? – July 6, 2013) brought forth another round of additional comments . . . a few of which we’ve chosen to post for your further “edification”:
I am both a conservative Bible preacher and a Southern Gospel singer, and I always seek out songs that have a good melody and scripturally correct lyrics. I have to admit, the first time I heard the song “You Might Have Heard Of Me,” I was a little shocked at the lyrics in the opening line, but as I listened to the remainder of the song, I realized that the writer was applying what is often a modern-day circumstance to the very well-known Bible story of the woman at the well. Just like in the case of that woman, Jesus is reaching out and offering forgiveness to ALL who will come to Him.He doesn’t condone the sin, but loves the sinner and calls us out of our sin to salvation through His love, mercy, and grace. The second verse of that same song speaks of the soldier at the cross who carried the nails used to crucify Jesus; Jesus offers redemption by His shed blood even to those who were responsible for shedding it! That shows us how truly amazing grace really is! I believe that we as Christians are required to present both sides of the Gospel story: there is forgiveness and eternal life for those who accept Jesus as Savior, but there is eternal judgment in the lake of fire for those who reject Him. Olin, Lexington, South Carolina
Oh, for Pete’s sake. I say this with all the love that I can muster, but Gerald needs to get a grip and read his Bible: there’s plenty of “offensive” material there. Rahab was a prostitute … Tamar seduced a man who wasn’t her husband … David committed adultery … Queen Esther manipulated her husband into doing what she wanted … Abraham lied … Lot offered his virgin daughter to a gay mob … and you know, Samson and Delilah seemed pretty intimate for an unmarried couple. Janet, Fowler, Illinois
When a song (or anything else) is conveying attributes of God, it needs to be accurate. The song about the woman that is living in sin is conveying her experiences. It is a testimony. And, the first time I heard the song, I was shocked at the first few lines but I made sure to listen to the whole song. She realizes she is the woman at the well. Would you have the story of the woman at the well taken out of the Bible? I also listened to all of “Just Preach Jesus” and it’s a testimony, not Scripture. It’s the story of a young preacher who’s been told what he can and cannot preach, so he goes to an old preacher and asks what to do. I like the story and the old preacher’s advice, because the young preacher did not give up. He preached Jesus . . . and the man came to Christ. Again I feel this song is a testimony, not one saying not to preach fire and brimstone, the 10 Commandments, etc. If God brings someone into your life who won’t listen, then just live Jesus and preach Jesus … and Jesus will “draw all men unto him.” Laurel, Overland Park, Kansas
To your point about the relevance of Scriptural accuracy of the lyrics in Southern Gospel music, I think that people are not listening to the lyrics generally to be critical of what is said, but to comment about the song “Our God is a Big God.” The writer of the lyrics is trying to make the point that the world needs to hear about the Love of God, and not always a giant negative message. The Scriptural pattern for this was that Jesus was very gentle in the way he talked to sinners, and tried his best to provide the help and kind words they needed to hear. His harshest words were for the religious leaders of his day that should have known better. Christians that preach love have always been criticized for having an easy-going and tolerant attitude about sin, but if you study the epistles of John, he preached love fervently, but he had a high standard of holiness: “He that abideth in Him sinneth not… and he that sinneth is of the devil.” The message of God’s love is what the world needs to hear … if we want to walk in true obedience to the Scriptures and continue to be a light shining in a dark world. Robert, Berea, KY
One of the OLD, OLD songs that I have heard played is “Give Me That OLD Time Religion”. Religion DOES NOT save us – and whose “old time religion” should we aspire too? Remember, who were the ones’ behind wanting Jesus crucified? None other than those “old time” religious leaders! Barbara, Ohio
As far as the lyrics that represent an unmarried couple living together, keep playing it. This is relevant and current and will help reach a younger and broader audience. After all, God used(s) imperfect people to deliver His message. Imperfect people in an imperfect setting should get your attention. Tim
This is your platform, and I’m extremely pleased that so many of you have chosen to speak up. Hence, I will make only one observation – the majority of the writers feel that it’s acceptable for songwriters to stray from pure Scripture in their lyrics so long as they are communicating a message that promotes Christian principles. We still have a fair number of other messages and may one day share another group in this space.
Marlin
