Derek Webb’s new song is getting a lot of talk around the Interwebs these days.
I think the song is great. And I could care less about who his “target audience is.” I think it’s got a great challenging message.
Here’s the first stanza:
You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
‘Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak
And while lots of folks are getting up in arms about this idea – just as many are upset about Derek’s use of the word shit. Perhaps if he could have used skubalon people wouldn’t be so upset about his language.
‘Cause we can talk and debate until we’re blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he’s comin’ to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin’ today
And yet the question of the song remains…
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
Are you more worried that Derek is using modern slang – or that people are hated for their sexuality, or that 50,000 people are dyin’ today?
Mike Morrell has put together several posts about the song on his blog…
Brian McLaren, Gospel Soundcheck, Michael Spencer, Post Restoration Perspectives, Denny Burk and Dustin Seger.
Also Tripp Fuller has some great thoughts as well.
Personally, I’ll be honest and say that I’m still not convinced that homosexuality isn’t a sin. But I’m also still convinced that putting my BlackBerry, Twitter, my laptop and other gadgets before God is a sin. I’m also convinced that gluttony is a sin. I’m convinced that putting my wants and needs before yours is a sin. But you don’t hate me because I commit those sins – or do you?
May we learn to love the sinner and hate our own sin.
What do you think?
