On Saturday I was driving back from the dealership after having the car radio reset. As I was driving home, I was listening to the radio on the station it was preset to and heard what sounded like a country song. Having only a few minutes to drive home, I decided to listen to the song instead of station surfing.
The song sounded like a usual, upbeat country song with practical moral advice like: dance with your wife and kiss your husband every day, etc. The refrain was ‘Cause it’s not who you knew / And it’s not what you did / It’s how you live.’
When the song concluded, the station announced itself as a local ‘Christian’ Music station. I was shocked. (I normally don’t listen to mainstream Christian music — frequently, I play a game when I am out of town; while I’m scanning through the unfamiliar stations, I try to pick out which stations are playing contemporary Christian music; usually I can identify it within 1½ measures.) Now, granted I’ve come to expect that CCM generally speaks of Christ in a confused fashion. But this seems to outrightly deny the method of salvation. We cannot live rightly and get to heaven; true religion is not about ‘cleaning people up’ or having people live nice good lives. Rather, true religion is about how God steps into the mess our lives and redeems for himself a people. Ironically, the name of the group is Point of Grace.
I leave you with this line: Make peace with God and make peace with yourself / ’Cause in the end there’s nobody else.
I was surfing XM Radio the other day, and noticed that channel 30, the “XM Hitlist” and the channel right above it, “The Message” which is a “Christian” station, they were both playing Daughtry, who does not even pretend to sing Christian music.
I think the lyrics of the song (at least from what you’ve written here) could be interpreted differently.
While it’s quite possible to view the statement as an assertion works over faith, it could be seen as the exact opposite. The author does state that what people do isn’t as important as how they live. And living for Christ is the important thing (which, of course, will manifest itself in works). So the song may be more in step with correct theology than you think.
Or not.
By the way, is that last line from a Dylan song?
Sean: this is why I provided a hyperlink to the lyrics. In addition I don’t quite think that living for Christ is the important thing; it isn’t effectual in salvation.
The last line is from the same song.
Remember that Pensacola free will song?
My point was not that works were effectual in salvation, rather effectual faith produces works, thus living for Christ. To quote James: “What good is it, my brother, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”
I agree with you that Christianity is not about people living nice, tidy lives. After looking at the full lyrics of the song, however, I’m not sure that’s the subject the writer is discussing.
What do you think the song is about, Sean?
I am in agreement that true faith manifests itself (although I would warn against it being a litmus test, fruit may look different in different people). However, the line: ‘Cause it’s not who you knew / And it’s not what you did / It’s how you live,’ does not seem to speak of grace, moreover the verses are filled with doing things. Even such good things as reading the Bible and praying can be works, if we do them without the right intent.
All that being said, the lyrics can be read for supporting doing good works for the sake of your neighbour rather than God. This is right in line with Luther’s concept of vocation, but I don’t see the underlying context in the song to support that this is what POG is saying.
I don’t believe the song is a comment on the mode of salvation. Reading over the lyrics, it seems to be a rather straightforward statement to live life to the fullest, not if you do A,B,C you will be saved. While I’m certainly not saying I agree with every line (ex: the idea of making peace only with God and yourself isn’t a biblical one), I don’t see any problem with most of song.
In regards to the line you specifically mentioned a few times, again, I don’t think the subject in question is salvation. It seems to me to be saying material wealth and success are not as important as how you approach your life. And I don’t imagine you would deny that how you treat others, and how you engage your life, are important issues.
Still, even if the intent of the writer was to have those specific lines convey a message about salvation, I believe they could (emphasis on could, the writer is not very clear) be interpreted as saying something to the effect of it’s not important what your social standing is, or what works you’ve accomplished, what is important is that you follow Christ.
Perhaps. Well, at least we can agree that the song is vague. (‘It depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is.’) Perhaps my reaction is an overreaction. However, I still contend that the song is typical of most CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) is that it has a confused message. I also believe this song has nothing lyrically to distinguish it from a ‘secular’ country song.
And I’m sure that we can agree that so-called Christian songs should be more thoughtful of content, doctrine, and musical theory than most mainstream Christians songs are currently.
Heather G: yes. I’d argue this song is much better than that (POG can sing). I don’t think I’ll post a link to the free will song here. I’m trying to gain not lose visitors. :)
“And I’m sure that we can agree that so-called Christian songs should be more thoughtful of content, doctrine, and musical theory than most mainstream Christians songs are currently.”
Yes, I certainly agree with you on that.