Can Anything Good Come out of Nashville?
here is no doubt in my mind that there is an awful lot of “business” in the “Christian music” world. There’s a reason why major record labels have been more than eager in past years to buy Christian record labels or to form their own “worship music” divisions.
I’ll be honest. Sometimes it makes me sick. Sometimes I hear songs that are promoted as “worship” or songs that are touted as the greatest thing in “Christian music” and I want to scream. It seems like the gems are few and far between.
And worse yet are the constant controversies about this or that artist’s lifestyle, blah blah blah blah blah. I’ve watched the Christian music world get rocked by scandal after scandal in the 20+ years I’ve paid attention to it.
One of the names that has been raked through the mud on many, many occasions is Amy Grant. Thrust into the spotlight at a young age, almost an overnight sensation, Amy has gone through more phases of musical style, wardrobe, and scandal than just about anybody I can think of.
I have always had a strange fascination with Amy’s career and the rumors surrounding it. And to be sure, there were sometimes some pretty interesting questions surrounding her life and career. But time after time, I found myself coming back to enjoy her music.
I remember in college going to see her in concert. It was the “Lead Me On” encore tour. And it was one of those points in Amy’s career where everyone was talking about how she was so carnal in concert and how far she had moved away from God in her career.
There was a part of me that didn’t want to believe all the rumors about her. And so I finally decided to go to see her in concert to make up my mind for myself.
There is much about that concert that I remember quite well. But the one thing that really sticks out for me was a portion of the concert, right in the middle of it all, when she began to sing songs of worship in a very subdued way. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” wafted through the outdoor amphitheater where the concert was being held. “How Great Thou Art” rang through the air. And “El Shaddai”…
I sat there with tears in my eyes as Amy stopped singing right in the middle of the chorus and let the audience sing it for her. Tears of worship. But more importantly, tears of repentance. I felt the remorse of having listened to the gossip and bought into the judgments being pronounced by others. And I left that concert with quite a different attitude from the one I carried in at the beginning of the night.
In recent years, Amy has released a couple of projects that centered around hymns. Christy and I love these CDs. They are worshipful and uplifting.
And so, it wasn’t much of a surprise for me to read some comments about a recent event at which Amy sang. (HT: JollyBlogger)
[Amy] said that it was great to see up and coming songwriters creating new music for the church, “all those songs are fine and good but scripture is where the real power is. There is no substitute for putting scripture to music.†At this point in her life she said that scripture is pretty much the only thing she cares about and the most exciting thing to her are her efforts to memorize large sections of the bible.
…What was so refreshing about her was that she was so authentic and real. It was realness in a Johnny Cash, King Solomon ala Ecclesiasties kind of way. In effect she said, “Look, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and messed up a lot of things and, when it’s all done, Jesus is still the only thing real to me and his word is all I can depend on.â€
“Jesus is still the only thing real to me….” This is the kind of ministry that needs to be happening. And it’s greatly encouraging to me to see this kind of thought coming from someone within that Nashville scene. I realize that part is not a direct quote from Amy, but I have read enough comments from her in interviews to know that it fairly represents the types of remarks she has made in other contexts.
I pray that others within the music world will minister out of this focus and determination. Ultimately, it may not end up being “what sells”, but that should never be the motivation for what we, as musicians — or any one of us who offers acts of worship to our God through abilities He has given us — do with our talent.
Until next time,
steve 
May 21st, 2007 22:42
This is a great post, Steve. In the link, Amy speaks of not being discouraged when people don’t respond in worship, stating (about possible reasons for this) “just being there is her act of worship”. It does take a very humble performer to be able to state that so confidently. It is very refreshing to see this attitude come out of Nashville, especially when we see much to the contrary.
May 21st, 2007 22:48
christy, great to see you here
You bring up another great part of that post that I didn’t deal with. And I agree with you that it takes humility for a musician to stop worrying about the visible response and trust that God is doing something in the hearts of the listeners.
By the way, darling, have I told you lately that I love you? ‘Cause I do!
May 22nd, 2007 09:41
For me, it was the “Straight Ahead” tour. I saw it twice–once in Mobile with a group from church before I migrated up here to the mountains to go to college, then that fall in Knoxville when a few fellow MHC freshmen and I went together. Once with David Meece opening for her; once with Michael W. Smith. This was shortly after the “scandal” that was all the talk in my high school Christian Youth group that Amy was abandoning God and going to sing country music. Then came the “Unguarded” album and one of her songs being played on Miami Vice. Then came the divorce (I think I still have a Gary Chapman cassette somewhere with the song “I Love That Girl,” from shortly before the break-up). And then the Vince era.
At some point along the way, I finally gave up judging her, realizing that she, like the rest of us, is a flawed human being, facing the same (and greater, given her profession) struggles. If she felt led to take her music and life in different directions, who was I to object–that’s between her and God, and I don’t know what He was telling her. I still love her music (and that of David Meece, and Michael W. Smith, and others of my formative CCM-listening years–just hearing the first few notes of “Friends” or “Doubly Good” instantly takes me back 20 years to that Knoxville concert). And I’m glad to hear that she still has (or is back to) the proper perspective on it all.
May 22nd, 2007 09:43
Make that “takes me back 24 years”–time’s flying so quickly.
May 22nd, 2007 09:50
Mike, ahhhh, yes. David Meece. I liked him because of his classical piano chops, and the way he would weave classical music themes into his music from time to time. As a classical pianist, that really grabbed my attention.
The other side of the Amy saga is Gary Chapman himself, whom you mentioned. I had the privilege of hearing him in a very small performance (it was a charity auction for a Christian school in Austin, TX), and I was so touched by the heart and humility of the guy.
It was obvious that the divorce had caused him much pain (to which I could quickly relate) and had caused him to turn his focus to Jesus (to which I could also relate).
It’s interesting how sometimes going through painful things ourselves (like my own divorce 8 years ago) suddenly gives us new perspective on the humanness of others. Once my life fell apart and I experienced the grace of Jesus first hand, I found I could not so easily judge the lives of others who were going through similar situations.
As you so beautifully said: At some point along the way, I finally gave up judging her, realizing that she, like the rest of us, is a flawed human being, facing the same (and greater, given her profession) struggles.
May 22nd, 2007 13:05
My two cents regarding Nashville:
The internet contains much that is evil. It’s actually the money from the evil stuff that drives the technology that allows us to use the internet. Yet here I am, typing. Communicating with others about God.
The Christian music industry exists in order to make money by distributing music. As a songwriter, I appreciate that. But because there is money to be made, there will be corruption that goes along with it. No man can serve two masters, it’s hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom, etc, etc, etc.
The industry is not the church. It should never be confused with the church. The industry can never claim the power of God or the promises of God with authority as the church can. The industry is never the instigator of a “powerful movement of God.”
But the church can and will be the place where powerful movements of God begin, because the church is united as a body under its head, Jesus Christ. And the songs the church sings will reflect that, whether they come from Nashville or from a night-shift shipping clerk.
I think we’re best off when we view any business or industry as a necessary tool for living in this world as we bring God’s kingdom.
Anyway.
It’s still hard for me to listen to Amy Grant sometimes, but it’s probably hard for my wife to listen to me on Sunday morning sometimes too.
May 22nd, 2007 13:10
DPR, I thought you might have some input on this topic, too. Thanks for sharing!
You definitely draw a good distinction between the industry and the church. I fear many do not see that distinction, unfortunately.
May 22nd, 2007 17:29
It’s hard to draw a distinction between the industry and the church when the industry tries to blend them together and vice versa.
May 22nd, 2007 17:39
That’s why it’s so important for the church to teach what the church is. And then for the church to go ahead and be what it’s supposed to be.
May 22nd, 2007 19:02
Steve,
Perhaps you have missed your own point this time. I think this post is not nearly as much about some of the junk coming out of Nashville as it is about the true nature of forgiveness, the pain of repentance, and the joy of restoration.
And furthermore, you and Christy need to lay off the PDA, ’cause now I’ve got guilt again.
May 22nd, 2007 19:52
Tony, in the words of Jesus, “go and do thou likewise”
(with your own wife, that is…)
Yes, you are correct that the real story here is forgiveness, restoration, etc. Thanks for bringing that out.
May 22nd, 2007 21:46
Steve,
The start of your post brought back memories for me. Because of the places the Lord put us in, my wife and I were singing “contemporary worship” clear back in the mid- to late-70s. Back then, you couldn’t find much to buy–a lot of it was locally written and passed from person to person or church to church, typed out on paper–no PCs yet. No fancy sound systems, no bands–if a church had a couple of guitar players who could take turns doing the services, they were content. Now every church start-up thinks they have to have a big PA and a five or six-piece band right out of the gate. There’s very little local songwriting, the band thinks they have to sound just like the CD, and the songs get run into the ground faster because they’re heard every day on the radio. Now a lot of services are more of a “cover band” concert than worship.
I don’t want to sound like an old curmudgeon, but I do believe the worship was more heartfelt, more meaningful, more spontaneous, more reverent, than it has been since about 1990 or so. We sang a lot of Scripture songs back then, and I agree with Amy–there is a power in singing the words of Scripture. I believe that worship is too important to be left to the professionals and business types.
Phil Hawkins
May 22nd, 2007 23:17
Steve, you make some very good points in this post. As Tony said, I think the thoughts of refraining from being too judgemental of other believers who struggle with sin.
As for the Nashville thing, there is doubtless much corruption and “consumerism” that drives Christian music and at times it can be somewhat disallusioning. I have reached the point though that I try not to guess whether or not the artist is genuine or sincere. I leave that up to the Lord and just enjoy the music.
Back to the judging thing, I have often wondered how many of today’s Christians would have treated Peter on the day of Pentecost if they knew he had been cussin’ in an effort to disassociate himself from Jesus less than two months before. I am afraid that many would of them would boycott the service and thus rob themselves of the blessing of Acts 2. (The sermon, I mean, not the other stuff that I don’t need to mention by name, you know what I’m talking about! hehehe)
May 22nd, 2007 23:24
Gordon, follow these simple instructions:
1. Put your fingers on the home keys of your computer keyboard. (For those who have not experienced typing class, that would be ASDF under your left hand and JKL; under your right)
2. Move your left index finger to the row above and slightly to the right and press it.
3. Move your right ring finger up to the above row and slightly to the left and press it.
4. Do the same with the right index finger to the bottom row and slightly to the left.
5. Next, the left index finger one key to the right on the home row.
6. Right index finger to the row above and slightly to the left.
7. Left middle finger to the row above.
8. And finally your left ring finger.
Now, that wasn’t so difficult to type “tongues”, was it?
May 22nd, 2007 23:27
In all seriousness, I have to confess that I might be a bit more cynical (about some of the music) having rubbed shoulders with a number of well-known artists and seen some real hypocrisy.
Having said that, I’m fully aware that Paul said that he rejoiced whenever Christ was preached regardless of the motives of the one preaching.
So….I guess I need to get over it!
May 23rd, 2007 11:11
Ha ha, you’re funny!
I used to be involved in the southern gospel industry. As you said, I rubbed shoulders with a lot of the “stars”. It used to drive me nuts to find out that someone whose music I admired was an adulterer or worse. I have gone home and thrown some tapes (these were the heydays of cassettes) in the trash upon such revelation.
I realized that the lifestyle of the artist did not change the validity of the song they were singing. Maybe this perspective could be described as having my head in the sand.
I hope I made it clear in the previous comment amid my ramblings that I thought this was a good post. It struck kind of close to home because I was once one of those who castigated Amy Grant because of the rumors about her lifestyle.
May 23rd, 2007 11:21
On 7/7/07 there will be approx. 100,000 people gathering in Nashville to fast. This the beginnning of a tour named the Call which will consist of large numbers of people will gathering in several other major Amercian cities ending in San Fransisco. This good coming out of the city is not unrelated to concern over the music industry. It is seeking to remember the Jesus Movement and repent for the direction America took when large numbers gathered for drugs and immmorality. During this time Keith Green set an example of music for ministry rather than money and interestingly was a leader in the Jesus movement. I think his stand was important and we should not simply accept money driven worship. Your post reflects an attitude that is essential in the midst of these events. Pure worship with forgiveness where we fall short.
May 23rd, 2007 11:26
Gordon, I agree that “the lifestyle of the artist [does] not change the validity of the song they were singing.” I don’t see it as having your head in the sand at all, but recognizing value in something even if it’s associated with something else.
I think that the idea of throwing out someone’s music because of something that someone did is a classic case of “guilt by association”.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop people from making that association.
My comments about cynicism may have been a bit muddled. My cynicism is about the industry in general, not about particular songs, or even particular artists.
I do like the emphasis here in the comment thread, however, on grace and forgiveness. Because I could write sentences like:
Amy Grant has said some really ungodly things. Amy Grant has committed some really horrible sins. Amy Grant has performed songs of worship while harboring personal sin. Amy Grant has…[insert judgmental statement here]
And I could ignore the fact that you could substitute “Steve Sensenig” for “Amy Grant” in those types of statements, and they would be equally true.
It is the grace of God in my life, however, which has made all the difference. Based on my own personal merit and record, I shouldn’t be a recording artist. I shouldn’t be ministering to people through music. I shouldn’t be exhorting and encouraging believers through this blog.
But because I have placed my trust in Jesus and taken on HIS merit and record, my life is now hidden in Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.
May 23rd, 2007 11:32
Josiah, I wasn’t aware of that event. Thanks for drawing it to our attention.
I was too young to really know “the Jesus Movement” (and you’re a fair bit younger than I! hehe), but a lot of what I have read and heard about it seems to indicate a move of the Holy Spirit.
Like any “movement”, people were allowed to become the focus, rather than the very Jesus after whom the movement was named. But at its roots, I think there is a lot to be said for people seeking to know Jesus and not just an organization.
My prayer would be that even this focus on prayer and fasting not falsely idolize Keith Green or anyone other than Jesus Christ.
May 23rd, 2007 11:41
I agree with you completely.
May 23rd, 2007 20:14
Steve: We all started out with Amy and then discovered Michael Card, Michael W. Smith, John Michael Talbot, Steven Curtis Chapman, White Heart, Margaret Becker, 2nd Chapter of Acts and even Barry McGuire. I even listened to Dion, who had his time and Dylan who made a couple of great “Christian” albums.
We all judged Amy…it was easy and safe and allowed us to live our lives in the way that we did.
I had this thought just yesterday: there are probably some homosexuals who are truly Christians. They are newly born again and just beginning to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit who will convict them of their sin. Some will change and some will not. But it is not up to me to figure it out at this point.
At this point in my life, I want Amy to be happy and become the best person that she can be and make music that will glorify God and touch that place in me that music was designed to activate.
May 23rd, 2007 21:41
Well said, Terry. Thanks for your input!
May 24th, 2007 07:45
Forgive 7 x 70 and keep no record of wrongs.
Bear one another’s burdens? Bearing burdens caused by one another’s sin is probably why we prefer to keep a record of wrongs. We want to know when we can call “enough is enough!” Yet we have no mandate in Scripture to do that. It appears that the Lord’s expectation is that we practice forbearance and long-suffering in the name of His love.
Imagine that!
Even toward “celebrity” status Christians and converted homosexuals.
May 24th, 2007 08:59
ded, you are correct. There is no “enough is enough”.
Even in the passages where we are instructed on how to deal with sin within the body of Christ, the goal is always, always, always reconciliation and restoration of relationship.
The only thing that is supposed to stand in the way of reconciliation and restoration is the unrepentant person themselves — that is, if they refuse correction.
It is never our place to shun them when they have expressed repentance and a desire to be reconciled.
May 24th, 2007 09:12
Well said ded. I guess forebearance works best within relatonships that have depth—or at least has the highest ratio of success built in.
I am really beginning to see that our “christian” focus has been skewed towards a “church works” mentality and away from a relational context.
And in rethinking all of this, and how the world percieves us as Christians, I thought of Jerry Falwell and the sub-title underneath his front page obit. It said something like “He Unified and He Divided”. I then remembered that it was he who said that aids was God’s punishment on homosexuals. We are still reeling from that remark.
Anyway, I went from there to the fact that I was born again while I was still a sinner (he didn’t wait until I quit smoking, etc.) and probably continued with some of that stuff for a while after the day of my new birth. That is until the Holy Spirit gave me the desire and the power to leave that stuff behind.
I know this is not new to you guys but this has given me a completely different slant on what it means to be salt and light.
Lets strive for more complete relationships and let God do what he does best with the rest.
May 24th, 2007 10:46
When I read how God uses imperfect people to advance the kingdom of God, it gives me hope. Maybe, he will use even me.
May 24th, 2007 12:43
I hear you on that one Larry.
May 24th, 2007 14:10
So the point of forbearence and forgiveness and grace is reconcilitation and restoration of relationship and to communicate love to our broken hearts. And our hearts loving and pursuing God is worship regardless of the mistakes love goes on covering. So judging does not help; and yet purity and integrity in worship touches the heart in ways otherwise impossible since God is intimate with the upright. My thought is that purity of worship will touch our hearts even when a life has visible mistakes.
Steve I am perhaps beating an old horse but is there room for leaders without it being an idol in God’s way? i.e. Keith Green or Lou Engle who is key in gathering such large numbers at Nashville to fast for America’s youth.
May 28th, 2007 18:07
While following this post, I wondered when someone might bring up The Call in Nashville this summer. Thanks, Josiah. I think part of The Call’s purpose is to repent for the “mixture” in the church. Some of the earlier comments in this post touched on this as it specifically relates to the Christian music industry.
As the church, I believe that we do need to repent for marketing spiritual gifts. And exploiting spiritual gifts for profit. I don’t blame artists as much as I see it as a systematic problem in the institutional church in America in general. We’ve married ourselves to a worldly concept of success and materialism that I think God is beginning to deal with. I think that this is part of the heart behind The Call - it’s a call to repentence, and turning away from the corruption and remarrying ourselves wholely to the Lord - with a commitment to unadulterated purity. And I pray that we will see a purer stream of worship (for worships’ sake, rather than a form of marketable entertainment).
I’d also like to comment on Josiah’s question (although addressed to Steve). So I’m not trying to answer it - just want to engage this part of the conversation: “Is there room for leaders without it being an idol in God’s way?” I think yes. I think that God raises people up and puts them in a visible position for a particular purpose. But, I also think that we can make leaders into idols (even if those leaders have pure hearts, and don’t want to be seen - only want to point to Jesus). So I think it largely depends on how we respond to visible leaders. We can let God use them to be models for us, pointing us to Jesus. Or, we can stumble into following them as celebrity personalities, instead of letting them point us to Jesus. Keith Green is great example - people responded to him in both ways. There will always be visible leaders (God did this in both the old and new covenants in scripture), but it’s important for us to never look to man. (As Steve pointed out). Instead, we look to the Holy Spirit within people. We let the Holy Spirit use them to draw us closer to Jesus. That’s my two cents… for whatever it’s worth.
Great discussion here!
May 28th, 2007 18:12
I guess I should qualify “we look to the Holy Spirit within people…to draw us closer to Jesus.” This requires discernment to distinguish what is from the Holy Spirit in someone’s message/ministry and what is of man (their own understanding/personality). That requires that we all hear God for ourselves. Just wanted to be clear. As Paul said, “Test all things, hold fast to that which is good.”
May 29th, 2007 10:21
Steve, one of the bright spots in “Christian” music today is the team of Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend. I have heard only one of their cd’s and a couple of other songs, but there is so much truth and good theology…and good music there. No “wall songs”. You can find them at http://www.gettymusic.com/. I know nothing about their personal lives, but I can’t see how they can write the stuff they do without believing it…and living it.
Kat
June 2nd, 2007 10:00
Sarah,
Thanks for your thoughts. I am glad for the encouragment about the Call, the more I look into and think about it the more thankful I am. Many are fasting from May 28th all the way to July 7, and some are only having water during that time. So many gathered looking to God rather than politics for help on a national level is definitely a historical event.
I have been thinking about this question of leadership for a while and had the oportunity to see Steve in person and he gave me a very similar answer to yours. The key being following Jesus through the Holy Spirit in a person rather than a position or title. This helps me along the way,
Josiah
July 1st, 2007 00:11
There is a lot of talk on your blog about grace in connection with Amy Grant but the Bible says that the grace of God is supposed to lead us to shout “NO!” to sin and temptation.
You can say all you want but divorce is sin. God hates it (go to Gateway’s bible.com and keyword “divorce” and “hate” if you doubt that). He hates what it does to the kids and he hates what it does to what is supposed to be a symbolic picture of Christ’s faithfulness to the Church.
And yes, “lifestyle” CAN invalidate the message of a song. If you are not walking the talk, don’t expect me to listen to a single word (or lyric) that you have to say. It’s amazing that Amy’s official website actually has the nerve to call her a role model.
To Amy and to her fans:
REPENT!
(The above is based on my observation that Amy Grant has never publically apologized to the Church for her unfaithfulness to her husband and to her Lord).
July 1st, 2007 00:32
Regarding my earlier post a few minutes ago:
I John 1:5-10 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
July 1st, 2007 00:35
Don, I think it’s necessary to understand a couple of things.
First of all, I have not seen anyone in this thread saying that divorce is not a problem, or even that it’s not a sin. If I’m wrong about that, please show me the relevant quotes.
Secondly, I have to say it is really sad to see that you found this blog post by Googling “Amy Grant repent divorce”. It appears to me like you might be on a crusade against Amy Grant on this very topic. Why is that? Again, I’m not justifying anything in her that would be sin, but searching for that phrase and then posting the comment you made somehow just seems rather… ummm …interesting to me.
Finally, while it is possible to make a case against divorce from certain Scriptures, there are some Scriptures that are ignored that, at best, show that it’s not necessarily such a cut-and-dried issue in God’s eyes.
For example, what is your take on the following passages:
Jeremiah 3 - we see this in verse 8: “[F]or all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce….” That’s God speaking, by the way.
Ezra 9-10 - here we see that as part of the nation’s repentance for their sins, they made a covenant with God to put away the wives they had married in violation of God’s orders. It doesn’t appear that God had anything against this. And as for your comment about God hating divorce for “what it does to the kids”, notice that they not only sent the wives away, but also the children!
I would be very interested to know how you explain those two passages.
July 1st, 2007 00:41
By the way, Don. You have my permission to go to other blogs and tell people that they shouldn’t buy my CDs, too, since I’ve been divorced. Apparently, that invalidates my music ministry.
The reality is, unless you are a personal friend of Amy Grant’s, and know all the details of just what went on, you don’t know what sins have or have not been committed, nor do you know from what sins Amy has or has not repented.
Do you?
July 1st, 2007 03:12
Steve:
It’s 10 PM here in Calif. but I think I am alert enough to prayerfully attempt to answer your questions.
Firstly, there was no one in your message thread who DID say that divorce is a sin against God. That’s kind of the gorrilla in the middle of the living-room that everyone seemed to be ignoring. I do not think that divorce is an unforgivable sin. As David said:
Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
But as the 1 John passage I cited teaches, repentance & confession must preceed forgiveness (as in verse 5 of Ps. 32):
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD “—and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Selah
Psalm 51 (King David’s public confession): 17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Secondly, you said “it is really sad to see that you found this blog post by Googling “Amy Grant repent divorceâ€. It appears to me like you might be on a crusade against Amy Grant on this very topic.”
Hmmmm…interesting. Do you do backtracking on all your posters to see where they have been before your site? Your use of the word “crusade is certainly emotionally loaded. Apart from avoiding her records and occasionally praying for her, I have had nothing to do w/ Amy Grant since she left her husband. I have better things to occupy my mind with such as the love and goodness of God. I have no interest in judging anyone as Christ promised to use the same size judgement scoop that I pick out for others.
Since you asked, however, the reason I Googled those words was that I wanted to know the facts. I recently was given a spoken message/song compilation CD called “The Invitation” put out by Rick Warren. The song, “Innocence Lost” is the lead song. There is much of regret in the song but I have not heard of any SPECIFIC repentance on her part for choosing to divorce her husband. I believe that God holds leaders to a higher standard. None of us are sinless but we are called to be blameless, especially those who lead God’s people. Moses was prevented from entering the promised land because of ONE act that mis-represented God. As I stated, divorce is a mis-representation of Christ’s promise to NEVER leave the Church.
Since we are on the subject of Christ, in Mt. 19 our Lord taught on the subject of divorce:
“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The Jeremiah passage that you quote makes it clear that Israel was guilty of spiritual adultery and thus they invalidated the marriage by their own actions. But even in connection with Israel (before Christ raised the bar, so to speak in the NT) please read the book of Hosea and meditate on God’s post-divorce restoration of His harlotrous people to Himself.
The Ezra passage is clearly an attempt at obfuscation on your part as the Israelites were clearly given instructions to NOT marry pagan wives as they would inevitably turn their hearts from their primary calling to love God. Their marriages were never recognized as such by God in the first place as they were acts of disobedience.
Neither of these smoke screens addresses the passage in Malachi where God says He HATES divorce. What does that mean to you?
Regarding your somewhat sarcastic remarks about contacting other blogs about your CDs: Not to be disrespectful, but I had never heard of you before following the Google search engine to your website. I have already invested more time than intended in replying to your comments. You are reasonably safe that I will not take you up on your offer.
As for your parting shot- No, I do not know from what sins Amy has or has not repented of. That’s why I did the websearch. All of the time you and I have both spent on this has not shed any light on the subject either. So I do not have a clear conscience about passing the Rick Warren CD on to another person. Contrary to what Amy Grant’s actions appear to indicate, I do feel a personal responsibility for any influence I have in other people’s lives. I hope I have conveyed a high respect for the word of God in this post. In contrast one of the earlier posters said something about not knowing how God was leading Amy. You can be certain of this - God will not lead His people in a way in direct violation of the clear teaching of Holy Scripture.
I pray that God will enable you to be counted among those who “tremble at His word” rather than those who twist it to accomplish their own agenda. I pray that you would rejoice over the things that God rejoices over, weep over the things that grieve Him, and speak out about the things that anger Him.
Please pray the same for me,
Don Blosser, a fellow sinner
San leandro, CA
July 1st, 2007 06:35
Don,
I only have a few minutes here before I must run, but just wanted to respond to let you know that I did read your response very carefully.
A few brief responses:
1. When someone shows up out of the blue on a post that is over a month old with a comment such as yours then, yes, I’m very curious to find out how they got to my site. I checked the stats and found out.
2. Despite your claims to the contrary, you are judging Amy Grant (since you admitted you don’t know the facts — I don’t, either, which is why I’ve abstained from making strong statements either way about her). But you also called for her “fans” to “REPENT”. All this, and yet you claim to have nothing to do with Amy and have more interest in thinking about the love of God and feel like you already spent more time than intended replying here. My question is, why did you comment in the first place, then?
3. I was not attempting to “obfuscate” or put up “smoke screens”. My point was simply that you said “divorce is sin” without any qualification. Yes, I know the Malachi passage. And yes, I know the Matthew passage. Which is why I said that I know where you’re coming from. But rather than “obfuscate”, I wanted to demonstrate that a high view of Scripture is willing to look at all of Scripture and see that God not only has allowed divorce in certain situations, but that He Himself “issued a divorce”. Who is to say that Amy’s divorce didn’t fall into the same category?? I don’t know, so I can’t say. But it appears you don’t know, either.
4. You have every right as a Christian to do what you want (or not do, as the case may be) with regard to Amy’s music. Don’t misunderstand what anyone has said here as saying you must like her music, support it, etc. etc. etc. But for those of us who believe it might be better to withhold judgment and trust that the people who are spiritually involved with Amy are holding her accountable, it would be generous for you to give us the same respect.
Listen, I don’t usually get this firm with any commenter, because that’s not the way I like this blog to be. But you have definitely pushed some buttons with the manner in which you just popped in and made your statements.
If you have better things to do, then by all means, do them. If you don’t have anything to do with Amy, then don’t make comments such as the one you did. And for the sake of Christ and His body, if you don’t have the facts, then reserve judgment. Don’t pass judgment and then say you aren’t judging.