In God We Trust

Saint · 03-09-2007, 08:42 PM

Derek Webb is the former front man for Christian band "Caedmon's Call". He went solo a couple of years ago, and these songs are off of his latest album. I just thought they were prime examples that not all evangelical Christians are rich, pro-War, gun-toting Republicans. I just wanted to get some thought on what people with other beliefs think hearing this coming from an admittedly Christian artist.

In God We Trust
In God we trust
And the government is on His shoulders
In God we trust
Through democracy and tyranny alike
In God we trust
He uses both good and evil men

In God we trust
So we fight for peace and He fights for us
In God we trust
Even when He fights us for someone else
In God we trust
Even when He looks like the enemy

In God we trust
Even though our hearts are bankrupt
In God we trust
For more than just the value of our dollar bills
In God we trust
Eut there’s no gold behind these notes of reserve

In God we trust
Even through our great presumption
In God we trust
Even though He favors no nation-state
In God we trust
Even when the blessing is a curse

Rich Young Ruler
Poverty is so hard to see
When it’s only on your TV
Or twenty miles across town
Well, we’re all living so good
That we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
Where He’s hungry and not feeling so good
From going through our trash

He says, "More than just your cash and coin
I want your time, I want your voice
I want the things you just can’t give Me"

So what must we do
Here in the west we want to follow You
We speak the language and we keep all the rules
Even a few we made up
"Come on and follow Me
Sell your house, sell your SUV
Sell your stocks, sell your security
And give it to the poor"

Well what is this, hey what’s the deal?
I don’t sleep around and I don’t steal
"But I want the things you just can’t give Me
I want the things you just can’t give Me

Because what you do to the least of these
My brothers, you have done it to Me

'Cause I want the things you just can’t give Me
I want the things you just can’t give me

Ugly Casanova · 03-09-2007, 10:58 PM

Word of advice....Stop listening to Christian music...

Naked Gackt · 03-09-2007, 11:21 PM

As above.

Saint · 03-09-2007, 11:54 PM

If you knew Sufjan Stevens, you wouldn't be saying that.

So we sit around here and debate social justice and all that ****, but when it comes to a Christian saying it, singing it, rather, you start laying on the stereotypes: That all Christian music sucks.

Sure, I'll be the first to admit that most of them do, especially the big name famous ones. But there are quite a few amazing Christian artists: Sufjan Stevens, Derek Webb, Pedro the Lion, Starflyer 59, just to name a few.

Why don't you pull your collective heads out for a moment and read the lyrics instead of stopping at:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint

...from an admittedly Christian artist.

Naked Gackt · 03-10-2007, 12:49 AM

I did read 'em actually funnily enough. The whole subject bores me tbh so if it's gonna be Christian stuff I ain't gonna like it.

Saint · 03-10-2007, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie Holiday

I did read 'em actually funnily enough. The whole subject bores me tbh so if it's gonna be Christian stuff I ain't gonna like it.

Bah. You Philistine. All you care about is boobies.

My Final Heaven · 03-10-2007, 02:09 AM

I can't very well make a critique of music if I can't hear it performed. Otherwise it's just words on a screen.

Saint · 03-10-2007, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Final Heaven

I can't very well make a critique of music if I can't hear it performed. Otherwise it's just words on a screen.

True, true. I can't blame you for that. But I really am asking you to form an opinion about the words: what they say and who they came from. The music is secondary. Imagine it's poetry, if that helps.

Lady Advent · 03-10-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint

Rich Young Ruler
Poverty is so hard to see
When it’s only on your TV
Or twenty miles across town

I can kinda see why he would say that, its sort of true, its nice that he's raising an issue ^-^

The Man · 03-12-2007, 12:45 AM

I quite like Sufjan Stevens, but I don't make it a point to seek out Christian artists generally. That said, I'm well aware there are a fair number of Christians out there who didn't miss the point of Jesus's teachings, but unfortunately they tend to be soft-spoken and their numbers seem to be dwindling.

Saint · 03-12-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Man

I quite like Sufjan Stevens, but I don't make it a point to seek out Christian artists generally. That said, I'm well aware there are a fair number of Christians out there who didn't miss the point of Jesus's teachings, but unfortunately they tend to be soft-spoken and their numbers seem to be dwindling.

No, I don't go looking for Christian artists. TBH, I stumbled on Sufjan accidentally, and found out he was Christian the same way. I think it's just nice to find Christian artists who aren't retarded, AND have good music.

I like to see a Christian who cares about social causes and feels they can tell people Christ died for them and that we have a responsibility to the world around us. Generally, popular Christian artists are of the sort Lewis called "Christianity and Water". I'm down here, God's up there, I'm going to Heaven and everything's all right.

The Man · 03-12-2007, 12:56 AM

Not so coincidentally, that's the reason I have generally tended to avoid music labeled as religious.

03-09-2007, 08:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Saint *Resident Pariah* Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Misery Age: 23 Posts: 623 Rep Power: 5	In God We Trust Derek Webb is the former front man for Christian band "Caedmon's Call". He went solo a couple of years ago, and these songs are off of his latest album. I just thought they were prime examples that not all evangelical Christians are rich, pro-War, gun-toting Republicans. I just wanted to get some thought on what people with other beliefs think hearing this coming from an admittedly Christian artist. In God We Trust In God we trust And the government is on His shoulders In God we trust Through democracy and tyranny alike In God we trust He uses both good and evil men In God we trust So we fight for peace and He fights for us In God we trust Even when He fights us for someone else In God we trust Even when He looks like the enemy In God we trust Even though our hearts are bankrupt In God we trust For more than just the value of our dollar bills In God we trust Eut there’s no gold behind these notes of reserve In God we trust Even through our great presumption In God we trust Even though He favors no nation-state In God we trust Even when the blessing is a curse Rich Young Ruler Poverty is so hard to see When it’s only on your TV Or twenty miles across town Well, we’re all living so good That we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood Where He’s hungry and not feeling so good From going through our trash He says, "More than just your cash and coin I want your time, I want your voice I want the things you just can’t give Me" So what must we do Here in the west we want to follow You We speak the language and we keep all the rules Even a few we made up "Come on and follow Me Sell your house, sell your SUV Sell your stocks, sell your security And give it to the poor" Well what is this, hey what’s the deal? I don’t sleep around and I don’t steal "But I want the things you just can’t give Me I want the things you just can’t give Me Because what you do to the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me 'Cause I want the things you just can’t give Me I want the things you just can’t give me __________________

03-09-2007, 10:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ugly Casanova The Freudian Slip Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I live in a ****ing trashcan! Age: 21 Posts: 2,055 Rep Power: 8	Word of advice....Stop listening to Christian music... __________________ So it goes.

03-10-2007, 02:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
My Final Heaven Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Home sweet Home Age: 25 Posts: 763 Rep Power: 5	I can't very well make a critique of music if I can't hear it performed. Otherwise it's just words on a screen. __________________ "The word rustic doesn’t even begin to satisfy the requirements of an adjective used to describe this town. Rustic is a looming butressed cathedral to this town’s Stone Henge. Rustic is the ocean to this town’s mud puddle. Simply put, rustic is a word inadequate to describe the squalour." Get more like this just by clicking on this link.

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03-09-2007, 11:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Naked Gackt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Age: 21 Posts: 645 Rep Power: 5	As above.

03-10-2007, 12:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Naked Gackt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Age: 21 Posts: 645 Rep Power: 5	I did read 'em actually funnily enough. The whole subject bores me tbh so if it's gonna be Christian stuff I ain't gonna like it.

03-12-2007, 12:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
The Man Vi veri vniversvm vivvs vici Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Age: 25 Posts: 3,647 Rep Power: 0	I quite like Sufjan Stevens, but I don't make it a point to seek out Christian artists generally. That said, I'm well aware there are a fair number of Christians out there who didn't miss the point of Jesus's teachings, but unfortunately they tend to be soft-spoken and their numbers seem to be dwindling.

03-12-2007, 12:56 AM	#12 (permalink)
The Man Vi veri vniversvm vivvs vici Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Age: 25 Posts: 3,647 Rep Power: 0	Not so coincidentally, that's the reason I have generally tended to avoid music labeled as religious.