My theology might be faulty, but my logic isn’t. Yes, we’re both born again, and yes, we both sin. Being born again means that we’re forgiven our sins, it doesn’t mean we’re immune from sinning.

While you’re right, we have no excuse for sin, I am simply saying that we DO indeed sin, and until you get the log out of your eye, you ain’t got no business complaining about the specks in others.

And in my case (and probably the case of many others), you simply have no idea what you’re talking about. What about me being a Christian musician makes you think that I am, to use your words, regurgitating the world? Why don’t you do me a favor and click my name, and listen to the first song that comes up on my website. Hmmm, Amazing Grace? Interesting choice for someone who’s just regurgitating the world, don’t you think?

And as for where Jesus would be today, if he holed Himself up in his room all day or hung out with all of the non-sinning Christians that I guess you know, He wouldn’t really be getting the word out, would he?

You’d do well to ask before you tell, Larry.

I feel like I’m reading bits and pieces from the way of life website! (wayoflife.org for those interested)

Yes, Amy Grant sinned. Just like you and I both do! The only difference is, she sinned in public for the whole world to see. And she did her husband way, way, way wrong, to be sure. While you may have never strayed from your wife, I think we both know that you have indeed sinned before. I mean, if you’ve never sinned before, feel free to start casting stones, but I don’t think that’s the case.

And I don’t think the now defeated Sligh was aiming for idolotry, simply a recording contract. In case you haven’t noticed, for us musician types, we’re not doing our jobs if people don’t hear us. He found a way to get heard. End of story.

I’ll await your replies.

I’m not techno-savvy enough to provide the link to this article but I thought the quotes on the Desiring God blog from Piper on television would add to this discussion.

Cake and Television
March 20, 2007 | By: Abraham

I did a word search on our site and compiled a few of the more cogent quotes on today’s favorite pastime.

From “Justification by Faith”:

There are millions who are numb to hope because of the God-belittling things they have done and how ugly they have become. They don’t lift lofty arguments against God’s Truth; they shrug and feel irretrievably outside. They don’t defy God consciously; they default to cake and television.

From “Take Care How You Listen! Part 2″:

It astonishes me how many Christians watch the same banal, empty, silly, trivial, titillating, suggestive, immodest TV shows that most unbelievers watch–and then wonder why their spiritual lives are weak and their worship experience is shallow with no intensity.

From “Advice to Pastors: How to Help Your People Be More Satisfied in God”:

Help your people to turn off the television. Few things in our culture are more spiritually numbing than the television. Even the so-called “good” shows are by and large banal and low-minded and anything but cultivating of a rich, deep capacity to enjoy God. And when you add to that the barrage of suggestive advertisements that accompany virtually every program, I do not wonder why so many of our professing Christians are spiritually incapable of experiencing high thoughts and deep emotions.

From “The Children, The Church, and the Chosen”:

Fathers are worked to a frazzle and so are too dogged to spend quality time with children; mothers are lured away from their little children to the work force; children have their own activities, and the one thing that pulls them all to the same room makes zombies out of them all: the television.

From “Ten Effects of Believing in the Five Points of Calvinism”:

One of the curses of our culture is banality, cuteness, cleverness. Television is the main sustainer of our addiction to superficiality and triviality.

From “A Prayer for Our Church”:

O Lord, by the truth of your Word, and the power of your Spirit and the ministry of your body, build men and women at Bethlehem… who don’t feed their minds on TV each night.

There have been other Christians who have got into the final 12 in Australian Idol, also.

I think that someone CAN be on American Idol without seeking to be an idol in the first place. Just because the show has a dumb name doesn’t reduce its impact.

Let’s face it, if this guy could win, and be light and salt to the “mainstream,” wouldn’t that be far better than slumming in the CCM ghetto anyway?

That said, the two bands that I’ve heard sing about the most truly Christian themes, redemption, faith, repentance and acknowledgement have come from overtly secular bands like U2 and/or The Grateful Dead, not from Third Day or Starflyer 59.

So, if he can be a “secular” artist who makes people think about a life lived Christ’s way instead of the world’s is doing a great service, no matter what Bob Jones University says.

And, ummm, oh yeah, wasn’t this the same brilliant institution that banned interracial dating on religious grounds? That place is an indictment on Christianity, not a producer of great Christian minds.

I think I’ve heard that sermon too.

You’re hitting on what I think is the more fundamental issue. I think the distinction between sacred/secular is often an arbitrary one, and much of what comes out of the so-called “Christian” music industry is just religious fluff.

I don’t have any problems with talent competitions, but there’s more to it than that on American Idol. We live in a culture that is eaten up with the cult of celebrity. American Idol operates out of this cult, and to some extent, so does the so-called “Christian” music industry. The celebrity culture (which tends to be self-exalting rather than God-exalting) is alive and well, and this is what is the real risk for the faithful Christian.

I think it’s a superficial analysis to complain about singing cover songs from the 60′s or Motown ballads. As always, it’s the boastful pride of life that we need to be delivered from (1 John 2:16). I think Christians can be light in all kinds of dark places. But they need to be all the more vigilant about exalting Christ as they do.
Thanks,
Denny