13 Comments

  • Brett Cody

    Derek Webb has grown into an amazing singer/songwriter. Thanks for posting this, Denny.
    If anyone is unfamiliar with Derek Webb, his song “Wedding Dress” is a great introduction to his music.

  • Dan Phillips

    Clever, I guess, and creative, I guess.

    So… you’re telling me that somewhere, there is someone who has chronicled the life of whoever this is, on the calendar, that he has some idea of what the heck he’s talking about? And it matters to more people than just this Derek Webb person?

  • Denny Burk

    Dan, I was a big fan of his some years back, and have dipped in and out of paying attention to him since them.

    His story is significant because he was the bard of the “young, restless, and reformed” about ten years ago. Then he self-consciously chose to disassociate from the reformed theological tradition in his music. He began to be very critical of conservative Christians–especially where he perceived they had been coopted by a Republican political agenda. He went on tour with an openly lesbian “Christian” singer and made a number of statements that sounded a little squirrelly on issues of sexuality. His has been a studied effort at ambiguity while giving the distinct impression that he had become a theological liberal. Nevertheless, he always maintained enough ambiguity to maintain plausible deniability. So his theological trajectory from reformed firebrand to ambiguous liberal has been a spectacle for those of us who were fans in the past.

    I’m hoping that this song represents a turning-point for the good! I guess we’ll see.

    P.S. Patrick Schreiner thinks the ambiguity is a good thing.

    • Dan Phillips

      Thank you! Then I’ll share your hope. Some good news would be nice, wouldn’t it? It seems public figures change for the better so seldom, doesn’t it? Especially when they make a nice living/fame by their defection? Reverse-Rob-Bells are hard to come by. I’d love for Webb to be one.

      • Denny Burk

        Dan, I don’t know about the “nice living/fame” part. I may be wrong, but I suspect that Webb’s fan base has shrunk considerably as he’s pursued this trajectory.

  • buddyglass

    I first heard Webb around 1994-1995 when Caedmon’s Call played during Holy Week on the campus of the university I was attending at the time. I liked them way back then, but never to the point of following the band or Webb’s solo career. Except to read criticism directed at him in light of the “ambiguity” Denny mentioned.

  • Jesica Womack

    Derek was a friend of mine many years ago when I lived in Houston and attended the Metro Bible study where Caedmon’s Call got their start.
    He used to come into the cafe’ where I worked and we’d talk about his writing, the band, and life.
    I always loved the story behind “I Just Don’t Want Coffee Today.”
    He was a super interesting person to be around back then, and always a lot of fun.
    I’d love to hear the story behind this song.
    Thanks for sharing it.

  • David Martin

    Derek Webb is still a strong artistic voice for the young, restless and reformed croud. His position regarding politics and sin are welcome and encouraged in light of the Gospel of Christ. I, for one, have never sensed any “ambiguity” in his work; only a strong calling for the church to wake up to its primary mission: delivery of the Gospel.

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