Sooooo interesting....
Don't watch much television and there is no American Idol here in Costa Rica, so I have NO idea who these people are, but check out what they are singing. Yes, I noticed they changed the name of Jesus to "shephard." View this and let me know what you think. I really want your comments on this one. I think they will be diverse. I'll give you mine later.
http://www.thinkchristian.net/index.php/2008/04/10/american-idol-and-shout-to-the-lord/
Also, here is more proof that Crest Whitening strips DON'T work:
http://www.best-teeth-whitening.com/
And.....today I met with Blanca (the lady we are discipling in Spanish). My friend couldn't make it so it was just me and Blanca and the big bad Spanish language staring me down. AAAAHHHHH! I was very nervous. Pam had asked us to learn a memory verse and, of course, I waited until tonight to memorize it. This is what it says, "Clama a mi y te respondere' y te dare' cosas grandes y ocultas que tu no sabes. " Jeremias 33:3 Translation: Cry out to me and I will respond to you and I will give you big things and concealed things you do not know (unimaginable)." So as I was trying to memorize this verse and I was so scared to meet with this lady and my bad Spanish, God just reminded me to cry out to Him and watch him do things unimaginable. Once again, He led the night and gave me the strength I needed to plow through this time of discipling. At times my Spanish was hideous, and at times I knew the words were coming directly from Him. This was a learning experience for me - my first time discipling someone in Spanish ALONE, and also a time for me to put the verse I am learning into practice. I will continue to call out to Him tomorrow as I head to the restoration house for a study I am not completely ready for. But no worries, God is ready! :)
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
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12 comments:
You asked for it: I don't know anything about this idol show and honestly the name alone bothers me but hey, I'm wierd anyway. Speaking of names... how soft and "one-world-religion" friendly to take out the Name Above All Names and replace it with a more politically friendly name, like shepherd. That way it can take on meaning for whom ever is listening. Eveyone will feel good about it and no one will be left out. Most everyone will call on the Lord, on God, or even cry out for a shepherd but those who cry out to Jesus will be saved.
The guy in dreadlocks is an AGGIE, that's about all I know about idol this season. (And that came from my mom and grandmother who watch religiously!!!) The shepherd thing doesn't bother me, I think it's just another rendition of the song personally. It uses the word "Shepherd" throughout the song. They used the name "Lord" throughout too and the meaning of the song alone is undeniable. And we don't know the hearts of the producers or the singers, so let's not judge. It was beautiful!!! I'm curious to know why they chose that song though because it does have such a deep spiritual and worshipful meaning rather than just choosing a more secular "Feed the World" kind of song. Interesting. But I won't judge their motives because I don't know what they are.
wow, i'm not an "idol" watcher either. . .very ironic
that the lines of the song say, "Mountains bow down
and the seas will roar at the sound of your NAME."
yet the "name" is missing!!! I attribute it to the
"oprah-esque" mentality of God/Jesus, etc, where
people have this concept of God and whatever that
means to them is ok and no one is allowed to criticize
or question it. Their God has no absolutes and ends
up being little more than just a feeling that helps
them through a crisis of sorts and then is relegated
to the back of their minds until they might need him
again (unfortunately, not too dissimilar to many
church-goers today).
in the end, all of this brought this verse to mind:
". . .God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the
name which is above every name, so that at the name of
Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, and that every
tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father" Philippians 2:9-11
One day, my sister, they will all name Him by his
God-given name (whether out of adoration or fear and
trembling) and will confess that Jesus is truly Lord!
". . .Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is,
and is to come.' Whenever the living creatures give
glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne
and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders
fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and
worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay down
thier crowns before the throne and say: 'You are
worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor
and power, for you created all things, and by your
will they were created and have their being.'"
Revelation 4:8-11
ok, i'll quit preaching now!!
but i am also curious on what others think. . .
Lisa
I'm not sure how glorifying it was. It looked really cool though. I don't think that changing Jesus to Shepherd changes it completely. It does make it less Christian and has it represent more then just Christians. I very easily could have worshipped during that and I am not offended in any way. It is hard to know unless we know where the contestants stand. I think that it isn't making it just a generic religious song though. It is a tough call.
-Erica
Hey. While it doesn't thrill me that a bunch of self seeking, personally gratifying individuals were singing this amazing song, I can't help but remember the passage is Scripture that says if no one will praise God, then even the rocks and hills will praise His name. God will be glorified one way or another. As for the substitute of "Shepherd" for "Jesus," it actually doesn't bother me too much. It could easily have been written that way in the 1st place and we wouldn't have thought twice about it. Jesus is the Good Shepherd!.
Dede
I personally think it is great that this song was even sang in American Idol (which I do not watch). I'm not surprised, though, to hear the replacement of "Jesus" with "Shepherd". The name of Jesus is offensive to so many people and the producers wanted to make the song PC enough to be sung on stage and broadcast to millions.
On one hand, the message of the song stays true. Jesus is a Shepherd, so the substitution does make sense (somewhat). The rest of the song is intact and still maintains its integrity. But, on the other hand, without the specifics of who they're singing about (Jesus), anyone can substitute a more specific example for Shepherd: Allah, Muhammed, Buddha. It all depends on who the listener believes in.
Using the word Shepherd and Savior so close to each other is a little odd. Substituting a name with another noun, and then following it up with another descriptive, but non-specific noun, just seems a little off. Try comparing, "My Jesus, my Savior," with "My Shepherd, my Savior." The first one is so much more powerful because we've said exactly who our Savior is.
So, yes, I'm glad to see a great praise & worship song sung on American Idol, but I'm saddened (but not surprised) that they chose to change that one word to water down the song so it wouldn't be offensive.
Elizabeth
I have to say about Americal Idol, I was flipping channels and happened to see this when they were near the end of the song, and I immediately was shocked and said right then to my husband- I can't believe they are singing that, because I was happy to hear them singing that- usually on a "popular" show like that it would be unheard of to hear a Christian or worship song sang by anyone. But I disagree with most of the comments on that site you listed- I think it's wonderful they were singing a song like that, that worships Jesus, whether they are all Christians or non-christans. That is free adverstising to 60plus million people that watch that show every week for uplifting God and praising His name! Imagine the people that heard that song that never had heard it before (sad!!), Now because of the show, it is the top downloaded song on the charts for the last week. I do agree on one point and that is they should have left the word Jesus and not replaced it, but beyond that I just can't see where it hurt to let the world hear a wonderful worship song like that. That is just my opinion.
I am totally shocked. My hope is that someone in charge is a Christian and with the popularity of this show and the people that it reaches, it might be a way of disarming some of Oprah's influence, which is getting a lot of attention. Even though they don't mention the name of Jesus, probably because of bad feed back if they did, I think it is obvious who this song is about. Maybe I am missing something that you see. Please let me know. My hope is that people are thinking about who we should be praising.
2nd part....
I just listened to it again and noticed the pictures on the screens more closely. If you wait until it is over, at the bottom, there are small pictures of other performers and actors and if you click on Brad Pitt and listen to him, you will find out it is a fund raiser. He spoke the same night they sang this song 4/9/08. Even with kowing this, I still feel that they are giving the Lord credit for sustaing life.
Amy's Mom
----- Original Message -----
From Jessica: I LOVE THIS COMMENT! This is from a young adult - college! What a thinker!.......
"Boy, I love having the freedom to express my opinions. I could really get into this blog thing! Okay, my response:
How tempting it is to say, "Well, at least they tried. At least, this song was about the Lord and not some secular song. At least, _______ (you fill in the blank)." Was it about the Lord, our Lord Jesus the Christ? If so, why would they take out every reference to Him? There are lots and lots of lords in this world, including satan himself. Taking a worship song, dressing the performers in all white resembling purity, and singing with all their heart and might (beautifully by the way) is very deceptive. We must remember just who satan is: an angel of "light", the leader of worship in heaven, and the father of LIES! Jesus said in the last days, there would be MANY signs and wonders and many falling away from their pure and unadulterated faith and devotion. Many people would think that I am intolerant or "judgemental". I am! We must be vigilant to beware of false Christs. It is not by might, nor by strength (could we even add "talent" here?), but by the Spirit of the Lord. Anything less, is the spirit of the antichrist. So, do I think we should protest and call American Idol and make a big stink about this choice they made? No, not at all. Just don't be ignorant and duped! Don't go with the crowd and say, "Isn't that great? God was certainly in that!" If God was in that, do you think He would hide His Son's name? Is he a half-hearted, settle-for-second-place God? NO! Our whole point of existence is to magnify HIS NAME. In the days to come, we will see people being healed of sicknesses and diseases, miracles before our very eyes. Will you believe that they are all from our God? We are all very aware of that feeling that comes when we make up our minds about something and stand up for it and people call us intolerant or ignorant or whatever they may say. I even say it to myself sometimes, Geez, Lindsay, you're really intolerant and "judgemental". Jesus faced it too. If my Captain, died on a tree, what is in store for me? We must make up our minds BEFORE we see these "good things", signs and wonders that all of them WILL NOT BE FROM OUR GOD. The Spirit of God will lead us into all truth if we surrender to His leading. Praise Jesus, the One and Only."
Lindsay
Well, since I actually watched it, and did hear them say the name of Jesus in the song I guess I could weigh in. Several of the contestants have sung songs throughout the competition that have mentioned Jesus. I read that at least one of the contestants is a Mormon and they, of course, pray in Jesus name but do not believe Him to be their Savior. It could have been nothing more than a marketing ploy since the night before they had aired "Idol gives back", which is a fund raiser for the children in Africa . All of the contestants seemed to be "feeling" the song, which could have been sincere for some but they also could have been coached to do. In one respect, I liked it because how often do you hear a worship song on a main stream television show that millions of people watch? In another respect it was a bit weird. If it opens the door to people declaring the TRUTH about Jesus more publically then great. What I am afraid of is this new "spirituality" that even Christians seem to be embracing. Some of it's catch phrases, "I'm a very spiritual person" and "only God knows your heart". True, only God truly knows what is in your heart, however, if you do not believe that Jesus died for you sins and receive Him as your savior, then your "spirituality" is going to get you as far as a serial killers'. Period.
Kara
i know i dont normally respond but this time it hit one of the issues i know people have a problem with, that i personally see as people worrying just cause they want to worry bout something (not saying that your friend is someone like that) but i have had similar scenario and asked my opinion on.
My view is this; they sang a song about God changing the word from Jesus to Shephard in my opinion is not changing the song at all because Jesus is our shephard, secondly they sang the song respectfully with no mockary at all, thirdly if the performers were Christians or not is between them and God but irregardless if they are not then maybe the song would maybe incourage them to seek him and if not the performers at least the world got to hear praises to God, so in my opinion God was using them to spread his name. My view on the confetti, well its American Idol, big shows charity night they end it like that every year.
so finally, is this glorifying to God the answer is yes, were all the people watching it and singing along all praising God? no not all of them. Was it appropriate to sing this song on Primetime television with 21 Million weekly viewers? Yes
well that was my peace about that question
hope you are having a great week see yah Sunday
/S/ Juan Morales
I didn't post that last comment. It was from a Juan Morales. I will put my personal comment, when I write it, on the main blog. :)
Jessica
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