American Idol and “Shout to the Lord” and what Jesus do we worship?

April 12, 2008 at 11:13 am, by Rich Kirkpatrick

Americanidoltop7

There has been a lot of stuff I have followed in the blogosphere about the American Idol singing the Hillsong worship song Shout to the Lord. That song has meant a lot to many in the American church, so I can see why it was picked. Here are some things people have been saying…

Shout to…who? My former pastor and author Bill Giovannetti does an incredible job reflecting on the idea of what Jesus we really are shouting to while also critiquing very soundly the emergent theologies and their origins. A must read.

Other friends of mine simply are skeptical, jubilant or cautious and with questions about why “Jesus” was omitted then not omitted. Chris Vacher, “Was that possibly the most awkward moment in the history of American Idol?“, Nathan Gaddis “WHAT!?! WOW! Then Ben Stiller came out and pooped all over a really great ending of a show..” and Fred McKinnon says “I’m blown away that this song was on American Idol.” **UPDATE by Paul Joseph, “But surely the A.I. juggernaut has enough sense to ask for permission to change a copyrighted song. Nope.” Here’s a statement from Hillsong Church on CBN.com – no one asked.

My take is that it is awkward to hear a top worship song sung on secular TV that is modern when one might expect “Amazing Grace.” What perhaps is positive is that faith really is in the public square today. My hope is that faith in the Truth would be there as well. I see this as a positive, even though the show choir deal was hard to stomach.

Your thoughts?

Categories Church Stuff, Culture, Emerging Church | Tags:

http://www.nikao.ws Vince

The shout to the Lord situation was painful at best. Very awkward.

would I go too far in saying that it was a case of ‘pearls before swine’?
http://searchscott.info Scott

Doing charity is more important than proclaiming Jesus publicly. Pretty much sounds like the viewpoint of most christians that I know of.
http://brenttrf.wordpress.com inWorship

I was pretty upset at first, leaving out Jesus and then adding it back in…and then I was reminded of this.

Philippians 1:18 – But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
http://www.chrisfromcanada.com Chris

I wonder if American Idol has become Balaam’s donkey

All I know is that my blog stats have gone through the freaking roof.
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

Vince…Awkward… pearls and swine? What does that mean, that the audience does not get it or the performers, or?

Scott Are you saying that we would rather do charity than say Jesus, or that we say Jesus and do not do charity? I have seen both.

inWorship What Jesus was really being preached, however??

Chris Blog stats? LOL. Balamm’s ass to whom? To the Christian or audience, TV??

Thanks for the discussion so far…
http://www.nikao.ws Vince

I Cor. 2:14 ? Try and follow. I wouldn’t say that it was wrong…please understand. But as a Christian I think the discovery/learning of spiritual truths is a progressive journey. When a nonspiritual person is presented with something beyond what they are prepared to receive, i think for many, a step is taken backwards.

Not to say the risk taken isn’t appreciated by me. Look at the second part of Mt 7:6

“…If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces…”

Not to equate spirituality with games but humor me here…

When a basketball game starts, the teams aren’t hoisting half court buzzer beaters to try and win the game. They come out at look for easy buckets and little victories that add up. There is a time for the heroic shot and I appreciated a huge game winner, but too early in game and…”they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces…”

that was way too heavy for a Saturday afternoon.
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

Well personally I think that the word shepherd is just as important as the word Jesus, granted the name of Jesus holds more power, but we need to remember that Christ is our shepherd he keeps us safe from harm and guides us to greener pastures and safe waters. Maybe the shepherd version is better for the secular media right now. No we don’t need to water down the word of God, but if we can create an image of who Jesus is as a Shepherd and not the perception people come away with when they hear Jesus (a judgmental God-man who came to condemn and so his followers are on TV and the street corner yelling hell-fire and damnation) then woot! That also goes to beg the question are you the guy on TV or the street corner, a judger, or are you a real person Christian, and if you are a real person Christian, what are you doing to break the perception of the judger? Chew on that for a bit
http://bethoumyvision.wordpress.com Amanda

I know that even if the hearts of those involved in the show (singers & producers, etc.) weren’t right (whether they aren’t believers or aren’t living or trying to live Christ-like lives as believers), I trust that God will use it anyway. He doesn’t just let His Word go out void. In the midst of this, many people may come to know Jesus truly as He is & trust that God will use this to bring new believers into the Kingdom & reawaken believers who are in need of reviving. He can use anything!

By the way, it was mentioned to me that some of the contestants on AI this year are in fact believers.
http://www.rickscheibner.net Rick

You did your homework here, Rich. Nice job. Clearly, the AI contestants here weren’t in it to win souls or to even lead a time of worship. It was simply a performance of a popular worship song. In that context, I don’t see anything wrong with it spiritually, beyond seeking Hillsong’s permission to alter the lyrics.

I’ll also have to admit I haven’t seen the performance yet, so perhaps I should wait to do so before I form an opinion?
http://www.chrisfromcanada.com Chris

re: whether or not they asked permission. I don’t think that permission is Hillsong’s or Darlene’s to give. The publisher of the song is Hillsong but it’s administrated in North America by Integrity.
http://worship1.wordpress.com Cosima Ybarra

Hey Rich, Thanks for sharing your insights and thoughts with us worship leaders out here on the www. Instead of commenting here may I direct you to an interesting discussion on this subject at http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1747

Great post!
Cosima
http://thin-edge.org Bill Lollar

I’m not quite sure why everyone seems fixated on the removal of “Jesus” from the performance. Little else, if anything at all, was changed in the wording: the name “Lord” was in the title and throughout the song, as well as clear and open ascription of worship, honor, and praise to Him. The evangelical right seems bent on displaying the “older brother syndrome” (rather than rejoicing, they moan and complain) in this case.
Brandon Buchanan

I have been really confused while reading everyones comments because when I saw them sing the song on Thursday night, they sang “My Jesus, my Savior…” I guess I didn’t catch the night before, I though I had watched the whole show, but I guess I missed the end??

At any rate, I will say that I think this was a really cool moment for the Lord. over 30 million viewers got to hear a really cool tune about Him, and 2 nights in a row at that. I don’t know about all this stuff that’s being said about pearls before swine? If that’s how people view the unsaved, as swine, then I think there is a bigger issue at hand in their own hearts. The scripture said that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, and that He loves the whole world. Regardless of the motives (if they were ill then God will deal with them) I was blessed that a song with a very powerful testimony of who God is was sung and I am sure that many others who don’t have a relationship with God were also blessed by the message of the song.
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

I like what Bill said about the ‘older brother’ syndrome. I was talking to my wife about why Christians get bent out of shape when they see the world use things that are ‘ours’ in their own stuff? In reality that song belongs to God, Christians should know that we really don’t own anything. If God didn’t want that song sang on secular TV or didn’t mind having the word changed I’m sure he wouldn’t have allowed it to happen. So here is what I have to say, our discusion (including this post) is useless. Praise God, end of discussion . . . I hope.
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

some thoughts…

1-naive a belief that a Christian song on secular TV means revival, the Mel Gibson movie, etc.

2-Amen for our creations as Christians being part of culture and creating culture.

2-a belief that Christians can only worship. So, why would unbelievers be asked to sing something they may not believe in.

3-Why let “The World” define Jesus–from CNN to AI to politicians or Oprah throwing around Jesus.

The bigger issue is the annoying fact of Christians being USED by the media or political establishment. Have a president say Christian words or a TV show sing the most popular worship song sung in churches around America and suddenly we think revival is happening! How naive can we be? This is why this is an important discussion–not so much because the song, but because we need to think critically and not let the world DEFINE who Jesus is because we are not.
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

Bill–I think the “right” as you say is actually praising more than moaning!
http://www.misscate.com Cate

I think the performance of Shout to the Lord on AI (both nights, but especially the second when they said Jesus) was an incredibly positive thing. Not only was some solid theology presented to millions and millions of people in a way that might touch some struggling people out there, but Christianity and the Christian God were directly connected to the act of charity.

If AI spends two and a half hours talking about our duty to our fellow man and then wants to end the show with a tribute to God, we should be stoked. They aren’t using us, they put us out there and connected us to something positive. We should thank them for their (probably unconscious) gift to the Christian culture. It is by no means revival (God help us if revival needs to be led by a TV show!), but it is a positive and significant step towards having Christianity presented favorably by the national, secular media.
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

I think the next question we really need to ask is: If we are now connected to this ‘charity’ by this song, then what are we doing to continue the ‘charity’?
Erin Wible

American Idol is still on the air???

I think they should combine all these shows on one night, call it Pre-Fab American Big Survivor Brother Phony Idol and save everyone the time and hassle.

he he he he he

Where’s my remote……there must be a good episode of M.A.S.H on somewhere.
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

Yes, as I said, this is a positive thing!

Cate, I do think we should be careful to think that we are being used. American Idol folks had good intentions, and intentions for profit as well–after all they are a business first and foremost.

I for one, already believe that Christian’s do not really need American Idol Gives Back to define them since Compassion Int, World Vision and many other overtly Christian organizations represent us. However, more power to the AI people for joining us.

Matt…I thought your were done discussing this;-)
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

Well as long as it keeps going and I find things to comment on or ways to try and stir up trouble I’m in!
http://www.myspace.com/ryanbaileyband ryan

i walked away from my TV that night thinking that I had just witnessed one of the most awkward television moments i could remember. now, to preface, i’m a worship leader. i love worship. i sing worship songs on pretty much a daily basis, but it just felt really odd to me to hear a congregational worship song sung by a group of people who (i assume) are probably not all Christians (i know some of them are, but it’s doubtful that they all are). i had to put myself in the place of a nonbeliever on the show being handed a Christian worship song to sing on national TV. (for instance, consider if on of us was on the show and was told we were supposed to sing a song to Buddah). what does the contestant do in that situation? i would feel a lot of pressure, i think, to either sing the song or probably blow my chances to win the show by becoming the contestant that refused to sing the “Jesus” song and in turn lose any conservative Christian voters that may have voted for me. that’s just my two cents. i have problems with forced Christianity, and that’s kinda how i felt. perhaps some people heard the song and it touched them in some way and that’s awesome… i have no doubt that God can use any situation he chooses, but to me it just came across as feeling very awkward. anyway…
http://www.RaisingUpWorshipLeaders.com Peter Park

I realize that spreading the name of Jesus, literally, is very important. But the meaning of the song didn’t change a lot and the exposure of God was there.
http://scottwilderweb.com Scott

To the people who are commenting that even though Jesus was taken out; the word Lord makes it okay.

It does not.

Everyone has a Lord. Most people have themselves as their lord. Others worship animal gods, sun gods, earth gods, etc. If we’re not singing to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God who sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. And the God whose Holy Spirit resides in us now. Then we are not singing to the one true God of the universe.

We live in a day and age where people are more convinced in the grace of charity than the grace we have through Jesus. God’s church in America has by and large failed to be (or even aspire to be) the lamp stand that His word has clearly called us to.
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

Scott, I think you are forgetting that the real power and inspiration of the song comes from God being in the song, you also must forget that Jesus is our Shepherd. You could put Jesus in a song and if God isn’t there there is no power to it. For instance Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Walks’ Knowing who Kanye West is as an artist do you think he really cares about God or Jesus? Does that song have the power of ‘Shout to the Lord’? And what about all the worship songs we have where Jesus isn’t even sang, where ‘You’ is used to refer to God because we are singing to Him . . . you just killed all those songs.
http://www.nikao.ws Vince

I’m with Ryan
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

Ken… what part of “I see this as a positive” did you not hear? It really is. Not revival, though.

I think it is an overreaction to think a song or a word omitted is really that big of a deal. I also think that “the gospel” was not preached at all…but simply a popular worship song was used by a secular TV show and it was cool that they did. Could have been “Amazing Grace” or something else.

The worry I have is that many Christians are naive about how our media manipulates them and people in general. I am just asking for some critical thinking. Besides that, I have just as much right to ask you about what you were thinking if you question what I was thinking because I saw it as awkward. Test the spirits, brother!
http://brenttrf.wordpress.com inWorship

You guys still talking about this? This is so last week
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

indeed… this is so last week!;)
http://www.myspace.com/ryanbaileyband ryan

“We are force feed things that we don’t believe EVERY SINGLE DAY and WE do nothing about it”

really? force fed? in what way? the media? turn your tv off, change the channel. i’m not sure what you speak of here. and if you choose to do nothing, then to borrow a phrase from you, i believe that comes from “an issue within yourself.”

to say a contestant who didn’t agree should simply “stand and be counted” is one of the most inconsiderate statements you could have made. these contestants are trying to make a career for themselves and their families, they get on the show, and then all of a sudden, they are told “sing this worship song.” if they choose to “stand and be counted”, as you say, they run the risk of losing the support of a lot of American voters, or the support of the producers, basically sabotaging themselves in the competition. if your boss was to tell you to proclaim the name of Allah or run the risk of losing your job, you would consider it terribly unfair, and i would be willing to bet you’d put up a serious fuss, but with the shoe on the other foot, you have no problem telling them to “stand and be counted,” without any regards for the fact that you’re playing with a person’s potential career doing something they love.

it’s this kind of self-righteous, inconsiderate attitude that has given Christians the reputation of being “Bible Beaters,” and honestly, I’m ashamed to be associated with that kind of Christianity.

and don’t even get me started about congregational worship songs and why they’re not intended for secular settings…
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

I’m not sure if this comment actually belongs here. But I believe as Christians that we need to find Biblical truth in everything. That includes American Idol, American Idiot (Green Day’s last album for the culturally sheltered), Eli Stone, Superman, Star Trek, Scrubs, 2-Pac, Los Lonely Boys, Linkin Park . . . I could keep going but well I hope you get the point. So the fun thing is that most people communicate God’s truth on accident. You shoul also think about the fact that during Old Testament times that the symbols we translate as YHWH (Yehway) was not pronounced not only was it too Holy, but to actually pronounce it you had to just breath. So every time you breath in and out or an American Idol contestant breaths in and out they are saying God’s name.
http://walterskcb@msn.com Ken Walters

It’s amazing how much people will read into something. This was a proclamation of the Gospel…!! Plain and simple. No matter what AI’s intentions or motives were/are, they do not trump God’s. The name of the Lord was lifted up and proclaimed. If you thought it was awkward, then I believe that came from issues within yourself. We are force feed things that we don’t believe EVERY SINGLE DAY and WE do nothing about it. If a contestant on AI did not want to sing about the Lord because of his/her belief, then they dang well should have stood up to be counted. As it is with our walk with the Lord, you best stand up to be counted. The bible clearly says that, if we deny Christ before men, then he’ll deny us before the Father. Some of you ask; what Jesus was proclaimed..????? The Jesus of Buddism, the Jesus of Islam, the Jesus of Hinduism, the Jesus of Environmentalism, the Jesus of Humanism, the Jesus of Wiccanism,,,,, etc, etc, etc..??? THEY DON’T HAVE A JESUS, they DESPERATELY NEED “THE” JESUS..!!!! Jesus, was proclaimed…!!!
http://www.myworshiprevolution.com bobby

OK, yeah, totally last week, but I’m gonna weigh in anyway!

The idea that if God didn’t want it on it wouldn’t be (Matt), that’s a problem for me. If God only allowed profitable things to happen, we have a lot of issues to work through now.

Saying it was a positive thing, I might be willing to agree, but I’m not sure. I wonder if having the song attached to a show that in it’s totality does not represent Christ kinda cheapens the song in a way.

I think of it a bit this way. The point at which the church was thriving and impacting the world the most was, arguably perhaps, the early first century church. That was a church that was subversive, counter culture. The thriving churches of today seemed to be the counter cultural churches in places like China in the throws of persecution. Perhaps one of the worst things that happened to the western church was Constantine making it the official church and making it “popular” in a way.

I think sometimes (not always) when we allow these things to be used wherever, whenever, they start to blend in and become common place, instead of standing out as something that is counter culture. I struggle with the balance a bit. i want to be a part of creating culture. But at the same time, what would it be like to be a part of a movement that was so radical that and so counter cultural that it had more implications than it does for mainstream media to claim it? i dunno.

Haven’t figured it all out as some of you seem to have, but those are just a few of my thoughts/questions.
http://www.zachtanksley.com Zach

I have been reading this for a while and feel it is time to weigh in a bit here.

My thoughts on how Christianity being used…

I think this is the long sought after effect that certain Christians have sought after. The ones who desire a publicized Christianity. one that makes headlines so that people will look at it.

Politicians are using Christianity too. Welcome to the ultimate demographic. The swing vote. Everybody wants the Christian vote. We are now seen as a pawn for other people’s successes.

And guess what, its gonna be stuck there.

So the question from here is? What do we do about this as Christians?

To we whine and moan about it? Do we try and make ourselves celebrities from it? Or, do we simply try to do what some have always tried to do, to live our life as Christians and “damn the torpedoes”…?

If the world is going to choose to make a hoo-hah out of Christianity, and use it to their interests, than perhaps we should begin to model a Christianity that will indeed makes changes across the world. So yay for Compassion International and overtly Christian charities, they are making a positive stand for Christianity…

I feel my soapbox bending under my weight, time to get off.
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

I think the point I was trying to make bobby was that God let it happen not because he actually changes things in our daily life to make it easier or more ‘christian’ to live in, but because he gave humanity free will and we all know that He works things out for the good of ‘His people’

I think it’s interesting that the facts about breathing being the same as saying God’s real name wasn’t touched. I want to know what you think about it. The fact that the atheist who tells you he doesn’t believe in God and hates you for being someone who does walks away saying ‘YHWH’ because that is how God made us . . .

Maybe that is how we should really live, with the knowledge that our breathing is actually God’s name, and we should live a life that is worthy of that breathing.
http://walterskcb@msn.com Ken Walters

Rich, I sure did not intend to or want to offend you or any of my brothers or sister in the Lord, so please don’t take any… As for testing the spirit, I certainly do and am probably over the top on employing that principal. I’m not sure what I’m testing for on this one.. Shout to the Lord was sang.. I think that it was very positive and I really hope that hit home with someone.. I believe that Jesus would have went to the Cross for just one of us and I think that He would have used that songs use to reach at least one.. If that happened, then it was a success. It just doesn’t matter what the “Show” was trying to say,, they conveyed a message of crying out to God
Ryan, yes we are force fed things everyday and it’s way beyond the TV… I’d say most people aren’t even aware of it and/or have become numb to it. And as far as my boss or anyone for that matter trying to require me to proclaim anyone other than the Lord Jesus,, FAT chance.. And if I was on the show being asked to sing a song proclaiming a god other than “The” God, I would absolutely have said no. For you to say that I would be a “Self-Righteous” or an inconsiderate Christian for saying that people need to stand up for what they belive or don’t believe in, is just confusing to me. You just don’t do what you don’t belive in.. Period.. Nuff said on that..
I do get really worked up when we try to contain God’s use of the gospel.. As I said before, AI’s intention of the use of the song may be completely wrong with whatever motive. We can not suppose that God can’t, won’t or doesn’t use it for His glory.. So, in no way can I be convinced that the Gospel wasn’t proclaimed. It clearly was.. Again, that doesn’t say anything to what the original intention was but still, it can be used.. As you fully know, the Spirit is the One who speaks to peoples heart and we may never know of who may respond to that planted seed. God reveals truth in our hearts.. We don’t find Jesus, He finds us.. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. We are responsible for witnessing but the Spirit is who’s at work in the heart.. We may muk things up getting it out but the seed has been cast.. “Shout to the Lord” is a very sound song of praise and is also biblically sound. If we have a narrow focus of how we are to reach people, we’ll at the same time reduce who we’re able to share the Word with.. We can have the most rigid standards in our churchs, our time of worship with song and so on, but, if we do that, then we are leaving people out.. That being said, what we do, no matter how progressive or forward thinking it may seem, always has to be sound biblically.. I’m sure that God fully understands that as cultures change peoples hearts are attracted to different types of baits.. Don’t mis-interperate “bait”. God’s Word can be shared in many different ways. (Again, as long as it’s biblically sound) If I had to go to a church with organ music and older ladies singing hymms with the full vibrato voice, I’d go just a tad crazy.. I’m just not attracted to that nor do I respond well to that.. (Now don’t try to lay some denominational or religious mumbo jumbo on me) Just read Psalm 150.. Praise him baby, praise Him..!! I welcome your rebuttal…

Together in worship,
Ken
Worship Pastor
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

Ken…uhm…you need your own blog!;)
http://www.myspace.com/ryanbaileyband ryan

ken, i would love to make a rebuttal, but i’m honestly not sure what point you’re actually trying to make. i do have some curiosities, though.

for one, you have never given any examples of this force-feeding you speak of. i don’t know that i’ve ever been force fed anything before. i have my own mind and i can choose to listen or believe anything i want to. if you don’t want to be force fed, then close your mouth. i’m sorry to be so blunt, but i feel as though i can be judging by your tone in your own posts.

also, i agree with Rich in saying that i don’t believe any gospel was preached in “idol.” i never heard anything about repentance, or sin, or death on a cross. all i heard was a very cheesy rendition of a fairly dated song that was intended for congregational worship, sung in a setting which was clearly not that, by a group of singers who may or may not have any spiritual investment in the lyrics.

my point in my last post in reponse to telling people to “stand up to be counted” was not intended to say that people shouldn’t stand up for what they believe in, but rather that i think it’s a shame for Christianity to be forced on anyone. maybe none of the contestants had any problem with singing the song, but if one of them did have a problem with it, i think it would have been a shame for that person to have to sing it anyway (or refuse and risk the dream they’ve been chasing) while we stand aroud and rejoice about “the gospel being preached” (which it wasn’t). i just believe as Christians we’re supposed to love people and i didn’t feel that in your assertment to “dang well stand to be counted.” i saw agenda coming before people.

i actually find it very humerous how heavy a simple discussion about American Idol has become, and so i would like to encourage everyone to perhaps go for a stroll through a dewey meadow and maybe pet a bunny or something, and smile and let your heart rate return to normal. until next week when i’m sure we can find something else to argue about. thats what Christians do, right?
http://pmanderson.blogspot.com Matt Anderson

Christian do like to argue . . . but whats wrong with that, it promotes critical thinking in our lives and hopefully most importantly our faith. I agree that the message wasn’t preached, but who knows, the Holy Spirit may still use it.
http://www.myspace.com/ryanbaileyband ryan

i actually don’t think anything’s wrong with a good healthy argument. i love it. i was just making a little joke to lighten the mood of the argument.
http://mikedaltonbass.blogspot.com Mike Dalton

Everyone needs to go to their own corners (blogs) and do it there. I thought I would just chime in since I think that we are giving the people of worldly minds more ammo by writing back and fourth and them able to say “freakin’ Christians” pissed if they don’t get attention, but even more pissed when the do.

That’s my take (and my buddies who isn’t a Christian) who just happened upon this blog.
http://betterthanblank.org alex mclean

Trying to be a better commenter:

Well, first off – we are HUGE AI fans (David Cook’s gonna win it).

1. Musically, I thought they destroyed the song – no good.
2. Leaving out Jesus – eh, what did you expect?
3. Just the fact that they chose it? Well, they are about 15 years behind (they should have chosen a United, Tomlin, DCB, or Hall song).
4. Was it worship? Who are we to judge? God was surely glorified even if it was indirectly. HE gave the song, HE gave talent to sing/play/produce, HE gave the ears to hear, HE allowed it to happen. Even if the 61 million viewers weren’t worshipping the one true God – he was glorified. So for that, I am thankful and excited… even if it wasn’t that great.
http://walterskcb@msn.com Ken Walters

Argument, what argue..?? This is just a, what I see which is different that what you see, discussion… FYI, the gospel was proclaimed in song… >:-P Pet a bunny, stroll through a dewey meadow… Funny stuff..!!
http://rkweblog.com Rich Kirkpatrick

Uhm… I am with Mike. I am embarrassed by some of the comments here. Really. Ridiculous. So, I am closing comments for this and offering an apology for how ridiculous this conversation ended up becoming. I think it was a positive thing, as I have tried to say–even if a bit awkward for some of us. What is clear, is that it is hard for Christians to actually “debate” which bothers me.

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American Idol and “Shout to the Lord” and what Jesus do we worship?

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