An Example of Sin

While there are many wonderful exceptions, it's come to my attention that some Christian music has gone down the crapper. The biggest culprit: sin.

I've heard lyrics similar this:

I lay my life down at Your feet
Cause You're the only one I need
I turn to You and You are always there

In troubled times it's You I seek
I put You first that's all I need
I humble all I am all to You

One way
Jesus
You're the only one that I could live for...

Really? We lay our lives down at the feet of Jesus? I thought he laid his life down for us, but we rejected him! Peter claimed he would never deny Christ, but follow him even until death, yet failed, and rejected him three times.

What about always putting him first and seeking him in troubled times? Yeah right! Evidently the writer of these lyrics has a perfect relationship with Christ, since he never puts anything above him, never seeks solace in worldly things.

"I humble all I am all to You." Humble? Hmph! Doesn't sound like it. If you have to tell other people how humble you are, you shouldn't have to say so. Actions speak louder than words.

And finally, "You're the only one that I could live for." I would be okay if it said, "You're the only one that I should live for," but it doesn't. This person is claiming to live only for Christ! Let me tell you, the only one capable of being that good is Christ himself, and he didn't even live for himself; he lived and died for sinners like us. This song barely talks about the goodness of Christ, but doesn't fail to boast of the goodness of the song's author.

Yes, I know I am seriously getting on the case of a very well-known and respected Christian music artist, but it's only one example of the widespread self-glorification I see in Christian music. Am I wrong to say these things? Am I being vain?

If I thought I was any better than the modern Christian artists who do this, I would be definitely be at fault in saying these things. But I admit that I'm not. I have been vain. I have loved myself much more than I have loved God. I have turned to worldly things for comfort and strength. I admit that I'm a sinner.

We need more songs like this one:

Chorus:
I'm not all right
I'm broken inside
Broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to You
It leads me to You

Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone

And when I'm open wide
With nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on
‘Cause honestly I'm not that strong

Chorus:

And I move (3x's)
And I move closer to you
And I move (3x's)
And I move closer to you
And I move (3x's)

Chorus:

I'm not all right that's why I need you


Now there's some honesty in music!

I love praise songs, don't get me wrong. But they should focus on praising you-know-who rather than ourselves. Am I right?!

I struggle not to put myself on a pedestal, as I mentioned earlier, and I need the Christian music around me not to encourage that evil mindset, but to put me in my place! I am a sinner, and in desperate need of a God who is good! The music we listen to affects our thoughts, and I'd hate to think that the Christian music being blared through the speakers is encouraging a sinful mindset.

As Christians we need to admit that we're sinners. In fact, we should brag that it is only through Christ that we can even resemble goodness; only through him that we have grace and eternal life. I was creeping on my friend Phil's facebook to find that his About Phil section reads: The worst of sinners. And also very stupid. His religious views section also simply reads: sinner. 

I admire the people that are more than willing to admit their sin, their need for grace. Can't we all be a little more like that? Wouldn't that be what truly brings us closer to our Savior, rather than claiming we are the ones always running toward him?

Thank you, Dad and Mike for inspiring this post. Also the Holy Spirit.

Love, a sinner.


God bless.