My family watches "American Idol" regularly. We were pleasantly surprised to see the contestants on last night's "Idol Gives Back" show singing one of my favorite songs, Shout to the Lord. Yes, they edited it a bit, changing "my Jesus" to "my shepherd", and some of the bloggers are upset about that. And I could have done without Ben Stiller's bleep-filled rant that ended the show (someone's idea of humor, I guess). But still, I'm going to rejoice that the #1 show in America aired a song of praise to the King. Someone made that decision. The song will be downloaded from iTunes all over the world. How awesome is that? View clip here.
UPDATE: They did it again tonight and sang the name of Jesus.
14 comments:
I have to say that I don’t agree with your sentiment about Shout To The Lord (I do, however, agree with you about Stiller…what a dork). I think taking out “Jesus” make it just benign enough to be on TV. In so many minds that song was just to some nebulous, faceless, nameless Lord (instead of The LORD). It kind of reminded me of Paul on Mars Hill. I wanted to yell at the TV last night, “Don’t you know who you’re singing about!?”
Quite often our worship leader will begin the song with the chorus. And nobody wonders whether or not we are singing about Jesus.
I've been following the comments in the blogosphere today about this. I thought this guy had a good point:
I think it was an improvement to the song. The “my Jesus” line… what does that even mean? There is no question that the song is still a song to God. I would say it is even a stronger Christian witness by inserting another descriptor of God as Shepherd that tells us much more than just his name. He’s not My Jesus. I don’t own him. He is, however, my Shepherd.
My Lord & my God. I didn't even see last night, but I just caught the beginning tonight and (unless I hallucinated) I heard "Jesus." I haven't read any other bloggers thoughts on this, but the removal of "Jesus" bugs me. I love you brother Soren, but there's just something about that NAME.
By the way, the constant presence of choirs backing singers bugs me too but for other reasons.
I think its apsolutely inappropriate that they would sing this song on a clearly non-religious show. I an Athiest and I do not appriciate them shoving this propoganda down my childs throat.
Leave it behind closed doors.
Josh (oneadvent@gmail.com)
To Josh (atheist), I'm sorry that you feel the way you do. I will be praying that God will reveal Himself to you....and I challenge you to ask God through His Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal Himself to you...I believe you will be amazed. God loves you, Josh and wants to do amazing things in your life if you will just let him.
The fact that a secular show allowed this song to be sung at all was amazing to me...I had chills and tears in my eyes! I agree with you....Let's be positive & have faith! God will use it! Also with the group last week, the Clark Brothers...they sang and "Jesus" was sung in their song....so was Dolly's song!...So, the others that wrote negative comments....let's be encouraged...God IS at work on American Idol, Praise His Name!
I think I am with you Soren and Sandi, even though the first night they edited somewhat, it was still a powerful worship song. And because of it's worldwide popularity, even many non-believers knew who the song was about (as evidenced in Josh's post). Then they blatantly sang the name of Jesus last night and as Sandi pointed out, others have also blatantly sung about Jesus. At least his name is getting some primetime airtime in a positive way. However, we know them singing a song isn't going to save anybody, but in a world of anti-Christian bigotry at least there was something positive.
you have got to be kidding me. Shoving propoganda down your child's throat. YOu should be thankful that your child heard that instead of the crap that is on prime time tv about homosexuality, adultery, teen sex, profanity, pre marital sex, and the list goes on. If you don't want to watch it turn it off. It was very appropriate. Who ever made the dicision to have the idols sing that song hats off to you. Praise God. Also, read your bible. He is my Jesus. Yes he is my shepherd as well but even if you were the only person on this earth, he still would have died just for you. He is your Jesus and he is mine. He said it himself.
there are alot of things that need to be left behind close doors. Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not one of them. I will be praying for you.
One last thing on this A.I. controversy. We should remember the A.I. exists to make money. They do it by generating the largest audience possible and then charging advertisers huge amounts of money to show their commericals to the audience. A.I. is intentially trying to be broad in its appeal. Hence we see Snoop Dog, praise music, Dolly Parton, etc. No other show boasts such a broad appeal driven primarily by the wide array of musical styles, etc. The bottom line is the bottom line.
Wow! I think this is longest comment thread ever!
Thanks for weighing in everybody.
I think if more people spent less time watching TV and actually developing real face to face relationships (not just cyber relationships) with people, it would give people more opportunity to share the Gospel one on one. What kind of an impact in the world would be made if people took more seriously the relationships that can be built face to face? But be that as it may, the truth is, as people living in a cyber world, we have lost true people skills of dealing with one another face to face and it has been replaced with a fear of talking to people and the risk is diminished if we can just type behind a nameless, faceless blog or comment section and we can react or respond in accordance with our "feelings" toward what someone else wrote without ever really seeing their heart or intent of what they actually have said. I suppose that's why we are all writing our comments here.
and...no, I'm not seeking self righteousness here, but I haven't ever seen American Idol. From what I've read, it sounded very positive.
When I first Watch American Idol Episodes: The Search for a Superstar when it first aired. I immediately thought this was going to be like a great remake of Star Search, where many people with various talents get to compete for the top prize. I was wrong, this show is all about one talent and that was singing, OK I thought I could deal with that but this show didn't include all forms of singing.
Well, it doesn't matter to put Jesus to show American's identity. As well as another religion like Islam in Malaysia stated that they don't want christian to called God using arab's language whose called Allah... So do christian has their own identity. America is a christian country so be it... why should bother other while other can show their identity and proud of it? why should you guys as American shame about? why? if you are christian than be it. other religion have their own God so why should bother, because Christ also born not only for Religion Christian but for all human being and also not belong only for religion christian but also to other. What You shame about? Curious about logical thinking that people's made to respect other while the principal is not about respect and disrespect but to show your identity. Do it's really harm other while you shout Jesus?
Post a Comment