We've probably all heard about these "The Gospel according to ...." and someone is named. I've seen "The gospel according to Peanuts" (Charlie Brown and friends), "Gospel according to Disney", The Gospel according to The Simpsons", etc. Anyway, what about when this stuff enters the church? Should we allow the popculture icons (I'd even says idols) to speak to the church, or to unbelievers on behalf of the church in order to "bring them to Jesus"? Is it possible to teach people to to live godly, when our very method of evangelism is the the music of the ungodly?
Recently a church began a new series called "Nirvan Speaks" in which the church plays Nirvana music and then a message is preached based off the lyrics. This type of stuff has happened more an more frequently in the churches, and at first it seemed innocent enough when some churches were using "I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, and even the Simpsons" to teach adult sunday schools. (I was opposed to the idea then, I remember hearing about this and thinking it must just be an isolated fad, until I walked by a whole display at a Lifeway Christian store of this type stuff). But as it is with everything worldy, thre is no solid line, it keeps on moving. I'd make the argument that when someone tried to teach people the Bible based off the actions of Barney Fife they had already gone too far, to say nothing of the ungodly themes of The Simpsons. But it seems gone are those days, as some churches went for bigger cultural icons like the Beatles. But that wasn't enough, at a church in South Carolina the preacher famously came out to "Highway to Hell" and played Guitar Hero (literally) during church service. And now a church has decided to do a series called "Nirvana Speaks."
If you don't know anything about Nirvana, they are an alternative rock band, that started in the late 80's in the Seattle punk grunge sub culture. They eventually became wildly famous and lived out the lives of rich and famous rock stars, culminating in the lead singer being addicted to heroin, and eventually committing suicide, and thus becoming a subcultural icon. The songs are admittedly "about nothing" at best, and outright wicked at worst. There is no redeeming quality in the songs, they will not be appearing in any hymnbook near you, nor will their lines be repeated in heaven. Yet their lyrics are now considered the most cutting edge and relevant way to win people.
Below is a post from I put on facebook which generated a couple hundred comments in 2 days. What say ye?
(facebook post)
Count me out on this newfound and celebrated fad of using "Nirvana" to "speak"in the church or to unbelievers. Isn't the scripture sufficient? Is God's message made greater and more plain through using the lyrics of a man who was a heroin addict who committed suicide and a band whose biggest hit of all time was a "song about nothing", to say nothing of other titles like "Rape me". Should we use secular songs as a preaching text? Should we use them in our church services? I'm shocked at how far many are willing to go. I'm shocked that "Heaven Must Sound Beautiful" because apparently Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, and Jim Morrison are there. Is ANYONE lost anymore? Heavens not going to sound beautiful because all these people who abused their bodies through drug abuse and immorality are there, heaven will be beautiful because we will all worship God singing HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. All these people and their wickedness are going to be cast out, forever separated from the presence of the Lord, for the kingdom of God is a place wherein dwelleth righteousness and none of these unbelieving and immoral person will be there (Rev 20:7, 2 Pet 3:13, 2 Thess 1:6-10, 1 John 1:6, etc). Where are clear voices in the church? Is this the only or best way to evangelize in the 21st century, through the Beatles, Nirvana, AC/DC, Guns N Roses, The Simpsons, I Love Lucy, and even Andy Griffith? Is the message of the cross so weak? Is the Word of God of no effect? Must the spiritually dead be quickened not by the life giving Word, or the preaching of the cross, but by the message of a secular immoral and ungodly popculture?
Shaking my head in disbelief.
Threaded Mode
