Last week Derek Webb announced that he will be releasing his upcoming album, Stockholm Syndrome, in two versions - clean and explicit. The controversy surrounds the song "What Matters More," for both it's language - there's mild cursing - and likely the subject matter, which addressed the issue of homosexuality straight on (no pun intended.)
Here is the video and lyrics for the song, "What Matters More." You decide. Frankly, I think the label "explicit" is entirely appropriate, and not in terms of the cursing, but in terms of bringing an important issue and dropping it right at the feet of the Christian community. The Christian community for far, far, far too long has hung it's hat on two issues: abortion and homosexuality rather than on the general reality that we are all unholy people before a holy God, a God who loves us all and sent his son as an atonement for all of our sins.
But that's another column for me. For now, here's Derek Webb. He says it much better than I can (and by the way, I'm interviewing Derek next week, so if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section):
What Matters More, by Derek Webb
You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
'Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak
'Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn't be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn't silently consent when the liars speak
Denyin' all the dyin' of the remedy
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin' the wind while the pendulum swings
'Cause we can talk and debate until we're blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he's comin' to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin' today
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
For more about Derek Webb, visit his website.
UPDATE: Read my interview with Derek Webb as he talks about his art, this song, and why he doesn't have any agenda with Stockholm Syndrome.
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Justin,
The song is intentionally provocative, a characteristic of all of Derek Webb's work. The profanity is meant to cause discomfort, to arouse a response in the listener. Does it cause you anger, does it inspire passion, does it make you giggle, etc.? In any case, it does awaken the listener because it is so out of the ordinary, so "unChristian". And thus, the listener is drawn into the song. He or she is barred from passive listening and becomes engaged in the song. Moreover, the expletives used are arguably the most effective in communicating the righteous anger that Webb feels. Finally, to focus on these words is to miss the message of the song and serves to further illustrate Webb's point: a majority of Christians in this country are more concerned with keeping up appearances and toeing the party line than in actually doing the extraordinarily difficult, disappointing, and uncomfortable work of loving people as Christ calls us to love them. What matters more?
Justin,
The song is intentionally provocative, a characteristic of all of Derek Webb's work. The profanity is meant to cause discomfort, to arouse a response in the listener. Does it cause you anger, does it inspire passion, does it make you giggle, etc.? In any case, it does awaken the listener because it is so out of the ordinary, so "unChristian". And thus, the listener is drawn into the song. He or she is barred from passive listening and becomes engaged in the song. Moreover, the expletives used are arguably the most effective in communicating the righteous anger that Webb feels. Finally, to focus on these words is to miss the message of the song and serves to further illustrate Webb's point: a majority of Christians in this country are more concerned with keeping up appearances and toeing the party line than in actually doing the difficult, disappointing, and uncomfortable work of loving people as He has called us to love them. What matters more?
Justin, you can read the first two parts of my interview with Derek (I still have to post part 3. Ive been lax this summer). That might help you understand the song more.
Part 1
http://blog.beliefnet.com/gospelsoundcheck/2009/07/part-1-of-my-interview-with-de.html
Part 2
http://blog.beliefnet.com/gospelsoundcheck/2009/08/part-2-of-my-interview-with-de.html
Joanne
host of the Gospel Soundcheck blog
Would be more helpful if the song was actually good.
If truth can't be heard in the lack of love we have for the homeless child in the inner city or the sad and hurting widow, if truth can't be heard in the starving people around the world, if truth can't be heard in from the lost who can't stand our legalistic standards that we can't even begin to attain but are gladly willing to hold others to, maybe we should consider the reality that we live way too comfortably and privileged in our Christian walk. Perhaps, we are uncomfortable with the fact that Webb is reflecting more than his own view but the world's view of the Body of Christ, which is supposed to reflect a Christ who loved every man and woman and died for every human. Yet, so many stand in judgment over Webb, meanwhile his words ring true and the homosexual goes unloved (if not hated) the hungry child's stomach still eats away at their own sunken in flesh and the widow sits alone crying and unable to care for herself the way Christ takes care of his bride the church. I love the church and believe Christ has his bride right where he wants her but we the sinners inside resist His love because we deny our sinful and broken ways. Lord come quickly.
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