It's not exactly Dylan going electric, but when Christian singer/songwriter Derek Webb turned techno on his latest album "Stockholm Syndrome," it was reason enough to pay attention.
That's not why "Stockholm Syndrome" is making headlines, however. After hearing the album, Webb's record label, INO, refused to release one of the songs on the album, a scathing critique of how evangelicals approach homosexuality. "I had been working under what was a delusion," Webb told me in an interview, "that although technically you could call me a "Christian artist," it's got nothing to do with how I make art, where I live, what I do." Read on for more on why Webb wrote the song and why the label's move shocked him.
When INO, your record company, decided they would not release the song "What Matters More," was that an amicable decision, or was there controversy?
Yeah, there was. It was a surprise because I've put all of my solo records out with INO and there have been some challenging things on those records, and they've always been really supportive. I knew I was asking for trouble with that song. I understood that we had gotten into subject matter that was really tricky for INO's system of distribution. But I guess I'd gotten so much other stuff in that I wasn't really expecting it would be that big a deal. I had been working under what was a delusion that, although technically you could call me a "Christian artist," it's got nothing to do with how I make art, where I live, what I do. INO had done well to create an atmosphere where I felt like I could completely trust my instincts. So to suddenly hit a brick wall was jarring for me.
"Stockholm Syndrome," which has an electronic sound, represents a pretty big jump from your past albums, on which you were a guy with an acoustic guitar. What's behind that and how did Josh Moore figure into it?
My goal is not to be bored. Singer/songwriter music just bores me to tears, especially my own. And there are so many exciting possibilities in computer-based music. Literally any sound is available at any moment. I mean, if the Beatles were making their experimental suite of records today, they wouldn't be doing things multiple-mono and in reverse and cutting the tape up. They would be using loops. It would sound like hip-hop. So, rather than emulate what my heroes were doing with limited tools, why not imagine what they might be doing with more modern tools? But I had no idea how to get there, and Josh has been at the center of this really vibrant and budding hip-hop community that's happening in Houston--writing sequencing, engineering, producing. So we started to create sounds and send things back and forth.
Let me ask a little more about "What Matters More." How would you like to see Christians change their ways?
I am not in the business of changing people's behaviors. I just hope they listen to the song. What they do with it is kind of somebody else's business. But here's the reason I wrote the song--I have gotten to the point where I can't go a lot further in several relationships in my life, specifically with several of my best friends who are gay or lesbian. I am having a hard time with them knowing the community that I am a part of, with all of us looking at this completely counterintuitive hatred coming out of my community. It was important to me to basically say to my friends, "Whatever you see under the category of Christian culture that we both agree is completely inconsistent with the person of Jesus, I want to draw a line and I want to get on the other side of it." Because I can no longer make apologies for some of this stuff.
Many young Christians especially are comfortable saying, "We've got to stop from harping on homosexuality." But that's different from saying you don't consider homosexuality to be sinful. When you ask in that song, essentially,, "When did Christianity become all about being straight?," do you want to say that homosexuality doesn't alienate you from God?
That's a big question, and I'm not backing off. But I have not on this record addressed the particular morality of a lot of these issues. That has been so well covered by the church, unfortunately with no other connection--people have heard a lot of the church's theology and not seen a lot of the church's ethics. There's a real disconnect there, and that bothers me. But I don't think it's a conversation that is had well in this medium. This isn't an ideal medium to speak about such a personal and nuanced issue. There's a huge discussion to be had, and I want to have that conversation. I hope to have it a lot on the road with people, but not if it's a roomful of people with a camera on me. Because so much can happen between that intimate moment and the moment where anyone could hear that. What I can say is, I'm not trying to create some kind of a moral loophole for anybody. It's not that anybody is less wrong as much as we're all more wrong. Your question was, Do I think that homosexuality alienates you from God. Thankfully, not anymore than habitual heterosexual sin does.
People can and do disagree about that particular issue. The thing we can agree on is how poorly we are loving the people around us who live or believe differently than we do. Those are the people we are called to engage with and love and care for. Before you even try to love your enemies, how about knowing your enemies? How about knowing the people you consider to be your enemy? Because you might find that they're not really your enemies. You're your enemy, and you are just like your enemies. There is no difference. We all need exactly the same thing. So, that's more where, you know, I hope some of this lands.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
I am not trying to be inflammatory when I ask "Your Name" this question...How do you come to your conclusion that it is not God that condemns homosexuality, but it is man trying to figure out what God wants? That is a big statement to make without backing it up with scipture. Homosexuality was never presented in a positive light in scripture, yet was often referred to negatively. Since, as Christians, we use the Bible as the measure for truth, show me your measure.
To the subject of this post, I have to agree with Derek Webb, it will be how much I loved, not how much I judged, that will change the world and honor my God. Sin is sin; I am not free from all habitual sin, and I would seriously question anyone's claim that they were. So even if you make the argument that homosexuality is habitual sin(which is often times viewed as different from an occassional sinful lapse), do you deal with "theirs" differently than you expect "yours" to be dealt with? I don't and I dropped my rock a long time ago.
In reference to the above statement regarding homnosexuality and its impact on the church.
I have worked in mental health for 22 years. During that period I was confronted with a lot of disorders that affect one's identity. I have discovered that when an individual has difficulty in any social issue that deals with relationships, the primary issue is with the self. Until that issue, has been resolved there will be no need for any addressing of any other issue. I can provide scripture that has assisted most individuals dealing with addictions, not only with substances, but also with relationships, behaviors, identities, and a lot of other details -- including homosexuality -- that ones have used to cope with daily pressures, and relationships is Romans 7: 14 through Romans 8: 1. as you read this passage apply it to yourselves and you can find reality providing possible reasons for your behaviors as well as the solution to help return you to a more calm and relaxed lifestyle. But I encourage you not to just stop at 8:1, but proceed to 8:26 through 28. and don't stop there but continue to the beginning of chapter 9. (However, remember that these letters are written as a complete letter--not divided into verses nor chapters.)
In reference to Mr Jim Schafer... Your above statement basically proves that a person is more or less Mentally Ill if they are Homosexual. That does make a lot more since and explains alot of things. At least it gives them a good reason. They can't help themselves. That's what they are trying to say (in a round about way) Anyway aren't they? Just in other words. Like, I'm sane. You've just let us all know that in the many years of your experience it's come down to Mental Health. Thank you, You are a very wise man. Now since that is all cleared up. And there isn't anyway the Man 'Mr.William Brown can get through to you about his point of veiw... To each his own. We All Some Repeating to Do...Can you recall how many times the Bible Tells us all to do That?
April: "Your above statement basically proves that a person is more or less Mentally Ill if they are Homosexual. That does make a lot more since and explains alot of things..."
Like, for instance, it explains that you don't know anyone who's gay. Otherwise, you might not automatically assume they were mentally ill. I don't know why I expect more of you people. It seems that when it comes to the LGBT community, "they're insane and therefore not entirely responsible for their evil ways" is about as sympathetic as you're capable of being.
Mordredo8..I hope April doesn't mind me chiming in here...I think she was being a little sarcastic.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.