Christian culture is really stupid.
There, I said it. Of course, by “culture” I don’t mean the Gospel. I mean, this weird little way of life that Americans have designed and, for many, has taken the place of God’s grace in the Gospel. A “good” Christian usually just refers to someone’s skill at fitting into the Christian masses.
It’s about 90% of what’s sold in Christian bookstores and what’s preached in most of our churches. It’s stupid. It’s constricting. It’s legalism. Christian culture is the modern day Judaizer Paul warned us about. “Don’t touch. Don’t taste. Don’t listen”. Well, I for one hate it. And, in lieu of today’s thoughts on the subject, I thought I would share six songs that Christian culture would probably say I shouldn’t like, but I do—some of the meat I’m not “supposed” to eat, but will exercise my freedom over.
Here we go:
Mama by My Chemical Romance
Offending Lyric: “Mama, we all go to hell…”
Of course, the weight of eternal damnation is nothing to joke about. But is it possible that Christian culture has indoctrinated us with a theological insecurity that leaves our skin raw enough for this lyric to offend? I think so. In fact, with thicker skin—songs like this one might actually equip the church to speak to the kids who would never set foot in their walls.
Listen to the song here
Jesusland by Ben Folds
Offending Lyric: ”Broadcast to each house, they drop your name but no one knows your face billboards quoting things you’d never say you hang your head and pray”
There’s a lot of interpretations of this song. Some people say it’s political. Maybe. But anyway you look at it, it’s almost definitely (at least on some level) a critique of the very culture I’m complaining about right now. If someone wrote a song poking fun at me, I probably wouldn’t want people listening to it either. But you should listen to it.
Listen to the song here
Gentleman Caller by Cursive
Offending Lyric: “Your gentleman caller Well, he’s been calling on another He loves his forbidden fruit And as it dribbles down his chin He cries: "Baby I’ve been drinking with some friends now how about a little kiss"
The graphic nature of the lyrics in this song will offend most. But the metaphors are rich. A messenger with an important message should be listened to, even if he’s really ugly.
Get it Faster by Jimmy Eat World
Offending Lyric: “I’m holding out But not getting an answer I wanna do right by you I’m finding out Cheating gets it faster”
A song about infidelity? Not likely to top the list of approved songs. However, Jimmy Eat World speaks honestly in Get it Faster to a matter that people (men, especially in the church) will easily relate to. Pretending problems don’t exist never fixed them.
Listen to the song here
The Decline by NoFX
Offending Lyric: (Just about the whole song, but in specific:) “The story book’s been read And every line believed Curriculum’s been set Logic is a threat Reason searched and seized”
As a general rule, I think that NoFX are pretty much 100% moronic. I mean, you’ve got to have a screw loose to have any real hope in absolute political anarchy. But The Decline is an 18 minute punk-ska-rock, religious, political, epic masterpiece. Some of the social commentary is even quite poignant. But what’s really interesting, if we’re not allowed to listen to songs like this one, we’d be proving NoFX a little bit more right—and we don’t want that!
Listen to the song here
Mama’s Room by Under the Influence of Giants
Offending Lyric: “Makin’ love in mama’s room, Takin’ all I can from you, And when you go, go, go, oh, oh, oh, Go, go, go, oh, oh, oh. “
A song about taking someone’s virginity as a kind of sport? Yeah, that’s pretty busted. But, just try not to dance to it. And keeping the theology of man’s depravity in close view, if I ever engaged in the kind of activity described in Mama’s Room, it wouldn’t be because of the song. The benefit of exercising my freedom with this song, outweighs the “risk”.
Listen to the song here
In Conclusion
I’m not suggesting people violate their conscience—where in fact their conscience really is being offended. I am however suggesting we sometimes give the “Christian culture” the finger and make use of the freedom we have in Christ for the sake of the lost who can’t relate to us (and for the sake of our own sanity)!
