What this world needs

Heard this song for the first time a week ago when my wife and I bought the CD as one of our "travelers." When going on a long trip, we buy a new CD and listen to it on our trip. The entire CD is really good IMHO, but this song, "What This World Needs" was awesome. The kids in the middle of the song had some of the hardest things to hear, but I thought they were true. Sometimes we do slow the gospel down... O Lord, help me to get out of Your way and not be a hindrance!!

 

So "will" means more of "will save the lost who come to Him" - I think that makes sense.

Not trying to be critical by any means. Just was not real clear there and there are some who are looking for a chance to be critical.

 

I wasn’t previously familiar with them, so not knowing whether they had any theological base I listened with an open mind, but taking into consideration that they are popular (as they have a good sound) puts some extra responsibility on them to make their doctrines correctly understandable to those lacking in knowledge.

In my efforts to evangelize to the lost I proclaim the Gospel as Truth, the Word of God, Jesus as the Word, and the only Way to salvation. All too often I am countered that the Bible is a book written by man and that if there is a loving god why would he send some to hell. I simply do not approve of a popular Christian band teaching the message to the unlearned to “not be strapped to the Gospel” and topping it off with “Jesus is going to save the world”. These guys have some responsibilities in producing their songs, which can be highly influential in the lives of milk sucking believers. I agree with a lot of what these “rebels” are trying to say, but they need to be more careful by their words in what it may appear to some they are rebelling against. They need to check their priorities toward their message of rebellion while putting out a quick (dare I say > money making song) over what is most important to be understood in the public eye. I’m quite sure their intentions may be good but in this case I think they need to fix it! Nobodies perfect.

Good job C4K; Let me know if you can get them on the phone for me, I got a few critical things to point out to them. :laugh:

 

I understand what they meant by "strapped to the gospel" meaning not weighing it down with our agenda, but I agree that it is not clear what it means in the spoken part of the song.

I am a new CC fan. Been greatly touched and challenged by their music. I do think with their broad appeal they need to be careful to be clear in their theology.

 

I totally agree, Tim ...

Great thread! I'm not real familiar with Casting Crowns but do like the few songs of theirs I've heard - including this one.

 

Well… my highly musically talented, ever increasingly celebrated vocalist daughter,
said it was “really cool” I asked her for more “opinion” on it and without pause she says, "what it needs is a girl singing it a bit softer with a piano in it". (evidently conforming to her beliefs and no doctrinal discernment needed!) :laugh:

 

I agree totally with the message of the song - and it sounds good.

My point is that when a group is trying to make an impact, they need to be very careful in what they say and how they say it. They are too many trying to strap their agendas to the gospel and they don't need any more ammunition to do so.

Sad thing is the same nit-picking that is applied to some modern music is never applied to traditional music.

We do need to get our agendas out of the way and let God work, but He still works through us - which CC so clearly notes in "Here I Am" which is an amazing missions song. It makes it clear that getting out of the way does not mean doing nothing.

 

I think we pretty much in agreement here C4K; as I also think they need to be a little more careful but do appreciate their overall message. I will have to listen to some of their other songs.

I’ve read some of the battles in the music forum, but I personally have no real preferences between traditional or modern Christian music as my main priority is to focus on the message. I think some of the traditional has probably passed the test of time and don’t presently hear as much modern Christian music, but personally take exclusion on the nit-picking assessment as I am an equal opportunity nit-picker and have actually stopped singing on some traditional songs a few times over the years when becoming aware of the poor theological message it brought.

My daughter currently sings on the praise team and they are actively pushing in more modern music, which is fine with me. I do and will continue discussing lyrics with her; and I simply wouldn’t allow her to do a specific solo if I didn’t like the message.

A bit off subject, but I recently decided against her joining a hip-hop rap band; admittedly biased in this decision not only because of the type of music but the fact they were not a Christian band and older than her; even though they understood and would agree she would sing no smut and hold to her values. She likes all types of music and tells me there is a lot of that (hip-hop rap) music that is clean, but I see a lot isn’t, and can’t even understand what they are saying half the time to decide. There is one very talented young man in that group who has a small studio that she is still discussing this with but he is from a very rough cultural background (moved here after his older brother was killed in gang related incident) he is not Christian, but he is asking about her Christian values and listening. I may let them try a few selective songs in the future, (under my close supervision and intention to witness while she has the opportunity to gain experience) which would mean I would have to sit though this.

 

Well... please excuse me for daring to critique this modern band in this open discussion.

 

Um... where did this come from? If this is in response to tinytim's comment, I think you took it the wrong way.

 

Thanks for clarifying. Yesterday seemed to be one those gloomy days that was going to rain on me despite my intentions, and when it rains, it pours. :tonofbricks: Today things are seemingly looking brighter though. :godisgood:

 

Thanks for the topic TT. I got the new CD yeasterday. I have listened through it about 4 times now. Good stuff.

I really liked east to west. The cd title track (between the alter and door) really took me by surprise. I was thinking more of everything that happens between the door and the alter vs getting up from the alter and going out the door. I really like the song.

 

I can really relate to "east to west." I hope that works out well as a choir special. You amost have to solo the verse don't you?

 

I had a chance to talk to Mark a few years ago at a youth fellowship, believe me he does not believe in universalism.