Rewriting Worldly Songs?

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Ev. Duane Williams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5h24PPR0Wk

This is a Black Sabbath song about a guy losing his mind, and I rewrote it to glorify the Lord. Whaddya think? About the song and the whole concept of rewriting songs like this(I have more where this one came from)

Wow, very interesting! To be honest with you, some may like it while others don't. I can tell you this much: come to Dallas, to the West End or Deep Ellum. It would be a tool of outreach for the crowd that hangs out down there. Again, some may like it, others may not.

Although I've been down there a few times in the past, I'm not a frequent flyer but could see this being played on a street corner there...

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Ev. Duane Williams

Just like when David "borrowed" Goliath's own sword to slay him with? A weapon created with the intention of killing God's people, used by the man of God to destroy God's enemies. I've had people become interested in hearing the Gospel because of songs like this, and when they get saved, the devil's own sword has been used against him. I will use whatever I can to reach people. I've never found the self-righteous holier than thou sword to be very effective, but to each his own.

The oh so familiar philosphies of be like the world in order to "relate" or to be "effective". Kind of like Perry Noble in South Carolina singing "highway to hell" in the church service or seeker churches using the Pink Floyd (?) song "money" for offering. Or even using the song "eye of the tiger" or as a prominent former AFF boasted, used Beatles songs in his service and was going to start a series using Nirvana songs. But if one gets brownie points for "relating", well, mission accomplished. Of course, as some say, the church "needs" to use such methods because if we just preach the Word the response is minimal.
The ends justifies the means. Its not that using secular avenues makes sinners more receptive to the gospel. The more you dumb down the offense of the cross and the strong calls for self denial, repentnace, and discipleship (e.g. Luke 9, Luke 14, etc) the more you see sinners adopt the popular philosphy of "Jesus is just all right with me." That reaction however should not be confused with saving faith, as it commonly is in most chuches across America.

But of course we all know that anyone who decries such methods is just a self righteous, holier than thou, irrelavent, sinner hating pharisee.

[Ev. Duane Williams]

Originally Posted by Rose

I can relate... somewhat. When an old tune pops into my head and will not leave... I just start singing Christian words to drown out the words of my memory.

That's exactly how "Overjoyed" came to me!!! At work, I had "Paranoid" stuck in my head(happens a lot when you were once in a band that played mostly covers at uber decibel levels), and these alternate lyrics came to me without missing a beat in the tune.

[Ev. Duane Williams]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

The oh so familiar philosphies of be like the world in order to "relate" or to be "effective". Kind of like Perry Noble in South Carolina singing "highway to hell" in the church service or seeker churches using the Pink Floyd (?) song "money". Or even using the song "eye of the tiger" or as a prominent former AFF boasted, used Beatles songs in his service and was going to start a series using Nirvana songs. But if one gets brownie points for "relating", well, mission accomplished. Of course, as some say, the church "needs" to use such methods because if we just preach the Word the response is minimal.
The ends justifies the means. Its not that using secular avenues makes sinners more receptive to the gospel. The more you dumb down the offense of the cross and the strong calls for self denial, repentnace, and discipleship (e.g. Luke 9, Luke 14, etc) the more you see sinners adopt the popular philosphy of "Jesus is just all right with me." That reaction however should not be confused with saving faith, as it commonly is in most chuches across America.

But of course we all know that anyone who decries such methods is just a self righteous, holier than thou, irrelavent, sinner hating pharisee.

Preaching the Gospel would be effective, if it were actually done. If most in our camp would spend half the amount of time preaching Jesus to sinners as they do trying to win trinitarians to oneness, one steppers to three step and vice versa, standards to no standards and vice versa, pre trib to mid trib to post trib to partial preterism to full preterism and back again, TV to no TV and vice versa, there would be a steady influx of sinners being saved by the Grace of God, and a lot less Churches bickering and splitting and closing the doors. Jesus ate with sinners. This method was "decried" by the Pharisees, but proved to be more "effective", and to "relate" better than their methods.

[Pilgrum]

I listened to music like this and all the rest of that era while toking pot, dropping acid, and partying with loose woman. With music like this the lyrics are inconsequential. This is hardcore partying back drop entertainment and you think changing the lyrics will make it wholesome? What so many just don't realize is that the music itself, apart from the lyrics, conjures up emotional and physical reactions. And I'm not just talking off the top of my head. This has been studied and documented. So whether the song has the original lyrics or your "christian lyrics" it doesn't matter. The music produces the same results. So when I listened to the clip, guess what? My mind goes back to the feelings it produced for me 35 years ago. Doesn't cause the slightest bit of worship in me whatever. At least not of Jesus.

Hmm, Black Sabbath and Jesus pair up to win the world.
Reminds me of Jesus talking about a corrupt tree not being able bring forth good fruit.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Ev. Duane Williams

Preaching the Gospel would be effective, if it were actually done. If most in our camp would spend half the amount of time preaching Jesus to sinners as they do trying to win trinitarians to oneness, one steppers to three step and vice versa, standards to no standards and vice versa, pre trib to mid trib to post trib to partial preterism to full preterism and back again, TV to no TV and vice versa, there would be a steady influx of sinners being saved by the Grace of God, and a lot less Churches bickering and splitting and closing the doors. Jesus ate with sinners. This method was "decried" by the Pharisees, but proved to be more "effective", and to "relate" better than their methods.

Well since I am guilty of NONE of the things you mentioned above in your rant (in fact I attend a "trinitarian" Bible Church while being oneness in my theology, and believe in justification by faith per soteriology) then I guess I'm most guilty of being sterotyped and pre judged. Funny how those who are sometimes called "Liberals" and boast of how accepting they are, actually quick judge everyone who disagrees with them and don't let the facts get in the way.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Pilgrum

Hmm, Black Sabbath and Jesus pair up to win the world.
Reminds me of Jesus talking about a corrupt tree not being able bring forth good fruit.

Pharisee








J/k

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Pilgrum

I listened to music like this and all the rest of that era while toking pot, dropping acid, and partying with loose woman. With music like this the lyrics are inconsequential. This is hardcore partying back drop entertainment and you think changing the lyrics will make it wholesome? What so many just don't realize is that the music itself, apart from the lyrics, conjures up emotional and physical reactions. And I'm not just talking off the top of my head. This has been studied and documented. So whether the song has the original lyrics or your "christian lyrics" it doesn't matter. The music produces the same results. So when I listened to the clip, guess what? My mind goes back to the feelings it produced for me 35 years ago. Doesn't cause the slightest bit of worship in me whatever. At least not of Jesus.

Hmm, Black Sabbath and Jesus pair up to win the world.
Reminds me of Jesus talking about a corrupt tree not being able bring forth good fruit.

For those people with similar beliefs, I would never exepect them to venture back to what they used to listen to given the environment the songs were heard in. However, since I'm not in the same camp, for me it would be as sweet as singing a traditional Christian song.

When in doubt, don't do it, especially if it brings up memories of times in one's life they'd rather forget...

[Pilgrum]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

For those people with similar beliefs, I would never exepect them to venture back to what they used to listen to given the environment the songs were heard in. However, since I'm not in the same camp, for me it would be as sweet as singing a traditional Christian song.

When in doubt, don't do it, especially if it brings up memories of times in one's life they'd rather forget...

Black Sabbath and sweet just don't go together.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Ev. Duane Williams

Just like when David "borrowed" Goliath's own sword to slay him with? A weapon created with the intention of killing God's people, used by the man of God to destroy God's enemies. I've had people become interested in hearing the Gospel because of songs like this, and when they get saved, the devil's own sword has been used against him. I will use whatever I can to reach people. I've never found the self-righteous holier than thou sword to be very effective, but to each his own.

I find nothing "wrong" with it. The problem is that it always seems to cheapen things. Just like when someone tries to make a healthy version of a classic meal, it is almost always horrible! Yet, I have eaten some incredibly delicious dishes that just happened to be vegan, quite by accident! Don't try to emulate, try to create!

Get away from the boring Hillsong guitar strumming music.... Make your own!!