What Matters More

Derek Webb is the edgiest Christian artists (and one of the best) since Keith Green. And I dig that. But he was bound to push the envelope "too far" at some point, and he has with his new album, Stockholm Syndrome. Now I put "too far" in quotes because what "too far actually is is debatable. In this instance, he has included in his song "What Matters More" a single use of a four-letter-word. There are two issues with this song and they are somewhat unrelated.

1. Should you ever, as a blood-bought believer, use a word that society has deemed impolite and vulgar to make a point?
2. Is the song itself a helpful rebuke to the legalism that is so rampant in the church today?

I have posted the song below, but be advised that you will hear the swear word. The lyrics below do block it out, however. My posting it does not mean I agree with him or his methodology. My posting it only means that I think he raises issues that would be helpful to discuss.



Lyrics:

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 conceal 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 s*** About 50,000 people who are dyin' today Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?