Monday, 01 June 2009
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Would You Support Christian Artists Whose Lyrics Include Profanities?
The media world today is filled with lyrics and scenes that many would view as inappropriate, and in some cases, explicit. In the secular
world, many justify this by citing the rights that we, as Americans, have to free speech. However, as Christ-followers, it is our calling to avoid letting such aspects of the secular world infiltrate our lives.
According to a recent article in Everyday Christian, the Christian recording artist Derek Webb sent the following e-mail to his fans:“Friends - I haven’t sent many personal e-mails to this e-mail list but we’re in a situation that has gotten a little out of control and it’s time to fill you in. As some of you may know, I’ve been working for months on my new record, ‘Stockholm Syndrome,‘ which I’ve recently finished and turned in to the record label. They’ve been very supportive over the years, but this time we didn’t get the response we expected. It seems I’ve finally found the line beyond which my label can support me, and apparently I’ve crossed it.
“I consider this my most important record and am adamant about all of you hearing it. We had originally hoped to have ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ out this month (next week even), but at this point we’re not sure when the record will come out and in what form. The majority of the controversy is surrounding one song, which I consider to be among the most important songs on the record. So we’ve decided it’s an appropriate time to break the rules…"
Rumor has it, all of this controversy with the record label was generated because Webb included the s-word in the lyrics to one of his songs.
If these allegations are true, this is not the first time that a Christian music artist used vulgar language in their song lyrics. In the Jars of Clay song "Oh My God," the lyrics include the word "whores."
To many, it is a shock and a disappointment that a Christian artist would include profane lyrics in music intended to glorify God. Proverbs 8:13 indicates the Lord's disdain for vulgar language: “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
If it is true that Webb did use a profanity in the song in question, would you support a Christian artist who finds the need to use vulgarity to express themselves in song?
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About the Author
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- From: Winds_of_Change
- Name: Winds_of_Change
- About Me: Hi, I'm Amanda. I'm an English major in the Journalism Certificate program at the University at Buffalo. I love to write, and through this Revelife blog, hope to integrate that passion with my other love, my Catholic Christian faith. I'm a big fan of Christian music...Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, Stephen Curtis Chapman..you name it. I sing at my churches both at home and school and am a firm believer in "He who sings prays twice." Most importantly, throughout the last few years, I've deepened in my faith and come to know that God will always be there to guide my steps. I often live by this passage and trust its message: "'For I know the plans I have for you,'" declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."' - Jeremiah 29:11
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Comments (88)
I don't know the song in question, but I looked up the lyrics, and the word "whores" isn't profane in this context, but rather it's used in the contrast, "whores and angels." It seems like, no matter who you are, you can trust in God.
And, the "whore of Babylon" is mentioned in the Bible, among many other "profanities." Looks like we can't support the Bible--it's profane, too.
I'm disappointed in Christians for not growing the fuck up by now.
So he said a curse word. Get over it. Pretend like he said sorry to God so you can convince yourself they're not satanic then.
The word whores used in proper context is not profane. The deffinition of "cuss" is using words out of context. So if one uses the word whore in context there is no profanity. On the Bible would be a profane book in itself for it refers to a Mystery Babylon Mother of Whores.
'Perverse Speech' and 'Profanities' are two different things.
Derek Webb has been a breath of fresh air to the Christian music scene. He's addressed the down and dirty issues that not many people have, if he uses the word in context I see nothing wrong with it. If it waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck... if it's the s word it's the s word, knowing Webb it's probably used to emphasize something about man's depravity, and let's face it our sinful lives with out Christ are pretty much the s word...
Yes I would support him.
What
defines "perverse speech" as mentioned in Proverbs? It seems to me
that lying, slander, and even profanity-free tearing-down-of-another
are far more perverse than what modern Western culture considers
"profanity."
Why is "shit" vulgar and "feces" not? What's the difference?
Why is "ass" vulgar and "posterior" or "rectum" not? What's the difference?
Why does no-one get upset if I say "copulate"?
In summary, there is far more to "perverse speech" than the Seven Words You Can't Say On The Radio.
Yes, I would! There is freedom in Christ to express ourselves by using profanity occasionally. Sometimes, a situation even calls for it! We need to use discretion, however, and not let it become a "habit". Derek is a true believer and deserves support whether he's on a "Christian" label or not! He may need to consider the latter.
hells yes
I think this is being blown way out of proportion. I've never listened to any of this guy's music and I would never listen to anything that uses profanity for the sake of profanity...most of the music on the radio today is like that, and censored quite horribly, I might add. I think it would depend on the context in which the word is being used.
One curse word isn't enough for me to lose interest in an artist. We expect famous people to be role models, but we can't expect them to be perfect. Even Christian music artists are sinners!
@ChrisRusso@xanga - You make a valid point. I think profanity today is based on what society makes it. Who knows, maybe 50 years from now the s-word won't be considered vulgar, and "poop" will be the new equivalent. Even other non-curse words can be used in a vulgar manner, like "fudge" in place of the f-word. I think the intent of the person who's swearing matters more than the actual words being used.
@ChrisRusso@xanga - The word "S-H-I-T" is a shipping term meaning ship high in transit it can not be used in proper context off of a cargo boat. So therefor using it to describe feces is out of context fitting the deffinition of "cuss".
@ChrisRusso@xanga - I totally agree. I think they should also look at what he's saying in the song instead of being outraged over a single word.
I would just be curious if his real motive is to change the hearts of men for the better? It sounds like he is more interested in the "art" of his message rather than the message.
If he wasn't trying to use the label "Christian" as his type of music, I would probably buy it, but it sounds like he is trying to push the envelope, just for the sake of "art" rather than really trying to spread the gospel. This is one of the biggest reasons that I dislike most Christian music. Honestly, the only reason that we have even heard of most "Christian" musicians is because they write mediocre music and the only way they can get people to listen to it is to try and make people feel bad for listening to "secular" music and not their own "Christian" music.
You can tell a lot about where people's hearts are by listening to a song that they have written and even more, by their reaction to criticism.
This whole argument pisses me off every damned time I see it.
"profanity" as we know it is nothing more than a human construct. Someone decided that word X is bad and shouldn't be used, and the rest of us (for whatever reason) believed it and now we tag it as such, just because someone else decided it to be so. Words only have as much power as you give them.
Therefor, who gives a fuck if Christian artists decide to express themselves with "profanity?" The fact that this is even an argument really causes me to lose faith in humanity...
What I find funny is that he changed a lyric in his first album that said "I used to be a damned mess...." People were offended by the word "damned" even though it means "condemned to hell." It's a very fitting theological use, and even Jesus used the word as translated in the King James Version.
According to Bob Smietana at Sojourners Magazine, Webb is going to launch "giveashit.org" to encourage people to help build latrines for poor communities in Africa. Creative.
Short answer: Only if it's a good song.
Long answer: An important distinction may be necessary; check a dictionary:
Profane = debasing what is sacred
Obscene = offensive to moral sensibility
Vulgar = common, coarse, impolite
By the strict definitions, the s-word is vulgar (it's about unsavory body functions), the f-word is obscene (it's about sex), and cursing with Jesus' name is profane (it's about religion).
Obscenity and profanity, I can see why people have problems with. But the Bible itself contains many expressions that might be considered vulgar by more rafeened standards, except where our English translators have sanitized them. Vulgarity was not really a problem in English until the Victorian era; read Chaucer and Shakespeare sometime. The KJV (from 1611) charmingly translates the Hebrew word for "man" as "one that pisseth against a wall"!!
In Phil. 3:8 Paul writes that his previous accomplishments without Christ are "rubbish" (NIV); the literal translation is actually "dung." According to the NET Bible notes, it "was often used in Greek as a vulgar term for fecal matter." Now what English word does that remind you of?
It's a bit shocking, and probably intentionally so, but in that context it makes a perfectly valid theological point.
Taking God's name in vain, purposefully offending people, tearing people down, gossip and slander, lying, etc. are the genuinely offensive uses of words, and these I think are the "perverse speech" referred to in Proverbs. But I don't see a good reason to confuse them. Mr. Webb has the language and the Scripture on his side here. (Also, I want to hear the song now!)
If anyone can use vulgarities to edify the Bride of Christ and call people to repentance it is Derek Webb.
Pedro The Lion has a lyrics that fits here kinda well. It's a favorite.
"You were to busy steering the conversation toward the lord
To hear the voice of the spirit saying shut the fuck up
You thought it must be the devil trying to make you go astray
Besides it couldn't have been the lord because you don't believe he talks that way"
There are benefits to calling yourself a Christian artist. If you can get the contract, marketing to Christian outlets gives you a a sympathetic audience who is willing to overlook a lot to support a brother or sister in the Lord. But, you also are limited. Those who do the marketing know their demographic and they know those who stock the shelves. They know what these buyers will and will not put up with in the way of content.
I'm a Christian writer who doesn't write "Christian" fiction because I don't want the limitations. This looks less to be about a vulgarity than about an artist who has reaped a lot of the benefits of the label "Christian" and now he's chaffing at the limitations. Limitations he knew were part of the bargain.
If the message is so important, get off your keester, and release it independently. The web makes that easier now than ever before. It looks like he wants it bundled in with other songs he knows will sell and is hoping the s word will have a little cover. If he is moving away from the sanitary Christian message, then he needs stop splashing in the shallows and get into the deep waters where he can swim free of restraint.
@rabbi_cowboy@xanga - Last I checked S.H.I.T. isn't a word, its an acronym. The actual word "shit" is defined as either feces or American slang for an exclamation of anger or other negative emotions.
What makes something a "cuss" word is the context in which you use it. Which really, allows any word to be a cuss word. If you're going to speak about context how about you learn what the word "context" actually means.
This is what I said read my comment closely "shit" is an acronym for ship high in transit. When cargo boaters would ship manure they found that if it got wet it would become combustable. So they would put a sign on it that read "S.H.I.T." or "ship high in transit" to assure it would not get wet. The word can not be properly used in daily converation unless you are on a boat so therefore it should not be used. People like you who go around using language you desire regardless of who is around should have your tounges cut off.
@MichaelCavaness@xanga - You should ask him about that.
I question your quotation of proverbs- “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
I think it's a misapplication of this verse to say people aren't allowed to ever use culturally-defined profanities. For example, to some people, the word 'crap' is offensive; to others, it's harmless (like saying 'flip', etc.). The sequence, c-r-a-p, is not offensive in itself- it all depends on cultural norms, and if 'crap' and 's***' mean the same thing, what makes one essentially worse? Nothing, in honesty, and the only reason I wouldn't use the latter is because it could cause offence.
By perverse speech, I think the proverbs verse is less a condemnation of specific words than a challenge to mindsets. The speech isn't perverse in and of itself, but as a reflection of the speaker's thoughts and intended meaning, and culture. If I say, 'S***!' when I stub my toe, I think it's entirely harmless. If, in anger, I call someone a 'piece of s***, then that's a profanity. We should be clear on the difference, and not get into oversimplified legalisms on these things. Presumably Mr Webb wasn't insulting someone, so I don't have a big problem with him. The only criticism i'd make would be that of causing others to stumble.
Hmm, things like this make me wonder how certain words became swears.
I mean. It is really about context. Words which are usually acceptable can be turned bad depending on how we use them.
God created everything and that includes humans with the ability to have a large vocabulary - thus language is from god. Nothing (including words) are inherently evil. Drugs are not evil - it is behavior associated with drugs that are bad. Words aren't profane until we put them in a particular context.
I love Derek Webb. I think he's a phenomenal songwriter. "The Ringing Bell" was by far one of my favorite CD's in 2007. But why he's doing this, I have no idea. I cannot think of any reason the s-word would fit in a necessary connotation for a Christian artist. It makes no sense to me. I understand why he is at odds with his label right now. INO (if that's still his label) has more than enough reason to disagree.
As a radio programmer, I would not play any song off of that album knowing that it contains profanity.
Webb's lyrics are typically unconventional and very poetic and jarring. I don't always agree with his point of view. But I've always supported the manner in which he has presented that perspective. Until now.
I'll still listen to it, because whatever Webb does has always intrigued me. But I won't play it. Sorry, Derek.
It depends on the context and the intent, I suppose
In fact, I've heard very few people use a profanity in an effective manner. I think most of the time it's actually better to focus on your message than trying to get people's attention or trying to vent your frustration.
If I could find his lyrics I could better answer this question.