This church video has more problems (ecclesiological, theological) than benefits, but I got to give them credit for the precise execution of classic 90's dance moves.
Joanna....looks like they were thinking of a fun way to get the point of tithing 10% across. It's a fun rap that obviously in a short song can't be as deep or theological as the bible but...trace the video back to the church it came from and listen to the message that was preached afterwards.
Thanks for the comments. There were just some lines in the rap that made me a bit nervous.
I am not sure about the value of doing these types of things in a church service. I know, I know, I am boring and stuffy, and have no sense of humor. I think it is important to ask hard questions about this type of thing.
The weightiness, greatness, and majesty of God are almost non-existent concepts in much of American evangelicalism. We need (I need) a deeper awe for profound Biblical truths about God. How is this video helping toward that end? We don't need to make God and Biblical principles humorous and supposedly "more relevant" to induce people to listen. God is always relevant. Too many churches have "lightened up" already.
This is not to say that there shouldn't be laughter in the Christian life-- far from it. However, where is the American church's sense of the the *weightiness* of God? (I mean the church at large, not individual churches.) I fear that so many churches are trying to make Christianity "fun" and "relevant" that they are forgetting what it means to worship a holy, majestic God. That is what primarily grieves me about this video.
I've GOT to comment! I'm actually the white guy that speaks in the beginning of the video. The church is called 12Stone in Lawrenceville, GA. Somebody said I should google "tithe rap" and see how many results this little number is getting and that's how I found the blog.
Christopher, I loved what you said so much - I felt compelled to just give a bit of context. We are a "seeker friendly" church. I know this may scare some people, but it is our post and our calling to reach lost people - people who are far from God.
I grew up in a church that had perfected reverence but struggled to find relevance.
You say "We need (I need) a deeper awe for profound Biblical truths about God. How is this video helping toward that end?"
One of the most profound biblical truths that I have found in my life is in Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Our pastor only teaches about giving one Sunday every year. Being a big church, there are obviously skeptics about how the money will be used, or that the church is only about the money. I can assure you that this is not the case at 12Stone. I encourage you to check out the message from that Sunday:
When Christ was teaching he used parables (the storytelling method of his day) to teach - we use the storytelling methods of today to teach the same principles Christ taught - those methods include Film, Live Drama, even white guys rapping. We frequently use humor to disarm people of their prejudices and pre-judgements. This tithe rap was nothing more than a way to end with a smile on a topic that rubs alot of people the wrong way.
Personally, I LOVE serving in a church that I believe whole heartedly is carrying the gospel to lost people and bringing them in to the kingdom of God.
Hope God is blessing you as much as he's blessing me right now (I just found out my wife is PREGNANT!!!)
Thank you so much for replying to my comment! First of all, congratulations on your wife's pregnancy, and thanks for the well wishes!
We both share the same passions-- teaching Christians in a way that really "communicates," and seeing the lost come to Christ. I agree that there are churches which go so far in one direction or another that their teaching isn't "getting across" as it should, relevantly, with real love and concern for the listener.
About reaching and communicating to people with God's truths, I second my brother (in Christ) Zach's recommendation to you-- check out the David Wells book! It is really great for thinking about what it means to be "seeker-friendly" in a post-modern world of TV, video, and such. Blessings to you, brother!
11 comments:
I don't know whether to laugh or cry!
Five words: The Regulative Principle of Worship.
Three more: God help us!
Yikes. What were they thinking?
Joshua....laugh.
Christopher.....lighten up.
Joanna....looks like they were thinking of a fun way to get the point of tithing 10% across. It's a fun rap that obviously in a short song can't be as deep or theological as the bible but...trace the video back to the church it came from and listen to the message that was preached afterwards.
This guy gets it: http://elevatingageneration.org/2009/02/02/tithe-rap/
Tom,
Thanks for the comments. There were just some lines in the rap that made me a bit nervous.
I am not sure about the value of doing these types of things in a church service. I know, I know, I am boring and stuffy, and have no sense of humor. I think it is important to ask hard questions about this type of thing.
But that is another post for another day!
z
Was that supposed to be a church service, or was it a "conference," or what? If the former, that falls way short of Word and Sacrament!
But you just have to love the white dudes bad rapping and cheesy bling. The 100 and 10 brass knuckles were especially uh ... classy? clever?
Did you find this over at alittleleaven.com ... if they don't have this up already, they should.
Tom,
The weightiness, greatness, and majesty of God are almost non-existent concepts in much of American evangelicalism. We need (I need) a deeper awe for profound Biblical truths about God. How is this video helping toward that end? We don't need to make God and Biblical principles humorous and supposedly "more relevant" to induce people to listen. God is always relevant. Too many churches have "lightened up" already.
This is not to say that there shouldn't be laughter in the Christian life-- far from it. However, where is the American church's sense of the the *weightiness* of God? (I mean the church at large, not individual churches.) I fear that so many churches are trying to make Christianity "fun" and "relevant" that they are forgetting what it means to worship a holy, majestic God. That is what primarily grieves me about this video.
I've GOT to comment! I'm actually the white guy that speaks in the beginning of the video. The church is called 12Stone in Lawrenceville, GA. Somebody said I should google "tithe rap" and see how many results this little number is getting and that's how I found the blog.
Christopher, I loved what you said so much - I felt compelled to just give a bit of context. We are a "seeker friendly" church. I know this may scare some people, but it is our post and our calling to reach lost people - people who are far from God.
I grew up in a church that had perfected reverence but struggled to find relevance.
You say "We need (I need) a deeper awe for profound Biblical truths about God. How is this video helping toward that end?"
One of the most profound biblical truths that I have found in my life is in Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Our pastor only teaches about giving one Sunday every year. Being a big church, there are obviously skeptics about how the money will be used, or that the church is only about the money. I can assure you that this is not the case at 12Stone. I encourage you to check out the message from that Sunday:
http://72.167.116.251/messages/2009/InTheZone/AbeAndTithe.mp3
When Christ was teaching he used parables (the storytelling method of his day) to teach - we use the storytelling methods of today to teach the same principles Christ taught - those methods include Film, Live Drama, even white guys rapping. We frequently use humor to disarm people of their prejudices and pre-judgements. This tithe rap was nothing more than a way to end with a smile on a topic that rubs alot of people the wrong way.
Personally, I LOVE serving in a church that I believe whole heartedly is carrying the gospel to lost people and bringing them in to the kingdom of God.
Hope God is blessing you as much as he's blessing me right now (I just found out my wife is PREGNANT!!!)
Beepity,
Thanks for the comment. Have you ever heard of a book by David Wells, called, "Above All Earthly Powers"? You might want to check it out. Thanks!
zach
Beepity,
Thank you so much for replying to my comment! First of all, congratulations on your wife's pregnancy, and thanks for the well wishes!
We both share the same passions-- teaching Christians in a way that really "communicates," and seeing the lost come to Christ. I agree that there are churches which go so far in one direction or another that their teaching isn't "getting across" as it should, relevantly, with real love and concern for the listener.
About reaching and communicating to people with God's truths, I second my brother (in Christ) Zach's recommendation to you-- check out the David Wells book! It is really great for thinking about what it means to be "seeker-friendly" in a post-modern world of TV, video, and such. Blessings to you, brother!
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