Chuck Colson Shouts Down His Worship Leader

Provacative title... I know.  But it sounds like it really happened.

What would you do if you were leading worship and asked the congregation to repeat a song only to hear Chuck Colson yell 'NO'!  (Actually... I'd love to hear from the worship leader involved to see if this is really the way it went down or not; and how he/she responded.  Maybe someone reading goes to Chuck's church or knows his worship leader and can get the real story for us!)  Anyway, here's the story, in Chuck's own words from his PrisonFellowship website:

When church music directors lead the congregation in singing some praise music, I often listen stoically with teeth clenched. But one Sunday morning, I cracked. We had been led through endless repetitions of a meaningless ditty called, “Draw Me Close to You.” The song has zero theological content and could be sung in a nightclub, for that matter. When I thought it was finally and mercifully over, the music leader beamed at us and said in a cheerful voice, “Let’s sing that again, shall we?” “No!” I shouted loudly. Heads all around me spun while my wife cringed.

[Insert Todd's comments here:  That's really kind of a low blow, Chuck, to call "Draw Me Close to You" a meaningless ditty.  It's simply a love song to our Savior (You're all I want; You're all I've ever needed; You're all I want; Help me know You are near).  Kind sounds like an OT Psalm to me in many ways.

And I must give two thumbs up to Mrs. Colson for cringing.  What your husband did was rude and disruptive to the worship service.  As I heard Mark Driscoll say yesterday in a message, "it's easier to be a music critic than a musician".  Hopefully other people were cringing as well.

Don't get me wrong... I like Chuck Colson.  He's done phenominal work for the Kingdom through his many writings and PF ministry.  But this seems pretty 'Basic Christianity 101' to me that this was not the right way to handle his dissatisfaction with a church service or the song selection.  Of course this comes from a former worship leader, so I may be a bit hyper-critical.  Maybe I'd feel better if he made some kind of statement that he shouldn't have done this.  Rather, he continues:

I admit I prefer more traditional hymns. But even given that, I am convinced that much of the music being written for the Church today reflects an unfortunate trend—slipping across the line from worship to entertainment. Evangelicals are in danger of amusing ourselves to death, to borrow the title of the classic Neil Postman book.

You really won't get too much of an argument from me here; however using "Draw me Close" to prove your case, I think, was a wrong choice (Todd here, again).  That said, I can take any hymnal and show either lame songs or bad theology that goes back hundreds of years; including some hymns much more touchy-feely than "Draw me Close"!

The trend is also true of Christian radio, historically an important source of in-depth teaching. Many stations have recently dropped serious programming in favor of all-music formats. For example, a major Baltimore station dropped four talk shows to add music. A respected broadcaster recently dropped “Focus on the Family,” claiming it had become too focused on “moral issues.”

When a Cincinnati station replaced “BreakPoint” with music, I told the station manager that believers need to think Christianly about major worldview issues. Her reply? Younger women want “something to help them cope with life.”

Todd again:  I wonder if this station dropping his program was the catylist for his outburst in the service.  Seems like a leap here.  (Instead of kicking the cat; we'll kick the worship leader)  :)

This view was confirmed by a Christian homemaker during a TV special on evangelicalism. She is so busy, she explained, with her kids, Bible study, cooking, and all, that she does not even get to read the newspaper. Church for her is getting her spirits lifted. Now admittedly, modern life creates enormous stress, but can’t the Church offer comfort and help people confront the culture? Of course, music is important in the life of the Church. But it cannot replace solid teaching.

Absolutely (Todd again)... but maybe this same Christian homemaker needed the comfort of expressing these words to her Savior after that really busy, tough week:  "You're all I want; You're all I've ever needed; You're all I want; Help me know You are near."  (Just a thought).

The decision by Christian broadcasters to avoid moral controversies could result in the Church withdrawing from the culture as it tragically did a century ago. The great strength of radio, as with books, has been to present in-depth teaching that engages Christians cognitively. Unfortunately, thinking analytically is something Christians find increasingly difficult. According to a government study, the average college graduate’s proficient literacy in English has declined from 40 percent in 1992 to 31 percent ten years later. The study defines proficient literacy as the ability to read lengthy, complex texts and draw complicated inferences.

Todd:  Actually, I see the opposite happening.  I see many churches engaging the culture in ways they never have before; which, quite frankly ,is attacked by many.  I'm not sure about Christian radio.

This is horrifying. The Gospel above everything else is revealed propositional truth—truth that speaks to all of life. Sure, the Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. But if you want to study doctrine and worldview, you need the capacity to engage ideas cognitively. Doctrine and biblical teaching does not consist of dry, abstract notions. It is the truth that must be carried to the heart and applied. And there is no escaping that it is truth that must be learned.

Here I'll agree.  :)

When Postman published his book two decades ago, he feared television would impair our capacity to think. He was right. But can we learn from this—or are we destined to follow suit, with the Church blissfully amusing itself into irrelevance?

My final thought:  Wake up... the church has been blissfully amusing itself into irrelevance for over a decade now.  Most people don't even look to the church for their spiritual needs anymore.  You can't get much more irrelevant than that.

That's why so many of the discussions we have here at MMI are so important.  Relevance is key.  And the unchanging message of the gospel must reach our culture in a relevant way.  While we may differ on what that looks like, it must be done.

Any thoughts?

Todd

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