Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Derek Webb has digitally released his new album on his Web site, however the circumstances are a bit unique for a Christian release. See, there is going to be what basically amounts to a clean and explicit version. Personally, I prefer to think of it as you're able to buy either a sanitized or powerful version.

What brought this about? A single song titled "What Matters More," where Webb dares to suggest that people focusing on homosexuality over, say, people STARVING TO DEATH, are missing the point. I can't say I disagree. Sadly, the message has been given before. While doing a bit of research, I found that the song is really a parallel to a message given by Tony Campolo:

I have three things to say today. 1st: While you were sleeping last night 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. 2nd: Most of you don’t give a shit. 3rd: What’s worse is that you are more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.


The problem is ... so many people don't want to hear it. The thing is, it's easier to hate than love -- love takes work, hate just takes being pissed. So, working to love someone you don't know? It's unthinkable to some Christians, even if they mouth the words.

So, judge for yourself. Here's a video for the song with the lyrics below:



What Matters More, by Derek Webb

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 consent 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 shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin' today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

2 comments:

  1. This wasn't controversial! It's very true! I will only say this: It's not just Christians that are like that. Most people are like that, and it's more a matter of out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality. It's not that people don't care, it's that they flat-out don't realize or face that it's going on. Much like parents who can tell their kids have drug problems but hope the situation will resolve itself, you know?

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  2. Saw your blog from clicking on the link from your Kotaku post. Just thought I would say you might wanna look into resizing the video window. I say this because it blocks some of your info on the right hand column. If you're not sure how, just change the width and height numbers to be proportional in the HTML (if the w x h is 600 x 300, multiply each one by .9 or .85 and use those numbers instead of the 600 and 300.). Just a thought. Good luck keeping up the blog.

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