Monday, February 23, 2009

I have opinions, watch out!

I listen to K-Love...I love my Contemporary Christian Music. It is so encouraging! But I'm having a bit of an issue. I don't recall, until recently, K-Love playing Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel."

I am having a terrible time listening to that song when I know the song she recently released about something like 'not even knowing his last name.' I don't even know the whole song, I just know that it exists.

Really? I don't understand how such a 'theme' can come out of the same person who was basically saying 'Jesus, take control of my life'.

I'm baffled. And I turn the song off everytime.

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My second soapbox for the day is regarding suicide.

It makes me angry. This must be the most selfish thing anyone can ever do.

Especially if you have a family. Not just parents, siblings and extended family, but children. Young children. You have left your children without a parent. You have affected them for the rest of their lives. What have you solved for them? Not one thing.

If you weren't already gone, I'd slap you for even considering this as a solution. You have searched for the solution in the wrong place...because if you had searched in God, you would've seen Hope in any situation.

There's probably a merciful way I'm supposed to look at this...but I'm having a hard time finding it right now.

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I'm sure you weren't expecting such a post...but I had to get it out there.

Maybe tomorrow I'll just post something beautiful...like pictures of my sweet babies.

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18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I find it HIGHLY hypocritical of KLOVE to play it. THey know the song is out there but they look the other way because she has one religious song. It is very disappointing.

rthling said...

Aw, crap! I didn't even know who sang that song, much less, what other music she's done!

Brittany said...

I love your opinions! I am with you...on both topics!

Suzanne said...

Our local Christian radio station does the same thing and I always get excited when I hear these songs, 'cause then I think, "Yay! S/he's a Christian!" I guess stations should do more homework before plopping any "Christian" songs on.
Some more of the artists coming out of American Idol have me baffled, is Jordin Sparks a follower of Christ? Guess I have to do MY homework. This is especially huge because I have an 11 year old who is getting into music now and I would like to support wholesome artists...

Unknown said...

I agree on both subjects.

The second song you mentioned is really bad!!

I hope you haven't had to deal with the suicide of someone close to you!

I look forward to the pictures of you babies :)

Sara said...

I completely understand how you feel about Carrie Underwood Tina. We turn KLOVE on because we want to escape the secular pressures of the world and want to listen to encouraging Christian songs, however, I have a different feeling towards it.

We're Christians, right? We're forgiven, but we're nowhere near perfect. Someone said that is hypocrtical of them, but is it? Is it hypocritical to say, "She's washed in the blood of Jesus, but she struggles with the exact same sins we struggle with? The worldly struggles of a singer facing pressures of the world?"

It's the truth. We all sin. We somtimes joke about our sin, cry about our sin, and even SING about our sin (as she does). Of course, we should turn those feelings into worshiping our God and asking his Grace to cover us.

Suicide.... Now.. don't get me started on that, but I completely agree with you that one.

R and R Stacy said...

I agree on both sujects. Very disappointing. Thanks for sharing.

Kelli said...

I hardly ever get to listen to anything but childrens cd's on my car stereo so I dont even know either of those songs.

I agree with you on the 2nd topic but at the same time. I think we really can not understand the path the person has walked, or maybe even the chemical imbalance in their brain, if they could get close to god, maybe it would have changed but I think we just dont understand. NOW on to if they did it because they were in trouble with the law and might have to go to prison or something so killed themselves as an alternative to jail, slap them twice

Denise said...

Hi Tina. You are certainly entitled to your opinions. I totally agree with you on the second issue, but I'm on the fence with the first one. However, I listend to WKQK Oldies radio, so I guess I can't have an opinion about what K-Love plays.
Have a great day.
Denise

Are You Serious! said...

♥ It always amazes me how an actor/actress can do an amazing wonderful movie and then a trashy one... same thing with music and life in general I guess...

As for suicide... Yeah I agree although I have an even harder time with those that i've heard about recently that killed their kids then wife first and then themselves! I can't even imagine being in a place where I thought that was teh only option! It's very sad!

Anonymous said...

Tina,

When I read this post I gasped. I could care less about Carrie Underwood, but the part about suicide is harsh. I don't think people go to the extreme of killing themselves for selfish reasons.

The level of desperation you would have to feel to go through with something that final must be excruciating.

Depression is a disease and people who have it suffer horribly.

I find it distasteful that a Christian would pass that kind of judgment on the deceased.

Matthew 7:1

Oh Dear said...

I don't know anything about Carrie Underwood but wonder if those of you who know the other song should send a note to KLove? Just a thought. They have a website you know.

Tina said...

You know, part of the reason I wrote this post was to get comments such as Sarah's. She appears to have the mercy that I admitted to not having.

I will never understand suicide.

I did not intend to be judgmental. I do not claim to have the proper 'Christian' opinion.

This person left behind four children, who apparently had a hand in finding him after the incident...so yes, it seems to me that he was not thinking of how his decision would impact them.

I appreciate Sarah's comment...it will make me do some research.

Lizzie said...

I agree with you totally!! On both subjects. Suicide -I as a Christian believe the bible when it says that taking your own life is wrong, so there is no way I can even come close to condoning it. I sympathize with any depression, but cannot sympathize with that solution.

JMBMOMMY said...

Tina,

I think it is normal to react to suicide in this way at first. I agree with others that it is so much deeper than someone simply "not thinking" ... but about 3 months ago a really good friend of mine that I grew up with and whose Sister I am best friends with ... took his life... left behind a sweet, sweet wife and 2 babies. He did it knowing that his wife would be back with the baby in 10 min..in their back yard. The scene was horrifying...and that precious lady will never be able to get the image out of his head.

I think Satan is a much better deceiver than we give him credit for....He is called the Father of Lies for a reason!

I think in my friend's case..Satan had decieved him so deeply he couldn't think straight. And although I have no doubt he loved his wife and kids I think he believed so many lies that he didn't see another way out of his pain and problems. He felt like such a failure and he truly believed that his existence was hurting them more than taking his life would---in his letter he stated he was giving their life back!

When we are close to a situation or even hear of these cases--it is soo hard to understand.

I had the same thoughts at first too.

Christ alone can give us that grace for that person.

I know you are searching for it..and He is faithful to give it!

Love you sister!!!

Unknown said...

Back in the mid 90s, I worked at a Christian radio station. Around the same time, 2 prominent Christian artists had (separate) affairs. Yet the station continued to play one artist's music and not the other. Listeners called in to complain/inquire. Fortunately, the station manager had done her homework. The one artist had publicly repented of her sin (the affair) while the other artist had not (said he "made a mistake"). So they had a reason for the decision and were able to back it up. I would hope that KLove has done the same.

and regarding suicide, i have had to counsel teens on the loss of friends to suicide. Their concern is whether their friend would be in heaven. I have to believe that God's grace is SO BIG that He knows how desperate a person has to be to take their own life. I can't say that that person will be in heaven, but I can say that God is big enough, bigger than my finite brain, and knows each person's heart.

Thanks for sharing your opinions! That's one great thing i love about blogging!

Anonymous said...

Feel free to make this a separate post if you want to.

The world's view of Christians has taken away the true meaning of the verse that Sarah has chosen to tag at the end of her comment. I see Matthew 7:1 improperly interpretted so many times by both non-Christians and strangely enough Christians as well. People must choose to casually ignore the rest of Matthew 7.

Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Jesus CLEARLY is saying that we should not judge UNLESS we are prepared to be judged. How else can you explain it when He goes on to say in verse 5, "first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and THEN SHALT THOU SEE CLEARLY TO CAST THE MOTE OUT OF THY BROTHER'S EYE" or once you have confessed your sins, you'll be able to help your brother confess his as well. In other words, don't be a hypocrite. This passage does not forbid Christians to judge actions/sins.

I know the Bible does not contradict itself, so another way to show that Christians are called to judge, is John 7:24. Jesus says, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." Was everyone listening? Christ COMMANDED US TO JUDGE.

Now, the Bible does CLEARLY forbid judgement of someones salvation (only God knows our true hearts) and forbids judgement of someone's sin to make yourself appear better or above them.

The Bible also VERY CLEARLY calls on Christians to speak out against sin, hold one another accountable (i.e. JUDGE) and NEVER condone what God condems.

Attempting to justify ANY sin to make something more "tasteful" is heresy in God's eyes.

So in closing, we are to judge and we are to judge rightly, but we are not to judge eternally. Hopefully we Christians can take back the meaning of Matthew 7:1. Thanks for listening.

Donald
aka The Hubby

Smiling Shelly said...

Wow Tina! Deep subject matter. :)

First let me start by commenting on Donald's response - which is absolutely brilliant!!! Great Job Donald! Excellent!!

Glad you posted this expecting differences of opinions. It sounds like you were looking for a different viewpoint - an opinion that was not the same as yours that might give you a reason to re-evaluate your thoughts. Notice I said re-evaluate them, not 'change' them. ;)

I think this subject matter you have chosen is an excellent opportunity for both self and spiritual growth. Good for you!

I respectfully disagree with your thoughts regarding Carrie Underwood. I don't know if my opinion should even count, since I am only familiar with one of these songs; but, I don't thing that the Christian radio station should stop playing her music because of a song that shows a different side of her (as long as that side is not anti-Christian). Carrie Underwood has not represented herself as a "Christian Artist". She has represented herself as a Country Singer who also has a very good Christian song - which, I chose to believe shows us that she is also a Christian. As an artist, she should have diversity to sing about all subjects that her target area can relate to; otherwise, she's just another one hit wonder.

As for my thoughts on suicide...Whew! That's a more difficult subject - one that I do not claim to understand either. I can completely understand the reason you feel the way that you do. I'm not sure I agree with that either, though. But, then again, I've also never actually known someone to have committed suicide (THANK GOD!) I agree that it is NEVER the right answer. It doesn't solve anything - EVER! - in fact, it only makes things worse for the loved ones you left behind. Having said that, I also don't know what depression 'feels' like - and pray that I never do 'know' that feeling. I can not even imagine being in a place where I was ever able to rationalize, in my mind, that killing myself is the best/only option. I think that anger to suicide is a natural reaction, especially when there are children involved. Instead of wasting the energy on anger - nothing pleases the Devil more, amen? - use your energy for positive solutions such as love, support and prayers for the loved ones they left behind.

I'm Shelly and these are thoughts from my shell ;)
Take care, my friend.
Love you!