American Idol(atry)
I guess it might have hurt the ratings too much if the producers of American Idol were to mention the name of Jesus in last week’s performance. I was flipping though channels in relax mode when curiosity struck me. I don’t normally watch American Idol, but I thought I would listen in for a few to see what the hype was about. Go figure that a sonn-to-be pastor would tune in right about the time a popular worship song queued up. I heard the opening chords and though, “No stankin’ way! This is awesome!”
As it turns out, my excitement quickly shifted when the opening line was modified from “My Jesus, My Savior” to “My Shepherd, My Savior”. The flood of thoughts and emotions began. Here is the video:
The producers are brilliant really. They have managed to accommodate everyone, and no one is the wiser. For those who are believers, they were able to hear a familiar praise song that they would hear in a time of worship. They cry out, “Yea! How wonderful that a song like this is playing to millions.” While they are lauding the song choice, they overlook how (even more) watered down the song has become.
At the same time there are those who do not believe in Christ, and they would find nothing wrong with the song. Generic god, generic beliefs. “Everyone has their way to god. Spiritual, but not religious. Don’t fence me in with ‘one way’ talk. I can take spiritual meaning from this song.”
I would like to ask a couple of questions at this point: What is the promise that is referred to in the chorus? And, for whose name will all of creation bow down?
When you take the name out, you lose the ‘definite article’ of the whole song. Instead of ‘The Savior’ you get ‘a savior’. The definitive thrust of the song is lost to political correctness.
All that being said, I wonder if the songwriter approved the change. If they would have kept Jesus’ name in the song, would that have helped anything? Considering that a majority of the Bible is focused on God turning people from worshiping idols (false gods), maybe it’s divine irony that this song would be broadcast on a show promoting popularity, power, wealth, status, exclusivity, socio-cultural rifts, etc. The show pretty much thrives on getting a bunch of talented people together and one-by-one telling them, “You aren’t good enough.”
Wolf in sheep’s clothing…
your thoughts?
beyond the lyrics, the reality of having 12 wannabe mini-divas sing the song turned it into a mush of a song and horrible sounding. it sounds better at church when our old man band plays it.
i still think it’s a miracle that the song played at all, even though it sounds awkward with the lyrics “my shepherd” and it waters down the message. but it does bring up an interesting question. if the first line is the only line that makes the song Christian, and if every other line is generic enough that it’s acceptable for prime time TV, then why do we sing it in church?
as a worship leader, i’ve never had a problem with this song. but now i’m thinking of it differently…