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Hope for NewSong
(6/6/2005)

Last night I joined some friends over at Woodstock First Baptist church (http://www.fbcw.org/) to hear NewSong (http://www.newsongonline.com/). They were going to be featuring songs from their new “live” CD “Rescue” recorded at the very same location. I had heard them once before about a year or so ago. At the time, I had been impressed by the quality of their musicianship but disappointed by the focus on performance and the inclusion of secular material. However, I did my best to go into this with an open mind and seeking to find God in it.

We sat down while we looked around thoroughly impressed with the new gargantuan sanctuary. We had great seats and I looked over at the front center row which had a sign posted “Reserved for Fish Family Winners” (apparently the local Fish radio affiliate had some contest for the seats). The service started with several baptisms and each new convert was greeted with applause as they rose from the water. After a brief greeting by the Pastor, NewSong took the stage.

They opened with a couple of worship songs which were performed well. The combination of their stage presence along with the multimedia on the huge monitors and the lights and fog made for quite a multi-sensory impact and the crowd responded accordingly. Then they went into “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield (a secular R & B artist best known as the leader of The Impressions and for his soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation film “Superfly”) which was arguably the first gospel-to-secular crossover hit ever written. They then transitioned into “Shout” by The Isley Brothers (a song by the R & B group from the late 50s which started in gospel music and later abandoned it for the secular music world) which enjoyed renewed popularity with the release of the movie “Animal House” in 1978. My son leaned over and whispered that he expected to see John Belushi doing flips down the aisle at any moment (the scene being similar to a cross between the aforementioned movie and “The Blues Brothers”…”THE BAND! IT’S THE BAND, MAN!”). I was feeling pretty depressed by this point when the band then went into a few rounds of “Sweet Home Alabama” (the Southern rock band known for their abuse of alcohol and drugs and the 1977 plane crash which killed several members of the band) substituting “Woodstock” for “Alabama.” The crowd was going wild and I just sat in my seat sinking into despair. Then they went into a song called “Arise” which was a truly moving song about the resurrection of Christ and I dared to hope again.

They then took a break for the offering. The Pastor took the stage and talked about what an inspiration NewSong (some of the band were members) was to all of their congregation and how the band depended on their offerings to go out and do what they do. While the plates were being passed, Michael O’Brien and a woman from the church sang a duet about the love between a man and a woman called “When God Made You.”

When the band returned, they did some worship songs including a great arrangement of “How Great Thou Art.” Then Michael gave part of his testimony and it was truly moving. There is no doubt that God has brought him through a great deal of pain. And then he said something which brought a big smile to my face. He said something like “Listen to this because this is the big idea that I’m trying to get across…repentance.” Praise God! He went on to explain what it meant and how it was essential to surrendering your life to Christ. I’m willing to forgive a lot of other stuff when I hear a message like that from a CCM group! They then went into one of my favorite songs “Rescue” by Jared Anderson and I sang along as my heart ached bearing witness to the words. He gave an invitation and before it was over there were probably 200 people at the altar.

So there is hope for NewSong. Admittedly, it was a mixed offering. God DID receive some glory in it but most of the glory and worship was for NewSong. The Lord DID move in some hearts (including mine) IN SPITE OF the focus on them, the attempt to emulate secular rock stars, and the attempt to supplement the power of God with the same sort of multimedia impact used at car shows. There were decisions made by almost 200 people that night. But the question in my mind is WHY did they choose to come to the front and WHAT were they deciding? The “show” was a multi-sensory experience just about as professional as any I’ve ever seen. It was bound to have an impact on anyone and especially on young people who have been raised and fed on dreams of being a celebrity. Were they choosing to deny themselves and take up their cross or were they deciding that they wanted to be celebrities for God someday, too? What was the unspoken message that they were responding to?

I think a clue to the explanation of why they are seeking to win the approval of both man and God is in Michael’s testimony. He said that in his BC (Before Christ) days he used to surround himself with people who made him feel good about himself. I think he and the band are still trying to shore up their self-images by desperately seeking to ride the fence between music ministry and rock stardom. They are due to be inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame this week. I hope that they get off the fence and choose the narrow path so that someday they will be inducted into God’s Hall of the Faithful and True.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.

John 12:43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God

Malachi 1:6,7,10 Says the LORD of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, "In what way have we despised Your name?' "You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, "In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, "The table of the LORD is contemptible. 'Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.”