Interesting read and reminds me of Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. We (OK...I am) are quick to judge such public flame-outs such as Scott Stapp, especially if there is an admixture of the name of "Christianity" in there - but your reminder is true - we must extend mercy.

I was once a Scott Stapp - not the famous or platinum record selling part - but the excessive sin and self destruction and running from legalism parts. Paul reminds us all, In 1 Cor 6:11 - And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

i have concentrated all my beard growing rays into one single mega soul patch.
nevertheless, I salute the full bearded brothers!

Good post. At first I was like "Yeah...but..."

then I read "we might as well say, 'I'm sorry Jesus died for you". the Gospel is the Gospel because it is GOOD NEWS. True...this news may offend some, but it has the power to save all who come to Him.

Rom. 1:16.

-M

I would say "New Improved...now with more Blasphemy!"

that picture is RIDICULOUS

wow.
Our current Pastors kids are all grown and not in the area. I've never met them!
My previous Pastors kids were certainly wild...

Katy Perry.
Katy Hudson.

Seriously?

No wonder most "Christian"-pop makes me squirrely.

Very good and timely post.

I just heard Francis Chan preach on this exact passage. And...today, for no obvious reason, a brother sent me an old e-mail of someone in our church complaining about worship to him, he sent it to me as kind of an encouraging "look how far we've come" kinda thing....but...the person's main complaint was that they could not "hear" the voices of fellow brothers and sisters praising the Lord together above all the amplification and drums.

I think he has a point...

So to answer your question - to sing "to" one another we actually have to "hear" one another -so watch the stage and PA volume.

Also, I would stress here that we must, as Bob K loves to say, "sing songs that say something". We have to sing songs soaked in rich doctrinal truths - not just sappy pop/worship music - actual scripture, doctrine, theology - and therein as we speak/sing the word of God to each other, his Spirit will be released and it'll be ON!

-M