This month let's explore some red flags and the reasons we ignore them, ponder a book about "othering", and question some sketchy worship songs along with the theology behind them.
Elle was in the same safe house about 3 yrs ago. She admitted to me after we got out, that she went there just to get a job and a car. And that none of the classes pertained to her.. hmm let see why. Cause she knows she wasn’t trafficked. Her lies have spun out of control. I’m close with her family, and it breaks my heart to see Elle mother going through those she had cancer and is afraid she won’t ever see Elle before she passes
So first, I agree that there are dangerous things about Bethel . But- would ask you to perhaps be open to those of us who are wired to be more emotional, often there is a true spirituality behind it that God works through and uses.
Also the Build Your Church lines are just a progression of that same Scripture- they are the words of Jesus. To Peter, granted- so it’s quite unclear what that means for the rest of us!- but I think there’s room for a good faith argument that binding and loosing is a thing for the church per Matthew 16:19— and no I’m not NAR at all.
As for breakthrough- I agree we can’t make God give us one by just thinking hard about receiving! So I agree those specific lyrics are ehhh. But the longing for breakthrough- for healing, deliverance, freedom from destructive habits, relational repair- is a healthy one, I think. Admitting our complete dependence on God-which is very different than complete dependence on man or on any one church!- is the historic Christian posture that we are meant to lean into in worship, I’d say. And I don’t believe Maverick is NAR associated, but I could be wrong there.. .would love to know.
Fear is not my Future is otherwise a pretty awesome song I’d say. Maybe it’s not a great ‘worship’ song for Sunday morning— but for private listening, I find it edifying and take it as more of a declaration that the Kingdom is both now and not yet, with a big focus on the now- which is extremely Scriptural. Christ really did something on the cross! There are real powers that are no longer ruling in the same way. Hallelujah to that.
Thanks for your thoughts! I am a pretty emotionally driven person and I think that’s why I feel concern about emotional manipulation and being grounded in truth. Many of these songs can mean perfectly fine things to the people singing them, but from an NAR perspective they can mean something completely different. Like my own cult the NAR has changed definitions of words for their followers. 😬
There are so many gifted and amazing artists currently within Maverick—(Naomi Raine is anointed IMO)- I actually feel some recent concerns about a few others for different reasons—but on the whole I think another trick of the enemy aside from deception posing as truth— is to get us throw babies out with bathwater and thus not benefit from good gifts! It’s all so challenging.
Brandon Lake from Maverick is connected to Elevation Worship and Bethel Music. These music labels are in turn connected to churches that are either explicitly NAR or affiliated with NAR. Digging into all of the connections and beliefs is eye opening. But they have money so it makes sense. I wonder how many of the artists go along with the labels without digging into the theology?
One of my favorite songs was written by a woman with close ties to Bill Johnson of Bethel. 😭 The best lies are super close to truth.
I was in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church for 20 years and am still experiencing the fallout in my family from that cult church. I'm writing a book about it and am realizing that I deconstructed my flight before deconstructionism was a word. Thank God I was able to stand strong in my faith again but I know many who did not. It's time for the church to wake up and stop hurting people or covering it up!
You're not the first person to bring attention to the "theology" behind Bethel and Elevation music's worship songs. I believe more evangelical churches need to really be careful with what we're singing about because words matter...and singing choruses over and over and over with words being imprinted in our minds (and ear worms!) means that we're being brainwashed with them as well.
Thank you, and I do hope you'll do a more in depth post about the danger in these lyrics. The danger is just as real as any danger ever was in rock music. We need to have our minds renewed in Christ, not in theology that's veered so far away from Him.
You’ve given me so much to think about. I’ve been a follower of Jesus since 1990 and never considered what might be the objective of some “worship” music.
Elle was in the same safe house about 3 yrs ago. She admitted to me after we got out, that she went there just to get a job and a car. And that none of the classes pertained to her.. hmm let see why. Cause she knows she wasn’t trafficked. Her lies have spun out of control. I’m close with her family, and it breaks my heart to see Elle mother going through those she had cancer and is afraid she won’t ever see Elle before she passes
So first, I agree that there are dangerous things about Bethel . But- would ask you to perhaps be open to those of us who are wired to be more emotional, often there is a true spirituality behind it that God works through and uses.
Also the Build Your Church lines are just a progression of that same Scripture- they are the words of Jesus. To Peter, granted- so it’s quite unclear what that means for the rest of us!- but I think there’s room for a good faith argument that binding and loosing is a thing for the church per Matthew 16:19— and no I’m not NAR at all.
As for breakthrough- I agree we can’t make God give us one by just thinking hard about receiving! So I agree those specific lyrics are ehhh. But the longing for breakthrough- for healing, deliverance, freedom from destructive habits, relational repair- is a healthy one, I think. Admitting our complete dependence on God-which is very different than complete dependence on man or on any one church!- is the historic Christian posture that we are meant to lean into in worship, I’d say. And I don’t believe Maverick is NAR associated, but I could be wrong there.. .would love to know.
Fear is not my Future is otherwise a pretty awesome song I’d say. Maybe it’s not a great ‘worship’ song for Sunday morning— but for private listening, I find it edifying and take it as more of a declaration that the Kingdom is both now and not yet, with a big focus on the now- which is extremely Scriptural. Christ really did something on the cross! There are real powers that are no longer ruling in the same way. Hallelujah to that.
Thanks for your thoughts! I am a pretty emotionally driven person and I think that’s why I feel concern about emotional manipulation and being grounded in truth. Many of these songs can mean perfectly fine things to the people singing them, but from an NAR perspective they can mean something completely different. Like my own cult the NAR has changed definitions of words for their followers. 😬
Yes makes sense. And if you find any explicit Maverick/ NAR links please let me know! I’m not aware of them.
OK, got it. Thanks!
There are so many gifted and amazing artists currently within Maverick—(Naomi Raine is anointed IMO)- I actually feel some recent concerns about a few others for different reasons—but on the whole I think another trick of the enemy aside from deception posing as truth— is to get us throw babies out with bathwater and thus not benefit from good gifts! It’s all so challenging.
Thanks for the dialogue on this.
Brandon Lake from Maverick is connected to Elevation Worship and Bethel Music. These music labels are in turn connected to churches that are either explicitly NAR or affiliated with NAR. Digging into all of the connections and beliefs is eye opening. But they have money so it makes sense. I wonder how many of the artists go along with the labels without digging into the theology?
One of my favorite songs was written by a woman with close ties to Bill Johnson of Bethel. 😭 The best lies are super close to truth.
I was in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church for 20 years and am still experiencing the fallout in my family from that cult church. I'm writing a book about it and am realizing that I deconstructed my flight before deconstructionism was a word. Thank God I was able to stand strong in my faith again but I know many who did not. It's time for the church to wake up and stop hurting people or covering it up!
So glad you’ve gotten out and are reconstructing a different faith. 💕
It closed and the pastor went to jail, so yes. We all got out but the pastor. 😁
Oh my!! 😲
You're not the first person to bring attention to the "theology" behind Bethel and Elevation music's worship songs. I believe more evangelical churches need to really be careful with what we're singing about because words matter...and singing choruses over and over and over with words being imprinted in our minds (and ear worms!) means that we're being brainwashed with them as well.
Thank you, and I do hope you'll do a more in depth post about the danger in these lyrics. The danger is just as real as any danger ever was in rock music. We need to have our minds renewed in Christ, not in theology that's veered so far away from Him.
You’ve given me so much to think about. I’ve been a follower of Jesus since 1990 and never considered what might be the objective of some “worship” music.
It’s definitely worth thinking about.
Thanks for featuring Othered, Christy! And brilliant write up re: red flags too!
Thanks! And you are so welcome! 😊
This is SUCH a valid piece to the puzzle and one that I have seen over and over again unfortunately.