There is a fast-growing trend in modern “gospel music” which bothers me. Now it’s no surprise that things bother me. The Word of Faith Movement bothers me, the seeker-sensitive movement bothers me, the Emergent Church bothers me. Were it not for the many people who know me, most would assume I’m a hapless teenager with nothing to smile about.

Well today I go a little further in propagating that image of myself by taking on one of “gospel” music’s biggest acts, Mary Mary. Now before I go on, let’s be clear. I am not out to slander then as people – they may be very nice. I’m not out to call their profession of faith into question – that is one judgement I cannot make. I am however intending to look at their music and observe a disturbing trend – that of self-worship.

Now, the First Commandment is clear:

Exo 20:2-3 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (3) “You shall have no other gods before me.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism expands on this in Questions 47-48:

Q47: What is forbidden in the First Commandment?
A47: The First Commandment forbiddeth the denying, [1] or not worshipping and glorifying the true God, [2] as God, [3] and the giving of that worship and glory to any other which is due to Him alone. [4]

1. Psa. 14:1
2. Rom. 1:20-21
3. Psa. 81:11
4. Rom. 1:25

Q48: What are we specially taught by these words, before me in the First Commandment?

A48: These words before me in the First Commandment, teach us, That God who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God. [1]

1. Psa. 44:20-21

When I listen to the music of Mary Mary, I cannot help but notice a subtle trangression of the First Commandment, in that there is, at least, an implicit self-worship which permeates their latest work. To ascertain whether this is truly the case, let me take our consideration to two of their latest tracks:

GOD IN ME
FORGIVEN ME

Before I get into the song, there’s something I want to get off my chest. What does these musicians mean when they say “Gospel?” I’ve understood the term Gospel in the past to mean:

1Co 15:1-5 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, (2) and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you–unless you believed in vain. (3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (5) and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

If there is one thing I have learnt about being Reformed, it’s this: the Gospel is not a message about YOU! Shocking, but hear me out. The Gospel is a declaration of what GOD has done in CHRIST for the REDEMPTION of sinners. John Piper puts it best: GOD IS THE GOSPEL! If, as a musician, the themes of Christ and Him crucified are absent from your music, hang up your mic and quit calling your music “gospel”, because it ain’t! Now, back to the music in question…

In these two songs, I find a strong current of “me-worship”. Let’s begin with GOD IN ME:

Let’s break it down:

Your so fly your so high
Everbody around you trying to figure out why
Your so cool you win all the time
Everywhere you go man you get a lot of shine
You’re draw like a magnet better yet I have it
Everything you wear people say they got have it
From the sweat suit to the white tee to the gucci
You can probably say people wanna get like me

Excuse me? How many times does the word “you” appear here? I wear glasses so my sight may not be all that great, but I count 10 (11 if you include “me”). Forgive me if I fail to see any sense of transcendance in this song – but then there are some lyrics – which are incredibly non-descript:

But what they don’t know is when you go home
And get behind closed doors man you hit the floor
And what they can’t see is your on your knees
So the next time you get a chance tell em

It’s the God in me (5x)
You think I’m so fresh you think I’m so clean
You think I’m so sweet It’s the God in me

Sounds like a lot like the blasted prosperity doctrine to me: God in me will produce lots of riches and money! Well, why didn’t we tell Paul that sooner? He could have made his life so much more comfortable:

1Co 4:11-13 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, (12) and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; (13) when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

2Co 11:23-27 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one–I am talking like a madman–with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. (24) Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; (26) on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; (27) in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Poor Paul. Had he only known the secret of the prosperous life, he would have had it made!

No, dear friends, being a Christian is no more a guarantee that you’ll be rich and prosperous than being tall means you’ll play good basketball. But this is the music that is supposedly representing the Gospel? I think I’ll pass…

Let’s be clear – God in Me really isn’t ABOUT God in me – it’s all about RICHES. I could listen to 50 Cent talk about his riches and I wouldn’t see much of a difference. Talk about “whips” (cars), clothes, “cribs” (houses) – I don’t give a rip!!!! You call yourself a Gospel musician – PREACH THE WORD!!!

Let’s move to the second track, Forgiven Me:

I will be frank. This track is trash! Utter and complete trash, clothed in Christian-ese language. Where in the Bible does it say we are to forgive ourselves? Maybe in the Joel Osteen Bible, but not in any sensible copy of the Word. We are called to forgive others in light of God’s forgiveness of us – not our forgiveness of ourselves. This sounds like what Dr. Phil would say, not Jesus, Paul, John, Peter or any of the prophets?

If this is what is calling itself Gospel music, then I am not interested. The Gospel music of old was rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Take my all-time favourite, Rock of Ages:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Compare that to God In Me – no contest. Or compare Forgiven Me to a recent favourite of mine:

Come, let us sing the song of songs—
The angels first began the strain—
The homage which to Christ belongs;
“Worthy the Lamb, for He was slain!”

Again, no darn contest! Now I’m not saying that there isn’t any good modern music out here, but if this is the music being peddled today, ditch it! Put music on your iPod which will contribute to your spiritual growth. Mary Mary are like ice-cream – tastes sweet but it ain’t too good for you.

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