Friday
Nov282008
Try to Change
Friday, November 28, 2008 at 7:37PM I heard a song on CBC Radio 2 today that I knew I'd have to buy when I got home. It's by Mother Mother, and it's called Try to Change.
Try to change..
I try to change..
I make a list of all the ways to change my ways.
But I stay the same,
I stay the same...I will try and try to change
but the list I made of changes to make,
it blew away.
The lyrics work really well when you hear them, and it's kind of a fun song. It's on iTunes, at least in Canada, if you want to check it out. I may have to play this song once in a while when I'm tempted to preach a moralistic sermon.
Reader Comments (14)
Does it offer any hope?
George: Quite the opposite. The song ends, "I try, it's safe to say...Don't change." The message of the song is half right: our efforts to change ourselves always fail. This is an important message in an age of Oprah and moralistic, therapeutic preaching. And the ending, "Don't change" is pretty much the only option from a human perspective. But I think we have a better option.
Yes we do and we have to proclaim Him. I read the lyrics and it reminded me of my Ephesians 2:1-3 days, so empty and hopeless and dead. I guess I aksed the question because I missed how it was a "fun" song. The whole CD is empty as far as the lyrics go. IMO
You didn't see humor in the lyrics? They take a serious issue and poke some fun at our attempts to change ourselves. The music works well with the words. Common grace means that God gives insight to even unbelievers. I could see using this song in trying to teach the passage you quote, Ephesians 2:1-3. Of course, I don't expect everyone to share my appreciation of a particular song, much less my sense of fun! ;)
Yea , we sure are different when it comes to how we engage our world Darryl. I used to be so much a part of the world and its music and it's entertainment and it's desires and lusts. But that just doesn't make any sense to me now as a follower of Christ. I can't get enthusiastic about empty, hopeless songs that have nothing to offer. They can poke all the fun they want and so many people can relate and that's why it sells, but they have no answer. I don't get the attraction to emptiness like that. I understand the world's attraction to it but not ours. I think in our engagement with the world we as Christians should reflect more and take to heart Philippians 4:8 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. IMO
George: I couldn't disagree more regarding the arts, but that's okay. You're a good guy, and we can continue this discussion sometime over coffee. Have a great day tomorrow.
Darryl, it was a great day, great weekend. 17 baptisms and the start of a new series on the love of God. I thought about it as I sat there, the love of God. I've experienced His love and grace in my own life and as I consider how to now interact with the world, how should I do that. I am more convinced than ever that the reason why so many Christians aren't experiencing victory in their lives is because of all the compromise. Wanting their faith, but having this insatiable need for the entertainment of the world. A foot in both worlds. God doesn't honor that kind of a life, doesn't bless it, His Word is so clear on that. We should have that coffee, that will be a good discussion. I'll leave you with a quote from a chapter in a little book written by a number of Christian leaders called Worldliness - Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. This quote is from a chapter called "God, my heart, and music" written by Bob Kauflin. He writes, "It is not uncommon for Christians on Sunday mornings to worship Jesus for his substitutionary death on the cross, then sing songs during the week that exalt the sins he died for. We sing, 'My chains are gone, I've been set free' then remain enslaved to lyrics that promote fornication, profanity, anger, godless pleasure, sensuality, and materialism." Then he goes on to quote James 3:10. It's so true, then consider the movies so many find so necessary to take in. Worship the name of Jesus on Sunday morning but then rent or go to a movie that insists on cursing his name, thereby being a party to the offence. We have become so desensitized to worldliness in so many ways. Here's a great message by Chip Ingram where among other things he talks about how we have progressed down the slope to such compromise and worldliness. Talk to you soon. http://www.straightupconference.org/BlogEntry.aspx?site_id=10062&entry_id=79311" rel="nofollow">http://www.straightupconference.org/BlogEntry.aspx?site_id=10062&entry_id=79311
George: Great to hear about the morning at Harvest. 17 baptisms is amazing. I know I referred you to John Frame's article on movies. Did you get a chance to read it? http://tinyurl.com/6h6tdw" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/6h6tdw I wouldn't ever argue that you should violate your conscience. But I believe that we would be impoverished if we built up a wall and didn't read great literature written by non-Christians, or listen to Jazz, classical music, or even rock. Discernment is needed, but as Frame points out, the extremes of total acceptance/total withdrawal aren't really the best options. I agree that what Frame argues for isn't easy. It's much easier to accommodate ourselves or withdraw. We certainly need accountability and discernment. But as Frame says, "We must not seek to isolate ourselves from the world, but rather to be 'salt' and 'light' in our fallen culture, to carry out our Lord's Great Commission."
I did read it Darryl. It all comes back to motivation, why is it we are engaging in the world's entertainment. Is it in order to speak to it, analyze it, refute it with truth etc, or is it to be entertained by it. I think some of what he says is like the immature Christian who wants to know how close to the cliff he can get without going over. How much of the world can I take in without it influencing me. I think if that is the mindset, one is definitely on the slippery slope. I guess it all comes down to walking in the Spirit. What does my life look like when it comes to my entertainment choices if my desire is to walk in the Spirit and bring glory to God. Maybe a good question to ask, "how will this choice of mine bring glory to God" We are commanded to do everything to the glory of God. I wonder how you might counsel a new Christian on engaging with the world with respect to his or her entertainment choices. For that matter how would you teach your people about that. How ought they to make their choices, what should they keep in mind. I was reading Romans 7 and 8 this morning. I relate to the tension Paul describes at the end of chapter 7, how we are still in this flesh and the battle that is there. Then chapter 8 about walking in the Spirit, I love it, God is so great and so willing to help us as we walk in the Spirit. In the degree to which we yield, is the degree to which we will be filled and empowered and experience his power in our lives and ministries. I also wonder how you might explain this verse from 1 John 2, "15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." As for the baptisms we stand in awe of what God is doing. I am so grateful to be a part of it. Our pastor preached on baptism a few weeks ago and close to 50 people were led to be baptized. I think there are many people in churches who have come to a saving faith but have never been baptized. I think a big reason for that is that churches don't encourge much in that area. After I got saved, I was fired up in my walk with the Lord in this church we started going to. We went to Sunday school 101 102 etc. 102 was about church membership and baptism. I thought that after taking the class someone would come alongside and ask us about baptism and were we ready to be obedient to the Lord in that area and were we considering membership and all of that. None of that happened and I couldn't understand that. Then as I slowly matured in my walk, I started really looking around and asking God for discernment about what was going on at this church and I realized more and more it was all about keeping the people happy. Don't challenge too much, stay away from controversial issues, try to be real cool in being relevant, basically seeker sensitive, associated with Willowcreek (which I didn't know much about at the time)I loved the church though and many people in the church, solid Christians, became good friends of ours. But as I look back on that now I see how they had made a decision as to the direction they wanted to go and it was a more man centered direction. One of the first things that happened in our family when we came to Harvest was that my wife, my son and myself got baptized I think it was the fourth week or so there. Harvest Oakville wasn't even a church yet (just meeting together during the week at that time) but we got baptized through Harvest Barrie. I'm so thankful for that, the intentionality of it, the striving to be faithful to God and what He has to say to us in His Word. I'm just very thankful.
George: 1 John 2:15 is a useful passage, as you mention. I believe John is talking about the world's values that run opposed to God's kingdom. It's a useful verse as we think about these issues. You say, "It all comes back to motivation, why is it we are engaging in the world's entertainment. Is it in order to speak to it, analyze it, refute it with truth etc, or is it to be entertained by it." Yes, motive is important, but is it always wrong to be entertained? If I listen to a world-class guitarist, is it wrong to appreciate his artistry, or is this a sin? Being entertained is not in itself wrong. Is listening to Mozart or reading Shakespeare for pleasure wrong? From what you've written, it seems you would say it is. Let me know if I'm understanding you correctly.
No, I don't think it's always wrong to be entertained Darryl. Not even by Mozart or reading Shakespeare although personally, that wouldn't entertain me. It's all about what are you being entertained by, what are you watching, what are you listening to. My initial reaction to your post was not understanding your enthusiasm for a song that is just so hopeless, that offers nothing about how it is that one can change. Is that the message we as Christians should link to and purchase and promote. I'm sorry Darryl but that just doesn't make sense to me and I know we differ dramatically on that. I think it would much better for us as the followers of Jesus Christ to be communicating to the world how it is that one can change. Here's the rest of the lyrics to that song and can you just help me as a follower of Christ to understand what is "fun" in those words? I will try and try to change but I just stay the same. Stay the same, I stay the same. In a decadent age I try to change all my decadent ways but I just can't help but stay the same. In a decadent age. Ohh.. I will try and try to change but I just stay the same. The same.. The same.. The same.. The same.. Carry a cane. I carry a cane. 'cause I tried to change and I tried too hard so I hurt my leg and well, overall I just stayed the same. Now I carry a cane. Ohh.. I will try and try to change but the list I made of changes to make, it bleww awaayy.. blew away.. blew away.. blew away.. Try to change, Try to change, I try to change, Try to change, Everybody be tryin' to change, tryin' to change, I try to change, I try, it's safe to say, [something..] Don't change
George: Have you actually listened to the song, or just read the lyrics? You can't see the humor in someone trying so hard to change, and trying so hard that they not only fail but injure themselves? It's not laugh out loud funny, but it's certainly lighthearted and yet insightful. It tells us something of the human condition. When I heard the song, I appreciated that this group knows something that some preachers don't seem to know. I think this comment thread has outlived its usefulness. Thanks for helping me try to understand your positions better, George.
Just tell when we are done Darryl, but you did just ask me another question, "Have you actually listened to the song, or just read the lyrics?" I just read the lyrics Darryl, but I'm sure the music is good. I listened to another song of Mother Mother and I kind of like the music but it comes down to the lyrics in my opinion. "You can't see the humor in someone trying so hard to change, and trying so hard that they not only fail but injure themselves?" I acutally find that more sad than humorous. I've seen a lot of people trying to bring about change themselves and they continue to suffer. It can't be done, not for any real change. Only God through the gospel of Jesus Christ and by the power of His Spirit can really change a person. That's what I want to tell them as I reach out to them and especially those who are so hurting. Only God can change them. When people continue to hurt themselves because they keep trying to change themselves their own way or by the ways of the world and I see that, I don't see any humor in that at all, I find it very depressing and I want to share the love of Jesus Christ with them. A good example of that in our society is the inability of AA to really help people. They are good as long as they stay in the group and some will stay for decades going to groups. But as soon as they walk away so many go back to drinking because the root issue is not being dealt with. They hurt themselves all over again and it is very sad to see.
George, I'm done!