This 'n' That

A couple days ago, the radio woke me by playing that most irksome praise song, "I Will Worship" (thanks a lot, Moody). The remainder of my day perfectly demonstrated why I loathe these catchy, theologically pathetic, self-exalting tunes. Why? Because I ended up humming or singing that stupid song all day. It was awful. No matter what I did, it kept popping back into my head (by now you may have noticed that I easily get annoying songs stuck in my head—is there a name for this condition? And, lest you think I'm the only one with this problem, please note that Thabiti Anyabwile had a worse song stuck in his head this morning.) It wasn't just the fact that I had an annoying melody running through my brain, though, it was the fact that I ended up singing about myself all day because of it.

Let's look at some of these stellar lyrics:

I will give you all my worship

I will give you all my praise

You alone I long to worship

You alone are worthy of my praise

I will worship (I will worship)

With all of my heart (With all of my heart)

I will praise you (I will praise you)

With all of my strength (With all my strength)

I will seek you (I will seek you)

All of my days (All of my days)

I will follow (I will follow)

Follow all of your ways (All your ways)

I will give you all my worship
I will give you all my praise
You alone I long to worship
You alone are worthy of my praise
What a perfect example of the narcissistic mindset that encompasses and defines not only our culture, but our churches! If you are singing this song in church, look closely and you'll discover with very little difficulty (I hope) that you're singing about yourself, not God. You may as well be singing these lyrics:

I am really, really awesome

I'm so awesome, it amazes me

You're so lucky to receive my worship

You're so blessed to receive my praise

I am awesome (I am awesome)

Every ounce of me (Every ounce of me)

Knows I'm awesome (Knows I'm awesome)

Can't you see? (Can't you see?)

I have sought you (I have sought you)

All on my own (All on my own)

And now I'll follow (And now I'll follow)

Trusting in me alone (Me alone)

I am really, really awesome
I'm so awesome, it amazes me
You're so lucky to receive my worship
You're so blessed to receive my praise
Me-centered worship. It's been the one of the great contributors to the downfall of the visible church. And it's not just our songs that are glorifying man, but our sermons and our interpretation of Scripture. One day, when the wheat and the tares are separated, oh what a surprise some will receive! Ah, well, no matter, so long as it feels good while we're here, right?

Now that I have you in a proper state of lamenting (and hopefully praying for) the visible church and it's continual assaults upon Christ, please take a few moments and enjoy your week in review (kind of):

• This is a completely fabricated, but hilarious, example of an emergent pastor's prayer for the inauguration benediction.

• The Satanists are pretty excited about supporting religious freedom in schools. Wait...maybe not!

• Speaking of religious freedom in schools. Or rather, the lack thereof.

• Dan Phillips takes an interesting look at the life of A.W. Pink, making some salient observations regarding the contradiction between Pink's life and words. Also don't miss the comments on this post, as a rather good conversation ensued.

• Glenn Beck is getting even creepier. Now he wants to build his own little isolated city. No, it's not located on Kolob.

• You can't blame a guy for trying!

• Do not miss this wonderful sermon by Pastor John MacArthur on John 3:1–3. When the video is available, you'll probably see it posted here again.

• Is your pastor too reverent? Do you wish that he would take the name of the Lord in vain more often? Then perhaps you should consider attending Judah Smith's church, because he seems to be quite skilled in carelessly misusing the name of God. Kind of makes you wonder how else he's blaspheming the Lord in his life, doesn't it? I mean, besides twisting the Scriptures to fit his own agenda.

• What is a bishop?

• Here's another post not to be missed: Some Important Questions to Ask about 'Discernment Ministries'.

• Who says you have to lie about your resumé?

• There's only one Carl Trueman, so don't miss his thoughts here about the shortfalls of theistic evolution (and men like Tim Keller who promote such a theory). 

• "You know, I wish more men would wear miniskirts." - Said no sane person ever.

• The American Humanist Association has published an updated version of the Jefferson Bible, and has distributed copies to Congress and to the president.

• This gives new meaning to the 'floating head of death.'

• For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about above.

• Mark Driscoll was bemoaning the existence of bloggers. Again. Ironically, he was doing so on Twitter. Really? Here's a well-written response.

• Ah, Chicago. So peaceful, so safe. So many crazy people.

• A small religious school in Ohio solicited student volunteers to gut an asbestos-filled building. 

• Bearing spiritual fruit.

• An Episcopal priest has taken Louie Giglio's place.

• Here's Frank Turk's thoughts on the Giglio inauguration debacle.

• I've not seen Les Miserables. I've not read the book. I don't want to. I don't plan to. I am, however, already weary of countless Christians extolling the great virtues of the film because of what they believe is a story of conversion. It baffles me how a conversion to a false gospel of works and good deeds can be so praised by believers. To make matters worse, it's doing so in song. Lots of songs. Thabiti Anyabwile was unfortunate enough to view the movie, and he shares his thoughts on it, many of which I suspect I would share were I ever to be tricked into seeing it. 

• Patricia King of Extreme Prophetic wants the flame to consume her. I'm serious.

• We are sent into the world to live for God.

• The Grace to You blog ran a series this week about the importance of being in a local church. To wrap it up, today they posted an acknowledgement and some encouragement for the many people who have found that, much to their dismay, there simply is not a faithful, Bible-teaching church in their community.

• I didn't even know there was a Doomsday Clock.

• Lately, Christianity Today has been pushing the Muslim "Insider Movement." Stand Up for the Truth has an excellent article refuting some of CT's claims.

• While millions of Hindus sought to wash away their own sins in some bizarre ceremony, some American Hindus are working to get the Bhagavad Gita in hotel nightstands across the country.

• Did you hear about prominent UK pastor Steve Chalke coming out in support of gay marriage? Don't miss Carl Trueman's comments. Don't miss R. Scott Clark's thoughts on the matter either.

• Dr. James Duncan, the poor man who was harassed by Perry Noble and Newspring Church, speaks with Chris Rosebrough.

• Jesus Christ is the perfect mediator: