This is a new song by Derek Webb that will be out on his next Album, Mockingbird, in Dec.
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A New Law by Derek Webb:
don't teach me about polotics and government
just tell me who to vote for
and don't teach me about truth and beauty
no, just label my music
and don't teach me how to live like a free man
no, just give me a new law
i don't wanna know if the answers aren't easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me
i want a new law
i want a new law
just give me that new law
and don't teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice
and don't teach me about Loving my enemies
and don't teach me how to listen to The Spirit
no, just give me a new law
i don't wanna know if the answers aren't easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me
i want a new law
i want a new law
just give me that new law
'cause what's the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
so do not be afraid
do not be afraid
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It is so true, the church his always looking for a new law, a new stadard on what it means to be a Christian, rules to follow. Sometimes I think we missed the whole point of the Gospels. Any thoughts?
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8 comments:
I think for some people it's easier to ask/look for laws than to grapple with the continuing quest to live a holy life. With holiness, you're always on the journey. It's a lot more work. But more rewarding, in my opinion.
I think the "grape juice" line is more than a little dumb. There are people who make the personal decision to abstain from alcohol for a broad variety of reasons--the alcohol industry's connections to the truly evil tobacco industry and corporate domination, for example. To sum it up as legalism is really a reductionist way of describing that position. Yet it's really interesting and more than a little strange to me how consumption of alcohol is functioning as a signifier for independent critical inquiry in post-evangelical christian circles.
...but maybe that's just the old school methodist in me.
Holy Moly,
I think you are completely missing the point of that line in the song if you think it has anything to do with alchole vs. grape jucie. Part of the point of the song is people get hung up on the trivial little laws we make up (such as you are doing here) and forget about the true freedom of the gospel.
Besides, even if it was about that, I don't think the wine industry has an overly large connection to corprations at all, most wineries are small, family owned businesses. But, who cares, cause that is not at all the point the song is making in the first place.
I would encourage you to look at the song as a whole and not get so hung up on one part of it, you are missing the point of the whole.
Melodie is right on and totally got the heart of Derek's song. It is easier to function under a set of laws than to practice daily holy living, reliant on constant communication with the holy spirit and reflection on God's word.
One side comment to Holy Moly--I think your comments would be a lot more constructive if you interacted with the song and JAR's question in a more personal way. How do you or I personally choose to follow a shallow people-made law rather than living in the true freedom and challenge of the gospel? Grappling with this question is more important than intellectualizing the old alcohol argument.
God gave Israel 'the law' and they perverted it. They wrote volumns on how to keep it and were so busy trying to be holy that they couldn't stop to help a neighbor, or share God's love with a gentile. So Jesus came to show us that God is really about love. And we have made 'being holy' our new law. And we get caught up in it and can't stop to help a neighbor or share the truth with an unbeliever. The deceiver has done a pretty good job using the law to mask the message of love.
I have the coolest mom.
Oh i get the overall message and i agree with it. Legalism and clinging to easy answers instead engaging the complexity of the journey=bad. I just think the grape juice thing is kind of a crummy example, not up to par with the rest of the song.
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