Instead of a Show- Jon Foreman (with lyrics)

[fitzmaurice88]

I don't want to be insensitive to anybody's situations but if you consider the church you are a part of to be hypocritical and showy then can I encourage you? Please realise that you are a part of the body in that place and you have an opportunity to prophesy the truth into that place, hopefully leading the congregation away from sin. Wouldn't that be better than moving to a different church and leaving your brothers and sisters to miss out?

[TheNatedog24]

Jon Foreman writes some of the best music maybe ever. So convicting.

[TheSubdivisions]

Can somebody make it clear to me what this song is about? I am not sure if I quite understand. I need a song about social justice for my religion class, thanks :)

[xweiderx23]

@TheSubdivisions He's talking about the how accepting Jesus Christ is a lifestyle, not a religion. He's saying that people take church and God as a religion, a weekly routine of every sunday. When there's no relationship between them and God.

[thelastlonesurvivor]

Amen

[pasckymix]

I Hate all your shows.....

[HayleyDawnluvsyhuu2x]

i like this song because it puts in perspective what can so easily become 'hype' in churches (and the world). when the worship team are playing it is so tempting to worship them - the people, the style of music, the 'atmosphere' can be fantastic. but amidst all this, there is a reason for the singing/music = Jesus. This song says hold on a second, who do you worship? Everything else is great too, but Jesus deserves the praise. :)

[Charlizard777]

Knowing nothing of artist I can't say anything about this man's testimony but what I do know that this song is based on scripture and not only a very nice song but an eye opener. This song speaks to me and how I need to change my ways because I am just as much of a sinner as the next Christian and it is not my place to judge anyone by God's standards that I myself cannot ever hope to live by.

[tharpey]

sorry - i can't ignore how incredibly ironic this song is...coming from switchfoot's frontman...who's made a living putting on shows for christians who want "something that sounds almost like secular music, but has an uplifting message."

it's not like he's washington phillips or something. who knows...maybe he's had an awakening. either way - the song still sounds like a typical modern christian radio tune...so not like i'll be jamming it any time soon again.

[kilala72]

@tharpey don't you get it? He's talking about the hypocrisy in the churches. and I know hands on because I JUST left my church of 13yrs because of reasons like this. I was in the music ministry for two years there, singing and playing guitar and there is alot of "show" that goes on. They teach you to connect with the crowd more then you are supposed to connect with God. Jon and the band have ALWAYS said that they were devout christians and will never turn away from that,

[rebeldiamons]

This isn't Jon's hating on anyone, he's just written a song based on scripture that is still relevant to this generation. He's speaking from God's perspective. This is from Amos 5:21ff and Isaiah 1:11ff. It's the Jon Foreman translation:)

[Tycooler1]

This song isn't about Jon Foreman, or about mega-churches, or about styles of preaching, or about whose interpretation of the Bible is right, or even what the Church's priorities should be. This song is about us as individuals choosing to follow God over our own conveniences.

God doesn't tell us to box ourselves in churches. He tells us to go out and love others, and prove it with our actions. I know I don't live that way, but by God's grace, I want to live that way. And I know He will help me.

[zmelli]

Churches today only use entertainment to fill pews so they can make payroll and pay their Mortgages. Preachers act like celeberties, Bands want to be worshiped. The churches are the disinformation agents in todays modern soceity. Show me a Church that is not about control the moment you drive up and are told where to park, sit and they throw your kids to the child care centers. Try to question the pastor, talk about 911 truth, the controlled collapse of the Doller, real history.

[kungsurlsa]

@zmelli Come to Torrance, California and visit my church. The gospel is preached from the Bible, the Lord's Supper is served. 

[OChristFollower]

PRAISE GOD... THIS IS EXACTLY IT

[alleyhse]

Maybe we expect Christian artists to fill the void of Bible teaching that we are being prevented from hearing in our church pulpits. Christian artists have always had this intense high standard for everything they sing from the church community yet research shows that over 80% of Christians are Bible illiterate. We would enjoy the music more if we understood that Bible teaching should be sourced from the church pulpits not the Christian artist who is making music.

[VideoKiwi2008]

this song always challenges and convicts me. thats because this comes from the book of Isaiah in the Bible. i think as Christians we all need to wake up and be a part of helping out people who are less fortunate than us.

[Raiden101JMB]

This is a song for the church today, who for in the most part live inside there warm church buildings, instead of going out to the needy in there areas.

[xoxoRiverTamxoxo]

What a lovely song :) It sounds almost atheistic.

Thank you very much for uploading!

[VideoKiwi2008]

i think we all need to hear this song. us humans we can be such hypocrites sometimes. we are good at pretending. this song is about real, and putting actions to words.

[bronxballa1020]

10/6/10 From The Lord, Our God and Savior - For The Lord’s Little Flock and For All Those Who Have Ears to Hear

Thus says The Lord... Behold, I shall speak plainly, so you may escape: Sons and daughters of men, come out of the churches of men and be joined unto Me, says The Lord, your only Sanctuary... Yes I, your Redeemer. Come out and be separate!... Touch no more the unclean thing...

[rumney7431]

Isaiah 1:11-17

[HayleyDawnluvsyhuu2x]

@rumney7431 what?

[purposefulpurity1]

@rumney7431 YES! Glad someone has got it...

[purposefulpurity1]

@rumney7431 ...except you need verse 18 in there as well :)

[3Blue3Moon3]

I love this song.

[toniLILhommie]

Amos 5-6 :)

[567realmadrid]

Jon Foreman if i dont have a chance of seeing you in my lifetime.

Just wait for me in the next

your songs define you as an amazing person i may not you but you must be a good man god bless you and your music

[aduro430]

@567realmadrid I never thought of the fact that I can see all these Godly artist in the life to come. Thats amazing to me :) Thanks for opening my eyes to that. Beautiful :)

[EvryBreathA2ndChance]

@pngmangi2008 yes, it's from Isaiah 1:11-18, however it's also from amos 5:21-24, i believe. the same idea is talked about in both passages. :)

all in all, an amazing song based off of very hard-hittting scripture...

[Tflash13]

This song is me in a nutshell! I always think this whenever im in church or at a concert...I just feel God deserves so much more!

[saltwaterloveee]

i wonder at the personal meaning behind many of his songs...Jon is truly amazing. I have never heard anything even similar to this in all of my fourteen years.

[cywoodskoolaid]

this song comes directly out of the book of Amos in the bible.

[The24fan01]

@cywoodskoolaid Which part in Amos? I'd love to read it.

[DanyaMM]

@The24fan01 I can't remember anything from out of the book of Amos, but from what I can tell it's straight from Isaiah chapter 1 (starting at verse 11 I believe) if you want to have a read. Awesome scripture.

[gogorickdancer]

@The24fan01

It's Amos 5:23-24

[zackary211]

I Totally Agree With Jon!!!! DON"T JUst Talk the Talk!!! Walk The Walk!! Love It!

[TheSerraberra]

Is is just me, or this a very "Bob Dylan"y sounding song? (but Jon Foreman has an easier time holding a tune XD) Love it!

[notofthisworld100]

@TheSerraberra i was totally thinkin that! so no its not just you! ; D

[awesomepeople100]

what does it mean by show

[jordster21]

the whole song is describing the show

[Classic1940s]

@awesomepeople100 I'm pretty sure it was meant to mean the 'fake' or insincere things some people tend to do, in a hypocritical way. To say, in a sense, that Just because you 'Talk the Talk' doesn't necessarily mean you're 'Walking the Walk'.

[awesomepeople100]

OOOOOOHHHH ok. i get it. thanks.

[whitecounty]

@awesomepeople100

he means people who just put on a show, instead of following christ and doing what we are truly called to do, which is love everyone.

[awesomepeople100]

oh ok

[awesomepeople100]

the first sentence in the NLT version of Amos 5:21-24 has then same exact sentence of this song. maybe this was based on the NLT version.

[animalsweare1]

This is what I love about Jon Foreman. His songs are things you NEVER hear any Christian artist even attempt to sing.

This song reminded me of my old church. It was such a mask-filled church. Luckily, God has blessed me with the total opposite! :)

[whitecounty]

@animalsweare1

i agree. haha. except for sleeping giant. idk what your musical prefrence is, but they have lyrics that go far beyond your typical sunday morning christian message. you should check out the song Descending Into Hell.

[truthman10200]

@animalsweare1 You must never have heard Steve Camp or Keith Green. They sang similar songs.

[shadow2501]

@animalsweare1 I direct you to check out casting crowns. They definitely sing these aspects of our faith and live with God :p.

This song pretty much echoes right out of Malachi. The line in this song about the homeless being abandoned strikes me. I frequently justify to my own mind that they'd waste it on alcohol, or drugs. God reminds me that's not for me to decide. I am simply called to give of the generosity God has shown me.

A very strong one is "while you were sleeping" by them.

[elwinransom3]

This song is based on that passage (Amos 5:21-24) as well as Isaiah 1:10-20. Amos (about 750 BC) and Isaiah (740-687 BC) were contemporary prophets. Isaiah and maybe Amos too lived to see the fall of Israel to Assyria in 722 BC because of national rebellion against the Lord who rescued and took care of them. God still loves Israel and Judah and has not forgotten His promises. They will one day be restored (Amos 9:11-15; Isaiah 60).

[dugw15]

Based on Amos 5:21-24

[emlan82]

Love the sincerity of this song... and the video is very nice, not sloppy at all :)

[NeongreenPineapple]

this is like my most favorite song, ever!

[torak456]

That is the cover of the CD Limbs and Branches, which does contain this song.

[pmom4747]

Limbs & Branches does have Instead of a Show, its track 8.

[Savedawretchlikeme]

No I didn't do it.....it is the cover of the Spring EP I think. I wanted to find something that had his name on it.

[almostblue22]

Did you do the the initial picture--the crumpled paper and scrawled tree--, "Savedawretchlikeme"?

It's pretty close to what Jon did with the "Seasons" EPs.