Derek Webb - What Matters More (Cornerstone 2009 - Gallery Stage)

[feanando]

Big lie # 3: By saying SHIT, this fool will solve all the problems of the world.

Fool... This way you won´t solve the problem of the world, nor make us more conscient, nor do any good thing else...

C´mon, you big fool... If you are really a Christian, then, read and learn better your own faith before picking on it and saying so many useless words.

You could start it here: Matthew 7: 3-5.

Good luck.

[VanMaanens]

@feanando

Mat 5:22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire

[feanando]

@VanMaanens Hahaha... touché! Well then... let us not say "fool", nor "shit", ok? I propose we try to say wise words instead.

[ShadesAndRed]

@feanando He's not saying the word to be a rebel...its obviously there to catch the listeners attention. What you're saying would only make sense if he was condemning the church to justify himself...which I'm sure he isn't doing. This song is meant to challenge prejudiced Christians who treat homosexuals like animals. We can't deny that it happens. I don't agree with the language either and I wouldn't speak it, but he makes a good point based on how many Christians are today.

[feanando]

@ShadesAndRed Ok, a person who considers himself a Christian may act with prejudice against homosexuals (instead of opposing to homosexuality), but do you agree that if this person does so, then he is not obeying Christ? And yet his song serves as an instrument to people with prejudice against religion criticize religion. Why didn't he make a song especifically against hypocrite people - not "Christian hypocrite" people? Maybe he considers all of us hypocrites, he's condemning. Unfairly.

[brambonius]

Americans are funny. How can you be so offended by a word that means nothing but poop that you don't listen to the lyrics of a prvocative song?

[bellarex]

there's no inherent hate in homophobia either, just misunderstanding and fear. there is, however, no love in tolerance. if you were doing something that harmed your body, a loving person wouldn't condone it. if you were doing something that hurt your soul, a loving person wouldn't condone it.

the problem most christians have (myself included sometimes) is knowing how to lovingly disagree with someone while not treating them as the sin itself.

[swiftyguitar]

Jesus and Paul used really really strong language in their ministry. Jesus came close to beating people up at the temple, and told people they were vipers and dogs. In his day, that would be like cussing someone out. Paul told men that were screwing up the gospel that he wished they'd cut their balls off because they do not deserve them. When it is for the sake of the gospel, i believe i good swear word can be used when deserved.

[thebadthewolf]

i care less for words like "shit" and "damn" and more about these 50000 souls...

[bkosha97]

cursing is not the same thing as bad words. It's worse to call someone ugly, than to say "hell yeah!" as encouragement when they accomplish something great. Thanks Derek

[MrTrickcunningham]

his use of the word 'damn' is ironic because the line it is in is referring to how careless Christians can be with their language. Swearing is careless use of language. Its supposed to be funny/ironic.

[calebgrahams]

He's condemning the reckless way we use words to cut at people. Some christians say "God hates homosexuals because he said it's wrong, so I hate homosexuals." In this case, hate is the reckless word, yet is not a word most find offensive. Christians have disregarded what cursing is, it's not a list of naughty words, but words of hate, spoken from your heart out of hate.

[RicShewell]

I love how the acoustic version and change in tempo flesh out another facet of the emotion present in the song. Well done, D dubs.

[hottpockett]

Derek is brilliant.  He inspires me by being brave enough to swim against the massive river of hypocrisy. If a "christian" doesn't "get it"....well....then it's not written for you buddy. (and that's OK) Webb is a much needed voice speaking to those who are fed up with the corruption and "outdated thinking" in so many churches. (my words....not his)

[Moorendini]

Those who turn from prophecy because they find it offensive pour the hot coals of condemnation upon their own head.

[tonycarr100]

Being unloving is more of an offensive to God than a word. Your heart is more important. We strain the gnat (cuss words) and swallow the camel (homophobia and lack of concern for the poor). He is being prophetic to wake us up from our slumber and from some of the responses people don't get it.

[bellarex]

homophobia is a camel? Umm.. so it's worse to be afraid of a gay person than it is to swear?  I believe all sins are equal in the eyes of God, are they not? And since when is homophobia wrong? Hate is sin, but speaking out against homosexuality is biblical. It's all a matter of the heart.

[thechimpandthebug]

acknowledging homosexuality as a sin is not the same thing as homophobia. homophobia is ignorance.

[theassassin43]

theres no love in homophobia.

[DWardMedia]

I care less about his use of the word "shit," and more about his use of the word "damn..."

[jw1453]

It looks to me as though a lot of people are making his point for him. What matters more to you? Is it the use of the slang term or the fact that he's pointed out a real truth about the church? Why does it bother so many that he would say "shit", and yet it doesn't seem to bother anyone that real people with real problems are dying and facing eternal separation from God because we don't really give a "shit" enough to get off the couch and tell someone about Jesus? Get the point?

[TheCartercrew]

i have been a fan of derek since '97 and love his lyrics and transparency. however, i dont quite get the use of the word "shit" in this song. the song enough will cause contorversy and hopefuly open up some eyes and ears, but i'm afraid people will just focus on the choice of using this word. i'll still buy the album, but i don't agree with using that word. James 3:10 says: "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."

[deartheophilus]

The reason for the use of the word is this: he's calling out the church on being focused on "all the wrong things," and is using as an example the fact that people will be more offended by the fact that he said "shit" than they are by the fact that there are tens of thousands of people dying needlessly every day. Is he being counter-productive? Probably; he's likely pushing away the people who most need hear the message. But is there another way to convey the same message? Maybe not.

[parksj1]

I'm not sure if it's prophetic or just a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I said something extremely offensive (way more offensive than the word shit) and then blasted people for being more offended about that than people starving, would I be making a valid point? However, I think he's making a very good observation here (although not an original one). The Church seems to be more concerned with telling people what they can and can't do than they are about the people's eternal souls.