Cartoon Reflection: Stirring the Worship Pot
Published November 23rd, 2006 in Cartoons & Cartoonists
Feel free to send this to anybody who you think will be upset by it. I’m seeing if I can start a riot amongst mega-church Christians…
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This is so awesome. It expresses my sentiment exactly – Mega-Churches being a good place for (tag line) Christians to go hang out and hide out from the truth. They leave there feeling empowered about their own un abashed, un accountable and conscious sinning. From one artist to another. In other words, Gods Will is thier Won’t. Awesome illustration Matt. Keep in touch.
Hmmm,
Mocking your fellow brothers and sisters? Sad, very sad.
Coming from a pastor, this is incredibly sad.
Come on! I agree that perhaps people need to be made aware that going to church isn’t salvation. But fighting against our own - mostly, I bet, out of ignorance and predjuice - is not helping.
Let your goal be restoration, not division. These people are genuine in their beliefs, just like you. These people are living the best that they know how based on the knowledge they have, just like you. You don’t KNOW whether someone is going to heaven or not, that’s not for you to judge. The only thing that separates you from them is a little knowledge. And you can’t honestly say you have all the answers.
Do GOOD work, be helpful. Work together with people.
Who’s work is this cartoon accomplishing? God’s? Or our enemies?
I love this cartoon, Its sad that some see criticism as negative and as “attacking” especially when there is a note of humor in it. Also sad that some only see church and Jesus as a gateway to heaven. Seems we have missed an awful lot about what the purpose of worship is about. Thanks for reminding me. This cartoon is on my blog this week as I record some thoughts on worship.
Thanks for the creative art and thoughts that go with it!
Mark
“if they are not against us, they are for us”. Spread the word pastor! The name Jesus is awesome and ” …will not return void”. Bring them, and God will add them [to the kingdom] - good work!
heia! I’m from Romania…i found this cartoon with google search…it’s so good! really, you relised to surprise a critical truth in today’s church. really, here in romania we really are struggling to be holy youth IN church. sad, but there are few true worshipers all around the word. chistian music - authenthic worship or industry?
Hi Pastor Glover,
As a worship director and leader, I gotta say…I love this and hate it at the same time. I love the truth in the cartoon, but that is also to part that I hate. You’re right about the attitude that some Christians have toward…Christianity. This could be our falling-point. The people in your cartoons are the ones who listen to people like Joel Osteen and crumble under any questioning. Keep on drawing. Even if you get one person’s attention, then you’ve done well.
-Nareg
Well, I’m not here to judge or guess motives or settle any arguments amongst people. . .I’m just putting off finishing a term paper and googling random words.
But I do like things that stir people up. Good or bad, righteous or evil, beautiful or ugly, if it makes one person uncomfortable or causes one awkward conversation, its totally worth any effort the artist put into his work.
Why a riot amongst mega-church? That’s not a christian idea!! The cartoon has a truth, but not specific for mega-churchs. Little-churches has the same risks. But little-chuches and mega-churches are all churches of God!
Excellent observation which is all too sadly prevalent in some churches today…
I dun really agree mega churches r behaving in this way. A mega church will grow and still growing is mean that they r fruitful.
Bible say in John 15:4:
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
So if a Church lost the foundation and the heart of worship, they surely will not grow.
Hey Matt!
Great idea. Great message. Great artwork.
I’m glad you won’t shy away from spreading the TRUTH no matter what. And spreading laughter while at it? God bless you sir.
I don’t understand why a pastor is trying to start a fight with other Christians. Just because someone else worships different from you isn’t an invite for insault. This is some deep waters you’re getting yourself into.
I don’t concentrate on the genre. I focus on God. And isn’t it better that unbelievers go to a chuch and have this fed into their subconscious rather then avoid church altogether? It’s better then all the music about sex, drugs and such on the secular radio stations.
I’m not good at this whole Christanity thing but it’s a bit twisted when you get enjoyment out of getting Christians to fight with eachother.
I think the truth in the cartoon is great, but to single out mega-churches is where i think its wrong. I agree with doolz, and a few others, we should work together to bring the message of Jesus to the world. What good is it for us to criticize one another. And just because you’re not a mega-church, doesn’t mean you’re exempt from this kind of thing happening.
Despite the obvious dig at mega churches, what strikes me is actually the fact that the man appears to be “new” to the church and is prompted by the music to at least ask the question. The response of the woman says more about the church’s “pastoring” than it’s worshp.
We live in a world now where kids at my wife’s school (11 - 18) will actually ask questions like “What on earth has Jesus got to do with Christmas?”. The fact that people are turning up and listening to God-inspired lyrics will at least go some way to encouraging the “asking, seeking, knocking” that we surely want all mankind to do?
For the record, I come from a tiny parish church and we are just attempting to provide more contemporary worship. We are struggling with people coming along who “just for the music” but in time I hope and pray that the fact they are turning up will lead to a deeper knowledge.
Mega-churches (and all others) need to back up whatever style of worship they have with authentic teaching and “discpiling” of it’s members.
I’m the same guy on ITunes. This is one of my points exactly. A lot of “Christians” are using Christianity as an excuse to get worldly music styles. They might argue cultural relevance but their fruits in defense don’t reflect that. Let’s hope we can repent before the world makes any more advances.
Prayin Wayne. Also pray 4 my ride to get here. In supposed to go sleep over at a freinds house, but my ride ain’t showin up, and I’m bored out of my guts man!!
I b bored 2. My wife & kids r out shopping, and my directv dish got messed up so I can’t watch college hoops. I’m just sitting on blogs and playin solitaire w/ my freind.
To SOJC:
I saw some of your reviews on iTunes for some bands like skillet, red, hawk Nelson, and relient k. What I saw frightened me. Espessialy in the skillet reveiws, you were saying some terrible things to your fellow Christians. I don’t think that God wants Christians like us to be telling fellow beleivers that they need to go to Christian counciling, and that they are demon possessed. I know that some of the fellow reveiwers were bashing on you too, and I disagree with them for the same reason. I think that all the arguing puts a very bad image on our faith, and it makes us seem like we are arguing over how to follow our RELIGION. That is a big problem, because we both know that Christianity is not a religion, but it is a relaitionship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It doesn’t make non-beleivers want to check out our faith or go to church because they think that we will also bash and judge them if they try to hang out with us. An iTunes reviewer proved this when he said that he was an athirst, and that the brotherhood was nicer than the Christians were. As a soldier of Christ, don’t you think that things like that shouldn’t be happening? I know I do. That is considered a casualty in the spiritual war. Instead of judging non-believers, the bible says that we should accept and love them. Also the bible says that we should lift up and encourage our Christian brothers.
One of the great things about Christian rock bands is that they do just that. Not every song refers directly to god, but they do help us grow stronger in our faith. I suggest that you try out, or at least give a listen to relient k. I know that some of the songs don’t refer directly to god, but dome do, and the others give us hope and encouragement in our everyday Christian lives. Espessialy with relient k, the songs are very upbeat and uplifting. Anyways, I pray that God gives you wisdom and keeps you safe in life.Â
Aaron u got ur comment back!
Yeah, I came back to check, and it was gone. I had to reword it though because I don’t remember what I said the first time. I love how this blog about a cartoon turned into a conversation about why we don’t have lives.
U left out ur email adress for SOJC
n.leadbetter@gmail.com
please send me one SOJC!!
I b goin!! I hope I never post on dis blog again!!
Gown the order of the comments get messed up?
Idk. It’s pretty weird
What happened to waynes response?
This guys cartoons are stupid. U should see the one about facebook. They make us Christians look stupid. Really?? You don’t know who God is, but you sing about him all the time? Come on man, get some cartoons that actually help build Gods kingdom. The drawings are pretty good, but the jokes are stupid.
Why does my name only say I?? I typed in I <3 2 larp. I bet that’s what happened to the other guy with the name I.
I saw SOC’s responses on iTunes. I googled soldier of Jesus Christ, and I found this. I got something to say to you SOC. I have three freinds who came to know Christ through hardcore Christian screamo, so how can u say that Christian rock is evil??? Have u ever listened to any of those songs?? U also said that electric guitars are evil. That is the most retarded, stupid, and irrational thing that I have ever heard!!! Do u still listen to harps?? U also said that people with tatoos and piercings are evil! If that were true, then that would mean that 90% of Christian girls are evil because they have pierced ears!!! Also I’m not sure, but didn’t Jesus have a tat on his leg in revalations?? U don’t think that jesus is evil do u??? You’re a freakin idiot!!! I can just see u sitting at your computer at 4 in the morning listening to harp music and wearing a Moses robe!! U probably eat kosher!! I have a Jewish freind, and he even eats pork!! You’re just like the pharasees!! U said on iTunes that u weren’t talking to your freind because he was acting too “worldly”!!!! He probably doesn’t want to talk to you either because you’re acting too Amish!!! Do God a favor and get a life!!! U r turning people away from the truth!!! Do u think people want to be Christian when they hear your dumb a$$ talking to them like they’re an idiot and they’ll get smited cause they listen to guitars?!? U r such a discrace to god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOC, I’m sorry I just flamed on u Internet style, but I’m just really ticked at what u said on iTunes. I got more angry at the end after I read where u said that people with piercings are evil. I thought about my wife and her earrings, and I just let my anger get the best of me. Once again, i’m sorry that I just tottally smoked u. I really think that u are like the pharisees, though. U need to reconsider your life because u are totally on the wrong track. Once again, I’m sorry about abusing u with words. I’m gonna go listen to bite my tongue by Relient k. It’s a good Christian song by a great Christian band that is NOT evil, even though they play the guitar. I’m praying for you, and please pray for me and my pottymouth. It’s one of the things i’m workin on the most. God bless.
I love how u guys are usin this guys website for a serious discussion. I’m pretty sure he just wants us to review his toons.
Speakin of his toons, I think they’re not all that good, even though the drawings r good.
I know the church is astray, but this guy is blowin it way out of proportion.
SoC, you said you were in 9th grade on iTunes. I’m a senior, and I think that the problem is that you are just being a stupid freshman. I have no doubt that you will grow out of your views on Christian rock. From experience, I can tell you that alot of the things that I thought were right as a freshmen were actually wrong. As you get older, you start to open your mind to things. On one review, you told assasin15 to argue with you correctly, and to point out why he thought your points were wrong with specific examples, so that is exactly what I plan to do. First of all, you are talking about rock in general, and you’re not mentioning CHRISTIAN rock, which is very different from secular rock. You said the lyrics in christian rock are evil, which is why I think that you havert even listened to, or looked up the lyrics for any Christian rock songs. If you don’t know anything about skillet, then how can you say they are evil? Your points are very weak because you do not support them with any facts or examples. In your latest review, you attempted to do so, but it was very unsuccessful because the examples that you used were not relevant to the main subject of you argument, and there is no evidence to support the idea that Christian rock is evil. You said that two souls go to hell every second, and that is a very non-realistic statement. Only God knows how many people die in every second, even though there are some realistic estimates out there. Even more important, it is impossible to know if someone is a Christian or not. They might say they are, but their lifestyles might say otherwise. Also, someone might not be a christian, even though they go to church and live thier liver with high standards. You also said that rock physically controls people. I don’t know where you got that statement, but I think you might be referring to the fact that music might make you want to dance, or subconsiously tap your foot. That statement is just the same as saying that worship songs are evil because they make you want to put your hands in the air, pointing to God. In an older review, you said that you had the right to judge people. The bible says that only God has that right, so you are contradicting the bible, which is a book with no contradictions, so that should be a big sign that says you are wrong. Lastly, I think that you should no that the bible says that you are wrong. Ever wonder why the psalms didn’t have music notes written with them? It is si we can put our praises for God to our own music, and that is exactly what Christian rock does. In matthew 28, it says to preach the gospel to all nations. When it says all nations, it isn’t just talking about the countries. It also means all types of people. Since many people love rock music, christian rock is a very effective method of evangelism. My point is, if you don’t want to listen to me telling you that you are wrong, listen to the bible, which is the voice of God. I’m praying that you open your mind and soften your heart to the idea that christian rock music is a blessing, not an evil. I thank God for it because it is a wonderful gift to us. It is with us, not against us. By arguing against Christian rock, you are arguing against your fellow Christians, which should not be happening. Ultimately, I pray that you come to realize and enjoy this great blessing.
P.S. If you like casting crowns, a good transition to Christian rock is Relient k. You might not like all their songs because some songs are not directly written to God. Alot of Christian bands do this to draw in nonbelievers. Once the nonchristians are drawn in, they will discover and listen to songs that are no-doubt Christian songs. Relient k is definately a softer Christian rock band, so that is why I think you will like them. I suggest you first listen to “For the Moments I Feel Faint,” and “Fallen Man” aka “(Hope For Every) Fallen Man” because they are extremely christian. Relient k is mostly in the pop/punk genre, but those two songs are not so much. One last point I would like to make is that I have seen skillet, hawk Nelson and red play at the same concerts as Kirk Franklin, Sanctus real, and casting crowns. Since I’ve actually seen skillet, I can say that they are definately not evil. God bless, and Im praying for you.
Please respond to my comment, I want to help you, not bash you like assasin 15 and kutlessfan. The bible says to build eachother up, and that whole iTunes review page is definately not doing so. My email is n.leadbetter@gmail.com, yes I live in the same house as Aaron, I’m his brother, he uses my email. Once again, please respond on send me one.
SoC,
You might think that you are writing what God is telling you, but I am 100% sure that God is not telling you that John Cooper and the other band members in skillet lead evil lives. God is certainly not telling you that Christian rock music is evil. I who would want to go to heaven if they could only praise God with one type of music? You are making Christianity look like islam or buddism, or any other religeon where you have to follow strict rules. Do you really think that you are leading people to Christ? Before you judge others, you must look at yourself. You are looking at the speck in the eye of everyone who listens to Christian rock. You wouldn’t be doing that if you knew of the log that is in your eye. It is blinding you to the joys of christian rock. I pray that you get that metaphoic log out of your eye.
SoC, whenever I read skillet reviews and I see the words “by Soldier of Jesus Christ on…”, I get a terrible feeling in my stomach, my heart gets heavy, and I see satan writing the reviews instead of a ninth grade Christian kid. I don’t like feeling that way because I’m sure you’re a nice person, but your reviews don’t reflect that you are a Christian. If you are a Christian, then your title is correct. You are a soldier of Christ, and it is your duty to spread the gospel. But whenever you write a hate filled review condemning other Christians, you are shooting freindly fire. Point your gun at satan, not God and Christian rock bands. The people in Christian rock bands are your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. They are Christians too, and they are spreading Jesus way more effectively than you are right now. As a Christian, you are supposed to be building up your fellow Christians, not trying to shoot them down. A good analogy is that you are the Iraqi military trying to shoot down the U.S. Air Force in the gulf war. No matter how hard you try, you can’t make people stop listning to Christian rock because God is on the side of Christian rock, and not on yours. He wants to help you, but he is not on your side of the argument. I pray that you open your mind to the world.
SoC-
I go to yur school. I want to remain ananimuos cause ive made some mistakes, and I don’t want u to know what I’ve done, but u know who I am. I can’t tell u who told me you were soc either. I just want u to know that skillet saved my life. I was going to kill myself, but someone let me listen to Last Night by Skillet. I bet u havnt herd it, but john cooper wrote it to a girl who was goin to kill herself. As u can see, it didn’t go through. skillet saved me and my soul. u can’t say that they r evil because theyre not. I love them so much and when I read your review, I cried. I couldn’t understand how anyone could think skillet is against God. I didn’t know that u were soc, so I thought was the devil speaking through someone. I found out it was u, so I know that’s not true. I’m praying 4 u, please pray 4 me to grow more in my faith, even though u don’t know who I am. I think you’ll figure out who I am, but I don’t want 2 tell u.
ps- i’ll give u a hint, math
SoC-
Why do you think the way you do? All these Christians are giving you good advice and trying to help you, but you only harden up even more. Please open your mind and soften your heart. I don’t really care about the christian rock debate. I know youre wrong, so I don’t really want to waste my time debating. I just care about you. All these other reviewers do too, so at least give some thought to their advice. They are right because they use scripture to support thier side, and you don’t. I pray that you read the bible because you will find that it does not support your side of the argument. Please pray this prayer even if you are already a Christian. Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for sinning against You. I believe that You sent Jesus, your one and only Son to save me. Please save me from my sin and give me a new life in Christ. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.
P.S. Christian rap isn’t evil either. Lecrae Moore (the best rapper alive) is way more straight forward about our faith than most contemporary Christian artists Ive heard. If you don’t believe me, just listen to him. His stage name is just his first name, Lecrae.
To SoC,
Dont be like the pharisees. You may not realize it, but you are acting very similar to the way they did. Especially when you said that the other christians were demon posessed, when you said that you had the right to judge people, and when you were not talking to your friend because he was acting too worldly. Even the fact that you don’t accept Christian rock music is very pharisee like because they had no tolerance of anything that was different to them. I also get the feeling that you think that you are better than everyone else, which is once again very pharisitical. Along with these other reviewers, I pray that you open your mind and soften your heart.
I agree that you are acting like the Pharisees, and I pray that you realize it.
Because the judge of you is someone I could never be,
is why you should thank the Lord that it is him and it’s not me.
Don’t gie up, it’s not the end
there’s hope for every fallen man
forgiveness can be given when you think it can’t
cause with every passing second comes a second chance
Fallen Man, by Relient K
Your reviews have another problem. You show no love towards your fellow Christians. I’ve noticed that most of them pray for you, but you don’t say that you’re praying for them.
So you steal it, escape away with nothing
you try to feel it, but what you have is plastic
you burned your pocket, and everything that’s in it
on your search for something that is real
If you need love, take the time and be love,
breathe it out, create love,
see how things can turn.
If you need love, give yourself and be love,
breathe it out, create love,
see how things can turn.
inside, you’re ruining the mood,
singin solitude, forgetting all you knew
so look, look into the mirror, swallow all your fear,
believe it’s really near.
Cause if you need love, take the time and be love,
breathe it out breathe it out, create love,
see how things can turn.
Cause if you need love, give yourself, and be love,
breathe it out, create love,
see how things can turn.
Be Love, by PlusOne
SoC probably gets picked on at school, and his bullies listen to rock. SoC, I think that you are sincere, but misled. Keep trying to get closer to God, but pray for him to give you guidance. You take things too literally. You’ll grow out of that as you move along in high school and in life. Lyrics to songs and the bible are written in figurative language most of the time. I pray that you be able to decypher lyrics and the bible more easily and clearly.
:);):D:P;D;P(:(;d: