The Mountaineer Pipe at Silver Creek - Snowshoe, WV.

The lyrical theology represented by some of the artists from Reach Records, Lamp Mode Recordings, and Cross Movement Records blows away just about any preaching or artistic expression coming out of the modern evangelical movement. Here is a sampling to introduce you.

The "13 Letters" CD is a survey of the Pauline epistles and a compilation from artists all across the country. ReachLife Ministries produced the CD and has a 13 Letters curriculum. Here are some of the lyrics - http://www.reachrecords.com/lyrics?disc=3545.

The last two CD’s that Shai Linne has done, Storiez and The Atonement, contain hard-hitting reformed theology and practice that has never before existed in a musical art form. The lyrics are down the left-hand side of his blog - http://lyricaltheology.blogspot.com. 

Here is Paul Washer delivering a message at the annual Legacy Conference in Chicago - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfdpFdZq7nA. In the first few minutes he describes how he is amazed at what he has seen and heard.

You don't like the style of music, can't understand it, can't identify with it? No problem, that's not the point. I pray that you can identify with the lyrical content. This is about glorifying the Sovereign Lord and Creator as He works to bring His children into His family.

Rep the King!

What amazing people they are! These ladies are warriors. Picture this scene in your mind:

This could be any given evening after children are asleep. The homeschooling mom is snuggling into her spot on the bed where she will spend a little time "resting" before she sleeps herself. Here is what she has with her on the bed. Three 3-inch 3-ring binders, two spiral notebooks, three notepads, ten books (six of them children's books), a homeschool supplies catalog, three workbooks, one television remote, one coke, one pencil and two pens, the local newspaper, one laptop, and the Bible.

I will reluctantly mention the other item on the bed. The husband/father that thinks he had a rough day between coffee breaks and lunch, dozing off as he tries to read a few pages from just one book. You know him, don't you? He's the one that will tell a group of people that the Christian wife/mother is to be a fully educated, highly skilled, spiritually strong, motivated and productive agent of God – under the leadership of her husband, working at home and lovingly bringing children to godly maturity.

Praise the Lord for homeschooling moms.

I am becoming more and more troubled by the commercialization of the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

My thesis:
If someone stands in a pulpit, or takes the podium, or goes up on stage and sits on a stool and opens the Holy Scriptures to preach or teach the sacred Word of God – no one, within the sound of their voice, should have been charged a fee to hear the message.

I don’t have a problem with selling a book if you write one or selling a dvd/cd set if you’ve packaged one, but there is something wrong with selling a seat so that the buyer can hear someone say “thus says the Lord”.

What would have happened if Billy Graham had charged $5 a head to get into a crusade? Conservative Christians would have called for his head on a platter saying, “How dare he charge for hearing the Gospel?!”

Here is how it looks today in evangelical Christianity: A few popular Bible teachers come together for a weekend conference. The hosting ministry markets the conference. The conference registration fee is $20, or $100, or $200, or whatever depending on the popularity of the teachers. The elite Christians who are interested and can afford the conference attend. After the conference the audio and video are marketed online. The Glorious Gospel is only for those who can afford it? God forbid.

What is even more troubling is that this marketing of good teaching is happening in the middle of a reformation style revival where the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture is being held up as foundational. Preaching for sale does not pass the test. There is no command, pattern or precept in Scripture for charging the hearers for preaching.

What then is the biblical pattern?

Thank God that Paul didn’t copyright and market the letters he wrote. We wouldn’t have a New Testament. Paul didn’t charge to hear his preaching either. Some of his preaching was done in chains before unbelievers but when he did preach and teach in a more congregational manner it was done in a missionary style “sent out” fashion. He was supported by co-laborers so that he could preach freely and to anyone that gathered to listen.