9 Comments

  1. Kathy Haar says:

    I agree with all you’ve said. However, when I listen to You Light up my Life that line means something totally different to me. Being a Christian and listening from that perspective I hear a line that says “It can’t be wrong to believe and worship Jesus because it feels so right”. The line connotes the peace and love of Christ makes her life right.

    1. I hear what your saying – but I do think that the words to this song (particularly that line) became the soundtrack for the rapid moral decline in our culture. “If it feels good, do it”. I don’t think most people look at worshiping God as something that can be wrong or right because it feels good. I also don’t think that worship exists primarily for our own pleasure for for God’s glory. Naturally, when we worship God and glorify Him, we benefit because His pleasure in our worship splashes on to us — and we experience His pleasure. But I think there is hidden danger in worshiping God because it feels right or feels good. The danger is: what happens when it doesn’t feel good? There is the “sacrifice or praise” – sometimes worship is a sacrifice on our part….sometimes we must make the choice to worship God when we’re hurting deeply, exhausted, frustrated, anxious and worried….and sometimes we go through seasons when we make that sacrifice of praise, leave and it seems the heavens are brass. In those times, our lack of feeling requires a solid faith and strong assurance that our worship is being received with pleasure despite our lack of feeling.

      This is where I have great trouble with the line of that song being interpreted in a Christian sense.

      The premise of the song is based on feelings, but our Christian life is lived through faith – which may produce a feeling, but may not. Faith cannot be based on feeling – if it is, it is a house built on sand and the first storm that comes in life threatens the very existance of that house.

  2. Lorna Wyss says:

    Raises lots of questions. What would you say an elderly believing widow is to do if the pastor of the church abuses her trust and gambles away her funds so she is destitute? This happened. She is my friend. He quit the ministry, but has never made restitution.

    1. It’s hard to speak about a situation I know nothing about. I would hope the body of Christ would step in and intervene in this situation, because that is part of our responsibility as the church. When a church leader has abused his role and taken advantage of member – particularly a widow (and the New Testament clearly defines widows and orphans as those whom the Body is to particularly care for and shelter) – the church has a very serious obligation to hold him accountable for his actions and in the meantime shelter and protect the one who was defrauded. She shouldn’t have to bear this alone, and most certainly shouldn’t be in a state of destitution. If the church has abandoned her, the church has abandoned her mission and that is seriously neglectful, something for which God will hold them accountable.

  3. True I just looked it up but she did not write it Brooks did and he wrote it for a movie about a man and a woman. So in that context it was something totally different than what she meant.

  4. I agree with everything you have shared! It is a refreshing read. I will say, however, I always took those words in “You Light Up My Life” as referring to her Lord and Savior. I used to song the song to the Lord, around the house. Now you’ve got me thinking! Thanks for your bold stand concerning the Gospel.

    1. I think a lot of Christians wanted to take those lyrics in that context. Even I did – I was a big fan of hers, and so much of her other music was wonderful.

  5. Corey Feitshans says:

    I am so thankful for you! You speak truth, truth and more truth. My husband and I feel like we are on an island in the Christian community. Every time I read a post I think thank you Lord someone else believes the truth. It’s the Holy Spirit speaking and I just want you to know I am thankful. It’s been years of the Lord’s pruning and my surrendering. But I feel. We are in hyper speed now. He is giving us all a chance to truly come to him. All of us who thought we were saved but really weren’t. No more raise your hand in church and you’re saved. Change has to happen. I know I was once a Pharisee, prideful, know it all. Went to church and could quote all the scripture but my heart was far from him. John 5:39 He is molding me to be more like him and I’m thankful. Blessings and blessings to you and your amazing ministry.

    1. This is so encouraging to read. Thank you so much. It is becoming harder and harder to find solid biblical teaching. I am blessed to have a wonderful heritage of having grown up in a home with solid preaching. My dad is a pastor and has never compromised the Word for culture. He’s still preaching and speaking today!

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