I had never heard of the David Crowder Band before last Sunday while listening to the New Beginnings show with — pastor — Greg Laurie. But apparently they are a big enough name to tout for the recent Harvest Crusade in Anaheim. The band’s website indicates that this appearance may be notable because their performance will be free of charge.
Because the only radio music I listen to is a streaming audio recording of Rob da Bank’s weekly show on BBC 1, I don’t get around much Christian musically speaking. Nor am I, truth be told, much of a fan of Christian rock or pop. I prefer secular up tempo to holy syncopation.
Listening to a few of the songs at the David Crowder Band’s Myspace page has not changed my prejudice against sacred rock. Perhaps more objectionable are the band’s lyrics. Do people actually listen to this? Do they really want this music and text in worship?
Here, apparently, are the lyrics to one of the band’s popular songs:
How He Loves
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us allYeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way:He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony.
…They want to tell me You’re cruel,
But if Stephen could sing, he’d say it’s not true, cause…Cause He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Woe indeed.
Old Life 
From this to opening a ‘worship service’ with a Poison song is just a short step:
http://www.newspring.cc/series/i-love-the-80s/found-people-find-people/
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I think these lyrics contain a couple of truly delightful poetic moments.
Now that I’ve said that, I agree 100% that this sort of stuff shouldn’t be used in worship services. (Problem #1: It’d be incredibly difficult to sing). I don’t know that I mind it on the radio as it seems to parallel rather well the exuberance of late-medieval mysticism in its popular dimension and that sort of expression appeals to me on many levels- intellectual and emotional. Lack of doctrinal specificity can be problematic but I don’t see anything dramatically wrong with this particular song.
Anyway, context is everything in this case.
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Chris E., no thanks for sharing. Maybe if the church had less lighting effects during the warm up, it could pay the pastor to get a new pair of jeans (or do they sell them these days with holes?).
Sorry, Evan, but DCB lost me with the line, love me like a hurricane. I assume this band doesn’t perform in New Orleans.
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Chris E. –
This “service” makes me go: 0_0
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In Seattle, much of the Secular, underground Indie/hipster people that emerging churches try to attract with these kinds of bands end up being put off by it in a big way. Most of the people described above have more respect for traditional established churches (mainline etc) and don’t appreciate what is perceived to be condescending and dishonest bait and switch tactics utilized by a certain well known Seattle culture-transformer-mega-emergent church.
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Search?cx=018412283168992679552:yvxwdz723au&cof=FORID:10&ie=UTF-8&q=Mars+hill+
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I assume he buys them that way from Buckle:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100812/3-arguments-that-sound-spiritual-but-are-actually-stupid/index.html
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I would recommend the Sons of Korah. You won’t typically hear them on CCM radio, and I’m not holding my breath for that to happen. Here are few of my favorites:
Psalm 95 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7IryEV4F2c
Psalm 24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxW-stSgsxM&feature=related
Psalm 93 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjB_D-jd4Gc
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I’ve actually enjoyed quite a bit of Crowder’s music, but his lyrics have always been the weakest component. Their first three albums have some genuine musical brilliance, blending various genres without being ad hoc, This is why DCB has been hailed as the most creative Christian rock band ever. Unfortunately, Crowder is overly influenced by the emotional pietism of his Southern Baptist upbringing. However, once he is more mature in his faith, he could potentially create some genuinely glorious music for the church. He’s got the talent.
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Rob da Bank …. whatever next …
imo the best show on radio 1 … although he does play some rubbish is Gilles Peterson …
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“How He Loves” was written by John Mark McMillan, not Crowder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NXWE6AC8ao. Most of the music coming out of the “Christian music industry” is merely goose-bump-evoking sentimental nonsense. The doctrine of these songs, or lack thereof, should always be challenged with Holy Scripture, but let’s at least get the author right. Just sayin’. – J
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