instead of a show by jon foreman

By Ryan Byrd

music, theology, emergent, christian subculture, church
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i’m getting ready to write a review of jon foreman’s (lead singer of switchfoot) four ep seasonal series, fall, winter, spring & summer (maybe i’ll get it up in a day or two…). until then, though, i had to share a song from the latest of the four, summer. the song’s called instead of a show and it has some pointed lyrics, to say the very least. i won’t say too much now, but you can read the lyrics and listen to the track below. (one final note: this isn’t just jon foreman complaining or whatever. this is actually his interpretation, so to speak, of isaiah 1:11-17, interestingly…) (one final, final note: here’s a great example of a great artist who’s a christian that is in contrast to what i talked about in one of yesterday’s blogs…)

I hate all your show and pretense
the hypocrisy of your praise
the hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when your
singing ‘em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
An endless procession of righteous
living, living
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
Instead of a show
your eyes are closed when you’re praying
you sing right along with the band
you shine up your shoes for services
but there’s blood on your hands
you turned your back on the homeless
and the ones that don’t fit in your plans
quit playing religion games
there’s blood on your hands
Ah! let’s argue this out
if your sins are blood red
let’s argue this out
you’ll be white as the clouds
let’s argue this out
quit fooling around
give love to the ones who can’t love at all
give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all
instead of a show
I hate all your show