Where do you get your truth?

Yesterday in church I sang a quick line from a country song because it relayed a message that was against what the scriptures teach...and it seemed so innocent.  It was catchy and probably a lot of people relate to it and it sold a bunch of records.  But they reflect a culture that embodies a dangerous kind of thinking.  There is a new country song that disturbs me much more.  I mean -- deeply disturbs me.

You have to know that I'm a son of the South.  I was raised on Sweet Tea and whispering pines.  I have a very eclectic music taste, and listen to a little bit of evertything.  But I cut my teeth on country music.  I wanted to be the next Garth Brooks, and grew up with Alan Jackson, Clint Black, George Strait, Reba, the Judds, Martina McBride and Brooks & Dunn.  I grew to love those that came before me like Johnny Cash, Waylon, and Merle.  My love for country music has evolved with the industry.  I love Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Sam Hunt (shout out to Cedartown -- hometown of Sam Hunt, Nick Chubb and my parents!).

My children almost always have their alarm clocks tuned to a country station.  They get it from me.  Country music is in my blood.

But there's a dangerous kind of thinking that country music sometimes reveals about the South -- cultural Christianity.  Sometimes people think because we were raised in the Bible Belt that makes us Christian.  Or because we mention God in a song.  Or because we were a cross around our neck.  Sometimes, the kind of music that sounds like it has some nice religious undertones can contain a most dangerous message.

A couple of weeks ago I heard the song H.O.L.Y. from Florida-Georgia Line.  It's really a catchy song.  It's suppose to mean "high on loving you," but you wouldn't know that from the way it's used in the song.  Instead, it offers a dangerous gospel.  Here's are some lyrics:

When the sun had left and the winter came

And the sky thought to only bring the rain

I sat in darkness

All broken hearted

I couldn't find a day I didn't feel alone

I never meant to cry, started losing hope

But somehow baby

You broke through and saved me

You're an angel, tell me you're never leaving

Cause you're the first thing I know I can believe in

You're holy, holy, holy, holy

I'm high on loving you, high on loving you

You're holy, holy, holy, holy

I'm high on loving you, high on loving you

Well, that's interesting.  It sounds kind of churchy, right?  It's not.  It's the exact opposite.  1 Samuel 2:2 says the opposite, "“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God."  The Apostle Paul said that no one is righteous.  Not one person.  We are in dangerous places when we begin saying that another person saves us and is our source of hope.  That is not the gospel.

So what's the point.  The point is that there is a world out there hungry for something to give their lives meaning, purpose and hope.  Many are looking to be saved and longing for something holy.  Too many settle for a knock-off imitation of true holiness and true wholeness.  Earthly love can be wonderful, but it won't complete you.  You were designed for so much more.

There's also a powerful reminder here to thinking about what is shaping own thinking, and the culture we live in can seductively warp our thinking.  And, frankly, the culture's not always right.  We have to have wisdom to hear what our culture (even the ones we love) are telling us and say, "No, that's not right.  I reject that."  If not, a dangerous message could become our dangerous way of life.