If Charles Finney Were Alive

He would sound a lot like this cat (HT: Rich Barcellos)

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  • R. Scott Clark
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    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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13 comments

  1. In the past, regardless of what one makes of hymnody, the great hymns were written by theologians who were steeped in the gospel as confessed by the great Reformed creeds. Now, praise songs seem contingent upon how many meds the writer has taken that day. They are filled with vapid lyrics, sloppy/heterodox theology and homoerotic sentiments expressed to a cosmic boyfriend. They are musically impoverished and written for solo performers as opposed to congregational singing.

  2. Chuck Swindoll has talked in the past about his distaste for “7-11 Worship Songs” – the same seven words repeated 11 times. There are many songs like this in the Church today where the worship leader has the audience repeat a phrase again and again and again and again…

  3. The theology in the closing song was too complicated. Other than that, the tutorial is a go!

  4. Does a certain PCA college have a major or even a minor in the redemption of non-art? Maybe we could send him there. Although, I’m afraid he’d come out with more of the Bono over Bonar mentality.

  5. I started to say that Finney would be all-in for the choreographed emotion, but it’s hard to see how he would work in an anxious bench with the guitar flanging.

    But then I realized that many contemporary worship services begin with flange end with the alter call. This insider stands corrected.

  6. I wouldn’t last 2 seconds with worship songs like that one.

    It does sound like it would fit in nicely at any one of these warehouse churches, though.

  7. This is absolutely brilliant! In our church we are doing a survey of hymnody in Sunday school (an entire other rant…). One can only take (I trust) from the history of hymns that the church, sadly, has continued to devolve into the oblivion of the lowest common denominator of popular music, pablum doctrine, and affected worship.

  8. Glad he dropped the tie. He will reach more without it. This is sure a good example of cultural redemption. Dr. Clark, you sure are right on top of things – cutting edge. Semper reformanda, right?

    • Rich,
      In this case it’s “Sempere resumerenda”, isn’t it? (I hope Dr. Clark will expunge my comment in case I’ve butchered the present gerundive).

        • Dr. Clark,
          Thanks for chopping off the extra “e” from semper. (I must have been thinking in Latin infinitives.)

          I’m trying to say that the CCMusic is Always Repeating.

          If you’re wondering about the avatar, just go to weather.com and search for zip 05855. (We spend a lot of money on heating oil, but we don’t have the excessive sunscreen bills you guys do, so it must all even out….)

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