I’ve been loving Jon Foreman’s seasons albums the past few weeks. If you don’t know Jon Foreman is the lead singer of Switchfoot and these albums are really well done. I love his song “Instead of a Show” that I am pretty sure he wrote in response to Isaiah 1 (especially verses 10-17). Here are the words of Isaiah through the word of Jon Foreman.
I hate all your show and pretense
the hypocrisy of your praise
the hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your showAway with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when your
singing ‘em
I hate all your showInstead 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 showyour 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 handsyou 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 handsAh! 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 aroundgive 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
Convicting stuff.
Ben Sternke said...
1I love that song, too! He sure didn’t pull any punches, but I guess neither did Isaiah… “there’s blood on your hands…”
12/2/09 6:12 PM | Comment Link
Mike Lehr said...
2Great song, Todd. Check out this live performance. He talks a little about it…and messes up the words at one point. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E53qJxltyfI&feature=player_embedded
12/2/09 10:14 PM | Comment Link
Pat said...
3Wow, thanks for the pointer. I haven’t run into it before.
I met last night with a friend, and heard a bit more about the story of a shared acquaintance who lost his pastoral ministry and considerable influence to an extramarital affair. It’s a terrible story, horrifying and fragile.
I also have spent time reading John Paul Jackson’s 11/30 letter regarding his concerns with the rushed ‘restoration’ of Todd Bentley, the prophetic/evangelist guy in Lakeland, FL who left his wife and married the woman he had an affair with, after a quick divorce. Although I’m not very connected with the prophetic/charismatic church these days, I was grieved by the story and have been wrestling with our culture’s love for celebrity in all forms – including gifted Christians of questionable righeousness.
This song speaks to all the above, and so much more.
12/3/09 2:43 AM | Comment Link
JamesBrett said...
4nice lyrics. really speak to a lot of modern Christianity. and in addition to isaiah 1, it seems he’s pulling some from amos 5, especially v 24, about the flood of justice and a never-ending stream of righteousness. interesting, too, is that this idea of righteousness (a right relationship with God) and justice (a right relationship with man) is basically what Jesus answers when asked about the greatest command…
good post. thanks for writing.
12/3/09 8:53 AM | Comment Link
marc said...
5if u look at amos 5:21-24 in the new living, its almost word for word at the begining
01/28/10 10:34 AM | Comment Link