Flaming Out

Jesus contrasted His light with the darkness of the world. He declared that He is the light of the world and said that we are, as well - because of His presence in us. Luke 11 states:
33 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.
34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.
35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.
36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."

So, we have been given the light of Christ and His truth can change our perspective. But, the world will tell us a different story - we have to stand against the ways of darkness, that are inconsistent with the teachings of Scripture, so that we can maintain that sense of His light. We have to have our eyes fully open and make sure that we allow the light of Christ to influence of thoughts, attitudes, and emotions, so that our minds are not corrupted or led astray.

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There are those that claim the name of Christ, but deny Him by their actions. We have to recognize that not all that is called "Christian" actually reflects the teachings of Christ. In 2nd Timothy chapter 3, Paul lists the characteristics of those whom he describes in verse 5: "having a form of godliness but denying its power," adding, "And from such people turn away!"

He goes on to write:
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

A milestone was reached recently on the iTunes Christian music chart.  For what has been reported as one day and one day only, Matthew Blake became the first "drag queen" to top the chart.

How is that even possible?  A drag queen, who represents the deviance of fallen humanity, topping a Christian music chart.  The Christian Post reported that:

Matthew Blake, who wears makeup and women’s clothing and performs under the name Flamy Grant, released the album “Bible Belt Baby” last year but recently hit the top spot on the iTunes Christian and Gospel chart along with the album’s lead single, “Good Day.”

Sean Feucht publicized Blake's collaboration with Derek Webb in a tweet, saying: “If you're wondering the end goal of the deconstruction movement in the church, then look no further than former worship leader @derekwebb's new collab with a drag queen. These are truly the last days.” 

The article said:

In response to Feucht’s tweet, Blake commented, “End goal? Baby we’re just getting started” and called on his Instagram followers to “prove Feucht wrong.”

In a September 2022 interview, Blake acknowledged his drag name was inspired by “arguably the most successful Christian artist of all time,” CCM legend Amy Grant.

Webb, as the Christian Post reported, "...featured the drag performer on his 2023 release The Jesus Hypothesis in a song called 'Boys Will Be Girls,' a video that features both performers in makeup while standing in front of a cross and includes the lyrics, 'I heard Jesus loved and spent his life with those who /Were abandoned by proud and fearful men /So if a church won’t celebrate and love you /They’re believing lies that can’t save you or them /Cause you’re so beautiful by any name.'”

Just days ago, 1819News.com reported that following Feucht's comments...

...Blake took to TikTok to have his followers stream the song. That led to its ranking on Apple Music Christian music charts, which is not the industry standard.

Blake's song was allegedly at the top of the chart for one day but is now nowhere to be found in the top 100.

Billboard even reported on Blake's success, complete with a gender identity pronoun:

And yes, the inspiration behind their drag name does, in fact, know all about it. “I know Amy Grant knows about me,” Blake says with a smile. “Some people who were in her orbit have talked to me and said, ‘Amy thinks it’s great.’ I am hopeful that there will be some kind of collaboration someday.”

When a pastor at their progressive Christian church asked Blake if they would want to perform a sermon during one of their virtual services during the pandemic, they agreed, filmed it, and posted a clip of it on TikTok. After it blew up, Blake knew that they were onto something. “It was like, ‘Oh, this is not just for me. This is actually able to speak to people, and they’re all saying that this makes them feel safe and seen,'” they recall. “That’s all I ever want my art to do.”

The report that the namesake for Blake's act is fond of the drag performer's schtick is not surprising.  Grant has apparently been known to be LGBT-affirming.  In a commentary on The Point, John Stonestreet of the Colson Center said:

Recently, Christian music legend Amy Grant appeared on the pro-LGBT podcast “Proud Radio.” Asked about gay artists in country music, Grant said that she thinks it’s important to “set a welcome table” for people of all sexual orientations because: “None of us are a surprise to God. Nothing about who we are or what we’ve done.” The host understood these words as an endorsement of his gay lifestyle.

But nothing Grant said is technically wrong. God does love and welcome sinners. He isn’t surprised by who we are or what we’ve done. But in this cultural moment, to speak only the culturally acceptable truths about love and acceptance while keeping silent on the offensive truths about sin and salvation ends up not telling the truth, at all.

This hearkens back to Lauren Daigle's unfortunate comment in an interview about her being unsure about whether or not homosexuality is a sin. 

And, furthermore, Amy Grant has faced criticism for her hosting of her niece's same-sex wedding at the farm the she and husband Vince Gill own.

But, enough about Flamy, er Matthew, and Amy.  What's going on in our culture, especially the Christian music universe?  Adam Holz of Plugged In from Focus on the Family recalls when...

...CCM artists and the songs they created faithfully cohered to a biblically orthodox worldview. Sure, there were examples to the contrary here and there. But generally speaking, if we were talking about CCM, we could make some assumptions about what to expect theologically.

But just as once-trusted mainstream entertainment outlets have increasingly embraced social activism and politically progressive messaging—Disney, of course, comes to mind—so we’re now seeing a parallel phenomenon under the broad umbrella of CCM.

Holz goes on to state:

Webb has said, “If you claim to be someone’s ally, but aren’t getting hit by the stones thrown at them, you’re not standing close enough.” Blake, on Flamy Grant’s Instagram page, is more profanely blunt: “A community of people who wholeheartedly and full-throatedly reject the notion that Christian faith has to look like the fearful, petty, weak evangelicalism that demonizes so many people and dominates too much of life in the US. … F— that. You belong here, if here’s where you want to be. I love you.”

I quote these two voices to give you a sense of what they’re arguing, where they’re coming from and how they’re convinced that embracing Jesus and embracing an LGBT identity and behavior are compatible.

We’re certainly familiar with LGBT affirmation in mainstream entertainment. But, increasingly, this example shows us how a similar conversation is emerging somewhere we might once have considered a safe harbor in the cultural storm: the world of contemporary Christian music.

That harbor, it turns out, is churning and roiling with the waves and currents of this controversy. As with so many other forms of entertainment these days, CCM is a realm that requires wisdom and discernment with regard to the messages and worldviews being communicated. Parents can’t simply assume that a CCM artist will conform to their own understanding of Scripture.

And, while Jesus preached a message welcoming all to follow Him, He did not endorse their sin, nor ours. Holz says: "I believe—deeply—that Jesus has compassion on those who’ve struggled with a heavy burden of shame, isolation, fear and weariness. But the antidote to those struggles isn’t celebrating and affirming whatever we might think is right. Instead, the Gospel is an invitation to walk with Him, to let Jesus transform every aspect of our lives: what we eat, what we buy, what we value, how we treat others. And, yes, how we think, feel and behave sexually." He adds, "That Gospel is so much bigger—and so much more abundant—than the false, seemingly compassionate gospel of sexual inclusivity."

So, as Holz is saying, and I agree, even in what seems to be or claims to be Christian, it's "buyer beware."  We have to be careful to stay away from artists and messages that seem to be wrapped in a Christian package, yet inside contain a lifestyle and content that do not glorify God and contradict Scripture. Music is such a wonderful form of creative expression and the enemy would certainly want to corrupt what God desires to be used for His glory.  

So the entertainment choices we have to make even extend into the Christian realm - and into programming choices that are made here on Faith Radio, as we continue to seek to be a trusted source for you, so you may draw closer to the Lord.   

We should exhibit concern over artists who seem to have lost their way, buying into the world's lie that somehow sexual deviancy brings glory to God and that welcoming and affirming sinful lifestyles is connected to the expression of the love of Jesus.  It does seem that the pressure to conform is ramping up on Christians who want to live a holy life - recognizing that terrain, we can seek to maintain a faithful witness that demonstrates the amazing life - as Adam Holz rightly says, the abundant - life that Jesus wants us to enjoy.