I see your point. And I see Derek’s. And I think you see mine (but that doesn’t really matter). I guess I see politics as a small thing, though I follow it quite closely. I guess this is a discussion with no resolution other than: it is what it is. Good discussion, though.

Hey, I think it’s just fine to have a favorite album, and I think that it’s okay for it to not be whatever the latest album was. Personally, I’m fine if Derek doesn’t keep tilling the same ground over and over again—honestly, I’d get bored if he did. Also, I see what he’s doing as an extension of what came before.

I sense that you feel that Derek’s cheapened himself by discussing politics; in response, I’d argue that Derek is merely responding to the American church’s desire to cheapen itself by getting overly involved and losing their ethos by getting too much in bed with one party or another. When I considers American history and that the forerunners of the two major American political parties we see today were, essentially, in opposite ideological positions more than a century ago, I think Derek’s “Savior on Capitol Hill” is quite appropriate—that there’s not one there now, that there hasn’t ever been one, and that there never will be one.

Perhaps in mucking about with politics as an extension of the groundwork laid already with SMaSGF, Derek is trying to determine what is and isn’t important in this sphere. It’s great to hear words like sin and faith alone, but how we live out what we believe is almost as important—not because it provides salvation, but because it is how we reflect God’s love towards each other.

And yeah, I’m in a bad mood this morning and you’re unjustly catching flak. I apologize for being a jerk.

I’m just torn. I understand and appreciate art and expression, especially in music. But at the same time I felt that “SMASGF” was more uplifting, more edifying.

If you run through life worrying about contradicting yourself, worrying about your pride, you’ll live for years on a lie that will get you nowhere.

I’m not dissing the album. He’s an artist. Its his art. I just miss hearing “words like sin and faith alone.” That album really spoke to me and edified me, spiritually. I know, I know… Rich Mullins always used to say that if you wanted spiritual edification, dont look to Christian music, look in the Bible. But I believe edification exists also in the communion of the saints, in worship, corporate and worship, both far and near. “Iron sharpens iron” and all.

But I’d argue that the focus of The Ringing Bell is best summed up in the final track, which strongly seems to have an eternal focus to me…

Call me back to my savior, Mr. Webb. Proclaim his love, his saving grace, his sanctifying work in our lives, the good and the bad. Expose our problems with money and lust, lies and worship. Dont play politics. Politics are small. Politics are inconsequential. The grace of God is eternal.
Worship God!

I dont say this to come down on Mr. Webb, who I respect and admire. But I dont feel like I’m being a Christian brother when I am just a “yes man” I feel like I have to mention when something seems wrong or backward. I feel like the past albums have been that for me. I recently read where Mr. Webb said that the people who didn’t agree with him seemed to disappear, stop buying albums, stop supporting, just go somewhere else and not stick around. I dont feel like I can do that. I dont want to just go to where the preacher just preaches, to my itching ears, the things I want to hear. I want to struggle along with this. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication, Mr Webb. Your music has been an influence in my life. I just ask that you consider focusing on things eternal, not fluff in the key of G, thats not what I’m asking, but for a look into the depths of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable is his wisdom, how inscrutable his ways!