"A Baby Changes Everything" - Ugh.

All4Christ · Dec 16, 2008

GBTWC said:
I see were youre comming from but I didnt get that from the song
BTW im still cracking up over the prom queen line thats classic

sorry I hope this doesnt start a big ol controversy but it probably will. I think some of you might be aproaching this from a protestaphobic (is that a word?) point of view youre assuming the intentions of the artist I dont think your reactions would be the same if this writer was a well known Orthodox musician.

I cant believe Im defending faith hill

GB,

I can see what you mean with that - but I have to respectfully disagree. There are plenty of Protestant songs that I like (well - at least can respect). It's true that we Orthodox are more in tune to the respect or lack of respect of the Theotokos. However, I think that it isn't because of it being Protestant thing. I don't think all Protestants look at Mary in this way (look at the YouTube song that some one recently posted from Amy Grant). Now that I'm Orthodox, I see the Theotokos in a different way than I did before. Because of seeing her in a different light, the portrayal of her in another way - whether from a Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox - seems wrong. In fact, I think it would be even worse if someone who was Orthodox wrote this song. I think that many people would be against this even if the songwriter was Orthodox. It's not the fact that it was written by a Christian pop singer (or in this case, a country singer). It's because of incorrect theology and a general misunderstanding of Mary as the Mother of God.

GBTWC · Dec 16, 2008

I dont see were the misunderstanding of Mary as the Mother of God is in this song

I see it as showing us that if any normal person was confronted with this calling they would be terrified but the fact is She was obedient in the face of fear and
please forgive me for disagreeing im an idiot for defending faith hill LOL this is ridiculous

HandmaidenOfGod · Dec 16, 2008

GBTWC said:
I dont see were the misunderstanding of Mary as the Mother of God is in this song

I see it as showing us that if any normal person was confronted with this calling they would be terrified but the fact is She was obedient in the face of fear and
please forgive me for disagreeing im an idiot for defending faith hill LOL this is ridiculous

This is what you're missing.

She wasn't normal, and she wasn't terrified. That is our objection.

(If it makes you feel any better, this isn't an attack on Faith Hill, but the songwriters. And actually, we aren't attacking anyone, just expressing frustration at false theology.)

GBTWC · Dec 16, 2008

HandmaidenOfGod said:
This is what you're missing.

She wasn't normal, and she wasn't terrified. That is our objection.

(If it makes you feel any better, this isn't an attack on Faith Hill, but the songwriters. And actually, we aren't attacking anyone, just expressing frustration at false theology.)

I agree with you I think this song shows she didn't respond like a normal person, I dont think theres any Tradition or scripture that says she wasn't afraid in fact I believe the angel had to calm her in his presence so it really doesnt matter Ill dislike the song also but that means Ill have to turn in my faith hill fan club membership LOL

HandmaidenOfGod · Dec 16, 2008

GBTWC said:
...Ill dislike the song also but that means Ill have to turn in my faith hill fan club membership LOL

Gwendolyn · Dec 16, 2008

cassc said:
I think "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) is MUCH better if contemporary Christian Christmas music is your cup of tea:

That is a really beautiful song.

And the theological incorrectness, or rather, complete disregard for theology at all, that is present in the vast majority of "Christian pop" songs just makes me cringe. I have friends who love Christian pop but it really isn't my thing. When I want religious music, I prefer chant... I find it much more comforting an uplifting than "YEAH JESUS YOU'RE SO GREAT I WANNA HUG YOU YEAH JESUS YOU'RE THE BEST".

Julina · Dec 17, 2008

HandmaidenOfGod said:
I see where you're coming from, and no, I don't think Faith Hill is the anti-Christ or anything like that. I think she's a cool Country singer, and I like a lot of her stuff.

What gets me frustrated is that this is false theology that is being spread, and people take this for truth.

I don't know why, but this year in particular I have just been especially sensitive to the secularization of Christmas, and I'm trying in my own small ways to combat it however I can.

God willing, if and when I ever have children, there will be no Santa Claus. Lying to my kids about a figure who is almost god-like (sees you when you're sleeping, knows when you're awake, knows if you've been bad or good...hmmm sounds omnipotent to me...) is just something my children don't need in their lives.

i thought i was the only one who didn't want to tell my kids about santa!

Julina · Dec 17, 2008

someone pointed out that in a lot of contemporary Christian songs, you can change maybe one word (from "spirit" to "body" for example) and make it sound like a song about sex.

cassc · Dec 23, 2008

Hmmm, funny, this song opened up "A Home for the Holidays" (an annual TV program that uses celebrates and musical guests to promote adoption)- Faith Hill was hosting, it that context seemed even more like a song about a teen pregnancy which actually offended me but I guess it shouldn't since if I heard correctly Faith Hill was adopted...

Tonks · Dec 24, 2008

It is pretty execrable...

I think that the worst of them all in the past 30 years or so is "Do they know its Christmas?" Beyond it being a crap song it also has the double-bonus of being unintentionally racist (in my view).

rusmeister · Dec 24, 2008

Julina said:
i thought i was the only one who didn't want to tell my kids about santa!

A brief thought on Santa -
I've come to the position that (traditional) fairy tales are essential and contain the essence of our faith. Excluding them entirely is actually (as GKC would probably say) Puritan - anti-Orthodox. But of course, telling children that Santa Claus as presented in pop culture is wrong. But I think telling the stories is fine, and even good for the children - as stories.

Zaac · Dec 24, 2008

All4Christ said:
So, my boyfriend and I were driving to dinner and we just heard this new Christmas song on the radio - and we were shocked into silence. Never before had I heard a song like this.

It's by this Christian pop singer, Faith Hill. I've never been too much of a fan of pop-style Christmas music - but I can appreciate some pop-style Christmas songs. But - not this. I thought that even my old church and other Protestants would think it is disrespectful and uncalled for - but apparently people are raving about it. If you want to listen to it - go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2o1uxzI-hA

Otherwise, here's the song / lyrics.

"A Baby Changes Everything" by Faith Hill

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring
On her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything (x2)

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she Keep his trust
A baby changes everything (x2)

And she cries, oh she cries
She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything (x2)

And she cries and she cries O she cries
Shepherds own they got their...
Star shines down...

Choir of Angels say
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything (x2) everything, everything, every day
Hallelujah x4

My whole life is turned
I was lost and now I'm
A baby changes everything (x2)

For me - it really sounds like it's talking about unplanned pregancy and what it does to a young teenage mother. Seems like it is trying to get girls to make sure to not get pregnant. Then - we find out that they're talking about the Theotokos! It's like they're saying she is dreading every moment of it - and it resentful of it. I don't know - it just gives me a bad vibe - a bad feeling. It seems disrespectful of the Theotokos - in that she willingly agreed to bear Jesus as her Son. She willingly agreed to be the Mother of God. It wasn't a grudging acceptance.

Anyways, it was just frustrating to see that everyone loves it - and thinks that it is a poignant example of how we should look at Mary and Jesus. Look around online at reviews - everyone thinks it's a perfect way to look at things. So...I just wish that people could truly look and understand at the Theotoko's part in the Nativity of Christ.

Venting completed

Sweetie, she's talking about Christ and His mother. And if she weren't, there simply was nothing inappropriate about those lyrics.

Sounds like it may have convicted you about something though.

But anyway, I think it is a glorious depiction of how a little baby turned the world right side up

Anhelyna · Dec 25, 2008

Zaac

I really think that most of us here on TAW do not appreciate that song , as you will have realised if you really read the whole thread.

However

Merry Christmas to you

"A Baby Changes Everything" - Ugh.

✙ The Handmaid of God Laura ✙

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Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

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