Let it Be...Christmas

I can't think of another series that our team has been more jazzed about than this one. That's right...we are going with a Beatles theme this Christmas. With Across the Universe currently in the theaters and the new Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas called Love, the Beatles are as hot as ever.

Using the music of the Beatles we will be telling the Christmas story all December. And we've been getting great feedback from music lovers of all generation. Here is the rundown:

Let it Be...Christmas

A Story Told by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo.

• Week #1: Nothin's Gonna Change My World
• Week #2: All the Lonely People
• Week #3: I Believe in Yesterday
• Week #4: You Say You Want a Revolution
• Christmas Eve Services: Let it Be

Comments

[J Aquila]

I'm pretty excited to see what we're going to do. This has been a pretty big year for John Lennon and The Beatles, music wise. I think people are going to get a kick out of this! I love the themes for the weekends. I kinda hope I get to take part in the Revolution / or Lonely weekend services.

[Bob Hicks]

I am constantly encouraged and pumped about what Granger is doing! This series themed around the Beatles is awesome! I'm definately going to watch and listen to your series. Who knows, the "Beatles" may show up in Madison, IN. Granger, thanks for who you are and Who you serve!

[Puritan Lad]

Disgraceful.

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions," (2 Timothy 4:3).

What you draw them with is what you draw them to. Soli Deo Gloria

[Tim Stevens]

"What you draw them with is what you draw them to."

Wrong. That's like going to an impoverished country and not offering them food until they accept Christ. "We don't draw you with food because then you will only want food." What?

We attract truly lost people by speaking a language they understand. They understand music. Music speaks to their heart. It speaks of their hurts and desires and basic human needs. We use music, a language they understand, to draw them to Jesus. A Jesus who loves them and cares about their needs.

A Jesus who is Holy and who is the antithesis of what the Beatles stood for. It wasn't their searching that was wrong--that is God-given. It was their conclusions, their debauchery. But their search can be celebrated and can connect to the search that thousands around us are having today.

[Dave]

I once attended a church where the pastor used John Lennon's "Imagine" as an interlude between the scripture reading and the preaching. The first line of the song went, "Imagine there's no Heaven; it's easy if you try."

Um, no thanks. I'd rather not. It's no wonder why we left when the preaching matched the singing.

Is it wise to use The Beatles when they had a distinctly non-Christian set of beliefs?

[hello it's me]

A pretty big year for John Lennon? He's dead and won't be in the heaven he failed to believe in. He also won't be able to be comforted by "Mother Mary" in hell. The BIG LIE is that we can use all the trappings of the world and have spiritually mature lives. The Big kick is that people can smoke their hookah, listen to their beatles , live immoral lives and think they will end up with the Holy One, Jesus...the Son of God NEVER left people in the mess their lives were in..He showed them THE WAY OUT....stop sinning or something worse will happen (healed man from the mat)...GO and sin no more...(woman caught in adultery)....You must be BORN AGAIN...(Nicodemus under the cover of night, seeking the truth)

So STARTING with the beatles, then telling them that their music is not really good for their spirit would be confusing...unless you believe the beatles and their music is GOOD for one's spirit.

[Jake]

I applaud what you're doing to reach out to people who aren't from a church culture. Obviously there will always be someone who doesn't understand that using elements of pop culture as a starting point to share God's message doesn't have to mean that pop culture is the ending point. It is too bad that such people don't realize that God calls us to reach out to people by starting with what they know - Paul understood this, but it is a difficult lesson for some. This series is a great idea, and sounds like a creative way to help people here the gospel message.

[Tom Rawls]

I continue to be encourgaed by the way you guys reach out to your community. I also remain profoundly shocked by the number of christians who just don't get it! You always remain very gracious to your detractors - God bless you this Christmas with hundreds coming to Jesus!

Tom Rawls

[Keith]

I took the liberty of creating some artwork for your sermons series. Feel free to use it.

http://members.cox.net/kwhitfield/blog/beatlesxmas.jpg

(Sorry about abbreviating "Christmas" in the filename.)

[Gayla]

"We attract truly lost people by speaking a language they understand."

The gospel of Jesus Christ is quite understandable on its own, don't you think?

"A Jesus who is Holy and who is the antithesis of what the Beatles stood for. It wasn't their searching that was wrong--that is God-given. It was their conclusions, their debauchery. But their search can be celebrated and can connect to the search that thousands around us are having today."

If their conclusions were wrong, and their search, debauchery, why in the world would you want to hold them up as an example?? Why the desire to celebrate their wrong conclusions and debauchery?? If you want the lost to come to the right conclusion, shouldn't you being unapologetically preaching and teaching the Word of God, which is the power unto salvation?

Here's an idea - why not go with the actual Christmas story to celebrate Christmas?

[Brian]

Since when has the Bible become insufficient?

[Mary Ann]

What happened to preaching the Word of God and the cross of Christ and trusting the Holy Spirit to do the work in the hearts of the people. A man-centered, man-manipulated gospel does not honor or exalt the King of kings and Lord of lords.

[dixiewasik]

I grew up with the Beatles and their revolution. A group of four diverse young men from very troubled backgrounds trying to entertain but also trying to find their way in this world just like everyone else. Their fame and fortune was a gift for the melodic music they produced. Were they role models? That depends what you chose to pluck from their lives. I had a very troubled childhood filled with a father that didn't value the sanctity of marriage and a mom who suffered from cancer for 15 years. I took solice in their music and especially identified with Paul because of his love of his mother, Mary. I was so appreciative of the escape his music provided that I set off to tell him personally how much I appreciated that at age 19. I met Paul and wife Linda and daughter Mary at his home in St. Johns Wood, a suburb of London. He was as wonderful as I had hoped he would be. I was able to thank him and he was appreciative of my efforts to tell him. Using familiar music to create the frame for the actual picture of God's word is courageous and inspiring. Thank you for taking me back as I move forward in my journey to know God.

[Pat Callahan]

Hey Tim...

I've been reading for a while, but haven't ever left a comment. I'm amazed at the flames in some of the comments. I think some of the commenters forgot that Jesus used parables/stories to share the Gospel (and to keep it hidden). He the Kingdom of God palatable while not compromising its essence. I applaud the Granger crew for doing the same thing.

I also am reminded that Jesus came full of grace and truth - not just truth and not just grace. It is difficult to balance the two, although pretty easy to tell when you're not. Again, knowing the kinds of messages Granger consistently has, I applaud you all for your great work.

-Pat

[Kim]

I don't get a kick out of this. Call me intolerant, but our ancestors died to bring the Holy Word of God to us. If you want to know the Lord Jesus Christ open your Bible. Many died to bring it to you. The Word of God is enough.

[Dar]

I am deeply grieved to learn that the words of Jesus Christ are no longer relevant or enough to draw people to Himself. No Beatle's song or comments made in the past have ever glorified the Lord and never will. HE IS ENOUGH. The Lord knows quite well how to draw His own without the Beatle's help.
Can you "Imagine" these songs being played in The Holy Of Holies? I have the privilege of leading worship in the church that I attend and I have to be honest. When I stand before the Lord in worship, my heart is to focus my attention on Him to adore, respect and reverence a Holy and Majestic God. He is to be the object of our affection Only. God says, "I will share my glory with no other." Please ask yourself who is the object in this Christmas Story. It appears that the one you are focusing on is the Beatle's, not our Lord and King. In your effort to make the Gospel relevant, you are making the Word of God as though it is irrelevant. Please reconsider. What groups are planned for next year? AC/DC, Judas Priest,etc......Shame.

True Food For Thought:

John 14:6
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."

John 6:44
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
A servant of the Most High

[Cristina]

MATTHEW....MARK....LUKE....JOHN

JOHN.....PAUL....RINGO....GEORGE

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE THE REAL TRUTH FROM?

Cristina

[Scott]

What is it with all the Granger haters out there? If I follow your logic, if an idea is not pulled word-for-word from the Bible then it isn't "pure" enough to be used in a church setting. Are you serious? Do you really believe that Jesus would be talking about sheep and crops if he were around today? My guess is that he'd be hanging with the MTV crowd, talking about things they understand and care about. Not because he condones everything they support, but because that's where the greatest opportunity for impact exists.

Haters: Keep answering questions no one is asking in a way no one can understand; I'm sure that will make Jesus proud of you. If you've got better ideas than Granger, shut up and implement them instead of bashing a church that's doing its best to make an impact for Christ.

[Mark R]

Hey Brother,

Keep the faith, keep up the work, reaching a lost world means communicating in their language. They do not know Christian-E's, but you are right they Know Beetle-E's. I suspect your teaching and preaching is just as biblical and thought provoking as any innovative Christ Jesus Loving, Worshipping Pastor.

Keep up the Good Work
In Christ
Let it Be Let it Be
In Christ
Your Friend Mark

[michaeldanner]

Wow! I love how so many "Bible loving" people have no problem judging the teaching of a series that hasn't even started yet. (Actually, it's quite sad)

To those of you critical of Granger out of love for the scirptures here is my question: What to you do with Paul's approach in Acts 17:22 - 34? He met people where they were, using their pagan religious notions, idols and pop culture to gain a hearing for the gospel. That story is in the scriptures, I assume, because it represents a legitimate way to address a non-believing audience with the gospel.

If Granger's approach is so abhorent to God, why do we read about Paul doing the same thing in the scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit?

Imagine, when Paul quoted the "Beatles" of his day, they actually became a part of the Bible...now that's redemption!

[Kevin]

I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong.
- John Lennon

Part of me suspects that I'm a loser, and the other part of me thinks I'm God Almighty.
- John Lennon

You've got to get down to your own God in your own temple. It's all down to you, mate.
- John Lennon

God is a concept by which we measure our pain.
- John Lennon

Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock and roll or Christianity.
- John Lennon

Now the question is, do these quotes affirm your decision, or convict you of a terrible error?

(Note from Tim: I deleted the rest of Kevin's email since he wasn't very nice...but I thought the first part of his email was worthy of discussion).

[David Niles]

I too am saddened that Jesus" birth is put to music that doesn"t glorify the Lord at all. The Beatles, as far as I know, where never overtly satanic. They are however secular, unconverted men who need the Lord Jesus as Messiah and King over their lives. Reading from the Bible and exponding on it the way to share the Birth of Christ/Messiah for the Christmas season. I lovingly encourage you to rethink this over. Jesus said if "I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me". That I pray should be our goal.
Blessings to all at Granger Community Church

[michaeldanner]

Am I missing something? (that is an honest question) I don't go to Granger! All I know about Granger I have read on the web through blogs like this. But I have never heard/read/seen anyone from GCC saying they endorse what the Beatles stood for/said/sang about, etc. I also never heard them say they are going to teach people about Jesus using Beatles songs. What they are doing (again - correct me if I'm wrong)is taking common human longings/struggles as expressed through the popular music of the Beatles and bringing them into conversation with the Gospel found in the scriptures. In the end their goal is to answer the struggle/longing/needs/confusion found in the Beatles music with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm struggling to understand what is wrong with that?

I quote King David's Psalms quite a bit, but that doesn't mean that I endorse sleeping with someone else's wife, getting her pregnant and having her husband killed to cover up my sins (and all that stuff is IN the Bible and done by a "man after God's own heart").

You don't have to endorse a single word of what John Lennon said to counter his worldview with the gospel.

[Corey Mann]

Tim, When you get back can we sit down and talk about something? I saw a passage in the bible where Jesus talked about farmers and sheep, and the last time I checked-NOT ALL FARMERS are christians.

Growing up in a farming community, this hits close to home so....soon can we talk...please?

[Tom]

As I read just some of this discussion above, I see much of a condemning and judgemental voice.

Something to be mindful of, it's this very condemning and judgemental tone that keeps people away from church. Remember too, the church is people...it's us! Clearly, we are not perfect...in fact we're quite messy!

Whatever happened to the so very fundamental lesson from Kindergarten that says, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all."?

Can we stop condemning each other?
Can we stop judging each other?
Can we stop pointing fingers at each other?

I'm a member of GCC and serve with an usher/greeter team. I love how this body is so willing to reach out and meet people right where they are at. If it takes the music of the Beetles to "talk" to people right where they are at, and answer those questions the music raises with the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, then let's do it. The music of the Beetles isn't the first secular music used and it won't be the last. Anyone remember Blue Man Christmas?