Apr 11 2008
Did American Idol censor Jesus?
The prospect that America’s most-watched television program would feature a popular Christian worship song to close its fundraising special last night generated a buzz on the Internet, but some now are crying foul after the lyrics were altered to eliminate the word “Jesus.”
In the grand finale of “American Idol Gives Back,” eight “Idol” finalists performed “Shout to the Lord,” the song by Darlene Zschech of Australia’s Hillsong Church that has been sung in thousands of congregations around the world.
Zschech’s lyrics open with “My Jesus, My Savior, Lord there is none like You, All of my days, I want to praise, The wonders of Your mighty love.”
Instead of “My Jesus,” however, viewers last night heard the “American Idol” stars begin the song with “My shepherd,”
Molly Heinz, who handles publicity for “American Idol” with the Fox television network, has not responded to WND’s request for comment. However, the next night’s show, the regular weekly “results” show, featured the same song, and this time “Jesus” was not edited.
Read about it here.
[From me]
People need to get a life! 1st, they only had so much time to sing. 2nd, people hear the song, they like it and they buy the original and hear how good Hillsong is. Then they hear the Gospel. 3rd, they sang the whole version last night. I know several Integrity Music people from my time living in Mobile. They are great people and they are all about ministry. Get a life people!
What do you think?
19 responses so far
Kevin,
My wife and I were shocked when they started singing that song. I couldn’t believe that they were singing a Christian song. Then as I listened more closely I noticed they left Jesus out and was very sad at the emasculation of such a beautiful song.
Color me surprised when they sang it again last night and sang it the right way. I guess they didn’t want to offend anyone on the night when the money was coming in.
Les
Who knows why they altered the words the first night? I’m waiting for Molly Heinz to respond to Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee for more….
Marty Duren’s last blog post..Hagee’s Folly
Marty,
Ha! I won’t hold my breath. I think those whinning are making a big deal out nothing. They sang the song to millions! People will go to i-tunes & download the song with Jesus. We Christians (I’ve become convicted about me) need to quit playing the victim.
I think it’s great they sang it at all. Of course, there is that whole “Idol” issue though.. Should we as Christ followers (Christians…) even be watching such shows and perhaps even participating in them by voting?
Just wonderin’….
Camey’s last blog post..Please Join Us….. Prayer Requests.
I don’t watch the show, but I wasn’t too offended that they used “Shepherd,” and was glad to see they did the “Jesus” version the next night. Christians should be thankful, not whiney.
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I agree with Les,
a desire for of More Money = Less Jesus
call me a cynic, but I’m guessing the next night was an effort to not lose a significant portion of their regular viewers.
I’m glad they sang it too. Though I thought it so ironic when they got to the line: “mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound, of Your Name”
Funny how that name was removed–the song loses it’s whole meaning without Jesus in it.
I hope people haven’t been dogging on Integrity Music?
Kelly Reed’s last blog post..Sharing an Analogy
The thing is they doctor all of the songs. David A. didn’t sing the 1st vs. of Imagine. I can’t tell you how many song I’ve changed the words to in student worship like “Cocaine” whiich became “Get Saved.”
Kevin,
Good thing I swallowed before I read your last comment. Otherwise - coke would have been all over my keyboard. lol
Camey’s last blog post..Please Join Us….. Prayer Requests.
Camey,
That is just one of many:
“Addicted to Love” became “In need of God’s Love”
“Johnny B. Good” became “Jesus B. Good”
“Wild Thing” became “WOW Thing” ( the name of our student ministry)
I could go on and on.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Did American Idol censor Jesus?
I used to sing “I Believe in Jesus” to the tune of “I Believe in Music.”
It really isn’t surprising Kev…
What is surprising to me is when churches censor Jesus so that they don’t offend attendees…
This happens all the time…
We talk about God, practical issues, friendships, but Jesus, and His words get left out…
I expect it from the secular world… heck it is surprising they even know the song,…
I heard Dolly Parton sing Jesus and Gravity on American Idol and it made me cry…
she wasn’t ashamed to speak Jesus’ name, even if people thought it was offensive…
I commend dolly and American idol for not censoring her… but I can’t condemn a secular market for censoring Jesus, now a church, that’s a different story.. they need accountability…
Kevin,
…and thus, proving once and for all the words of Karl Max: “Religion is the opiate of the people.”
:^))
Hi Kevin,
I did find it odd that they removed Jesus from the song but left Gahndi in Maria Shriver’s speechette at the beginning of the show. Also, the bleeps by the actor that followed the song were more offensive than the lyrics switcharoo. I wondered if they had asked permission to change the lyrics because Brooklyn Tab has a note that they received permission to change another Darlene Zschech song on their new album. Maybe that’s why they switched back the next night. I did enjoy the song, though, on both nights.
greg
Greg,
Yeah the bleeps were dumb. But I guess if it was a matter of the world hearing Shout to the Lord like the did or not at all I would chose to do it the way they did.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Did American Idol censor Jesus?
Aaahhhhhhhhh…American Idol. What’s that?
Bill’s last blog post..Service?with a smile??
Does it really matter that they changed the song lyrics? Think about it…
Was God not praised by the words? God knew what about the change and if He did not want it changed then it would not have been changed.
Why should we even be offended by any changes like this? We have reason or cause to be offended. Are we somehow being insulted? Is God? If for some reason you think He is, is your job to also be offended for Him? I think God can take care of Himself and if He was offended by the change in words then He will handle that how He wants to.
Those are the things we don’t get to see while here in England, but I am very impressed and think it is awesome. I’m surprised because it seems Simon often tells Christians off, but what a song to sing!
I downloaded the song from iTunes — extremely well done, complete with Jesus.
David,
Great to hear from you again. Long time no see!
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Teen can attend Catholic over atheist dad’s objection