Music & Worship

Song of the Week

Song: East to West
Artist Casting Crowns

This portion of Our Music is designed to inform and educate students and is not meant to endorse any music or movie.

Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what you listen to and see.

Mainstream Artist

Background: This Grammy-nominated band formed in Virginia in 1990 as Burn the Priest. They changed their name but continue playing a combination of heavy metal, death metal, and progressive metal-keyword metal. Wrath, their new album, hit number two on the Billboard chart. Lamb of God has headlined the popular OzzFest tour.

Albums : Wrath (2009), Sacrament (2006), New American Gospel (2000)

What Parents Should Know: Despite the band's name and album titles, don't mistake it for a Christian band. Dark lyrics and imagery often mock the church and authority figures.

What Lamb of God Says: Drummer Chris Adler says the band's name "was never a religious thing…. What we're really trying to get across is: Don't always take things at surface level." Guitarist Willie Adler says kids can relate to their music, especially with "the whole feeling of angst and rebellion."

Discussion Questions : Read Romans 13:1-7. Do we have to respect people who abuse authority? What should Christians do when leaders abuse power? Read John 7:24. Why is it dangerous to accept things at surface level? How can you avoid making dangerous assumptions?

Christian Artist

Background: This nu-metal band formed in Tennessee in 2004, and, after only two albums, has become one of the biggest players in Christian rock. Red's music has been nominated for a Grammy and has won a Dove award. Innocence & Instinct reached number one on Billboard's indie chart.

Albums: Innocence & Instinct (2009), The End of Silence (2006)p>

What Parents Should Know: Red isn't just a "safe" alternative band; these guys are genuinely talented and have had mainstream success as a result. Many of their lyrics deal with overcoming baser instincts and turning toward God.

What Red Says : Singer Michael Barnes calls the song "Never Be the Same" an anthem of redemption. Although we've all gone through difficult situations, he says, "when we look to God and see how he's put us back together again and made us whole, we realize we'll never be the same."

Discussion Questions : Read Psalm 51:1-10. Have you ever cried out to God in a similar way? If so, explain. Why do we continue making mistakes that make such confessions necessary? What does it mean to have a "clean heart"? Does it mean we're perfect? Explain.