Wedding Dress - Derek Webb
This is an awesome song by Derek Webb. It is about the church who is the bride of Christ. I've heard that he wrote it after he saw Bruce Wilkinson promoting his "Prayer of Jabez" and was very troubled by "formulas" that God supposedly is forced to follow if we pray a certain prayer or do a certain thing. It's about how the church will sell herself to any Christianized cultural fad that comes down the pike. This song is a loving rebuke of the blab it and grab it prosperity movement. "Because money cannot buy a husband's jealous eye when you have knowingly deceived his wife" refers to the holy wrath of Christ, the Bridegroom, that will come on those who deceive His betrothed. We must stop promising to love and obey Him and then prefer possessions, positions and pleasures over the Prince of Peace. "One hand in a pot of gold and the other in Your side." We can never be too Christ-centered can we? We are far too easily satisfied with less than Christ.
If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I'd ever need
or is there more I'm looking for
and should I read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want
I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
and I run down the aisle
I'm a prodigal with no way home
but I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle to you
So could you love this bastard child
Though I don't trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side
I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood
Because money cannot buy
a husband's jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife
14 comments:
It's a lovely song and powerful message. What disturbs me is that Derek Webb wrote the song in reaction to his erroneous belief that Bruce Wilkinson promotes prosperity gospel, or as you colorfully put it, "Blab and grab." It astonishes me the ease with which Christians put negative labels on other people, books, and ideas they haven't carefully examined. Derek wrote a great song based on a highly misleading premise about Wilkinson’s personal teaching on prayer. People who follow “faith fads” certainly did carry the Jabez thing out beyond legitimate boundaries into "Blab and grab," but Wilkinson’s own teaching was anything but that.
Derek's song should stand on its own powerful message, not be used as a song of criticism reacting to some other person who is also part of the Body of Christ.
Wouldn't it be marvelous if members of the Bride of Christ, the Church, did not derive their passion and creativity and love out of negative assessments of another part of the same Bride?
Kenny - what an awesome song with such strong meaning. Thanks for sharing it and I loved the article by Thomas Brooks on Free Grace. Keep sharing. Love, Mom
Oh... you did post it! I love the song... it's a really neat one!!!
-Destiny
lambie,
I believe it is Wilkinson's book that is a bit disturbing (not just an erroneous belief about the book). You brought up how Webb shouldn't criticize Wilkinson because Bruce is part of the Body of Christ. This is exactly what moved Webb to write the song - His love for the Body of Christ and the damage being done by this "Mantra of Jabez" phenomenon.
From the preface of Wilkinson's book: "Dear Reader, I want to teach you how to pray a daring prayer that God always answers. It is brief--only one sentence with four parts--and tucked away in the Bible, but I believe it contains the key to a life of extraordinary favor with God...." Psalm 66:18 tells us that "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." We have no magic formula that "always" works if we say the magic words.
"Blessings" in the Bible do not always equal material or earthly prosperity. We, in the Body of Christ, must not be afraid to reprove and rebuke knowing we are in a time when people will not endure sound doctrine and have accumulated "teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Tim 4:1-4)
Wilkinson misrepresents the Biblical teachings on prayer, prosperity and providence. God is a sovereign God who is not sad because He wants to do things that we won't let Him. Wilkinson writes "When you take little steps, you don't need God" (p. 44). Jesus said the opposite: John 15:5 "without me you can do nothing."
Kenny - what a great response. I appreciate the scriptures you put in and the quote from the book. Love, Mom
What an interesting perspective on both sides. And what a beautiful song.
This is great stuff. I just recently was introduced to this song, and in the world of cookie cutter Christianity most of the western world lives in, this was shocking and refreshing. I deeply appreciate that Webb took the stand against religious 'fadism' and I also appreciate Kenny's comments regarding such.
I began to undestand my relationship with God a lot more than before the moment I became a father. I, too, thought that asking God for too much was a bad thing. I used to think that he had a designanted blessing for me, and that if I asked more than that, it somehow made me evil. Then I understood it more clearly when I had my firstborn. She made me understand that no matter how much she asks, I will always be happy to provide and give her. Her attitude and gratitude towards me are far more important than whether she's got enough or not. I hate it when she seems to be lacking something, or when I honestly cannot provide: but I love it when she says "Don't worry daddy, we can get it next time". To me, that little attitude and heart to be simple and humble is enough for me to want to give her everything she wants. I think that to God, it is the same thing. The only reason why he doesn't give us everything is because It'd be bad for us. Other than that, Scripture challenges us asking that if He already gave His only son, why wouldn't he give everything else we need or want? It's a matter of attitude towards God. I know he's my Father and provider, and I know He loves when I trust him to provide for me.
Kenny, good point about the prayer of Jabez. I never looked at it that way before. Now that I have I agree with you 100% and it has definitely changed my thinking.
Kenny, what does the last line of the song mean?
"When you have knowingly deceived his wife"
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