Rick Rubin must be something else. He makes the old ones cool to the young again. He did it with Johnny Cash. He's probably going to do it with Metallica when their new album comes out. And now here comes...Neil Diamond.
Neil's new Rubin-produced Album is #1 making him the oldest guy ever to have a #1 album.
So as the mentor of the week on American Idol last week, Neil sang his new song. (Stars don't appear on shows unless it's to promote something. If you think otherwise you are naive.) It was called "Pretty Amazing Grace." The title caught my eye so I just watched it on youtube just now.
So here's my question: "Is it a Christian song?" The religious imagery is blatant, but is he talking to a girl or God?
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Pretty Amazing Grace Lyrics
I'm not the only blogger asking this question. But as the smartest blog-readers in the world, I thought maybe someone here could find out for me.
- Charles Spurgeon
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/4584.
Everyone who's anyone reads our blog Bill. So I guess that includes them...even if it lowers the IQ average somewhat. 
Could go either way.
On a totally diff note, is someone blogging LOST tonight?? Please say yes.
"restored my pride"??? I'm sitting in political science class right now, so I didn't actually listen to the song, but it seems that God is constantly trying to destroy my pride. I don't know if its Christian or not, because even some songs we sing in church aren't exactly doctrinally sound. could be. Has anyone asked him?
I don't know if it is Christian or not, but as soon as I heard it on TV last week, I turned to my husband and said that this song will be sung in a seeker sensitive church soon. Probably as a special solo or something.
Probably could go either way. Diamond is Jewish, so I doubt he is trying to send a Christian message.
"On a totally diff note, is someone blogging LOST tonight?? Please say yes."
I plan on it, unless something catastrophic happens.
I have always felt that art does not have to be "intentionally Christian" to be Christian.
The majority of the most redemptive and gospel-rich movies I've seen and songs I've heard (song example "In Your Eyes", and movie example "The Shawshank Redemption") are NOT intentionally Christian......I don't know the intent behind it - but I like it.
btw Lauren - often I think when people refer to their pride, it's more of their "sense of dignity" than their "proudness" - I think its the former in this song - God restores us to see that we're image bearers - I think some people may see that as having their pride restored - not the best choice of words, but not bad theology either.
Pretty Amazing Grace, pretty amazing song. I think that what ever Neil Dimond's faith he is talking of a Judeo/Christian God and the concept of Grace & Faith. re Lauren's point about pride, God wants us to love ourselves he wants us to be proud of what He has acjheaved in us.
There is a man in our church that wanted our worship team to do this song, so I looked it up to see if it might be something we could do. As I am reading through the words, what keeps coming to my attention is the "restored my pride" line. I cannot get past the sense that it isn't right. God saves us and restores our LIFE, and that is the only way I think our team would do the song is if that word was replaced with "life." Yes, I suppose you could interpret the "pride" to mean pride in Christ, but what I think one of my responsibilities to God as part of our worship team is to think about who is hearing the songs we sing. If we stand up there and sing a song that could be interpreted by non-believers or maybe new Christians as that God restores our "pride", well that would be false teaching. The songs we sing are not "just songs." They can be a way to reach people for Christ, as well as teach new believers. Songs are powerful, and music is just one of God's gifts that we must take care to use correctly, honoring God in ALL we say and do.
What, do you guys get a lot of BHT readers here or something? 8-)