Christians in Cinema BLOG

Sunday evening those who attended the “American Idol Gives Back” taping were surprised that the final song was Darlene Zschech’s “Shout to the Lord.” For the second year, American Idol used its status as one of the most-watched television shows to raise funds for children’s charities around the world.

Various celebrities from sports, television and music were highlighted in videos made in areas of extreme poverty or need. We heard how their lives were affected by seeing others whose lives are a daily struggle to survive.

God’s name was exalted. Let’s be thankful.

There have been multiple posts about this event here, here, and here. Rather than start from the beginning of the song, which is “My Jesus, my Savior, Lord there is none like you. All of my days I want to praise the wonders of your mighty love,” they began from the second part of that verse: “My comfort, my shelter, etc…”

Why omit the first part? Is it offensive to say “Jesus” on live television? I guess it’s OK to say “Lord,” because that’s the name of the song. If you say “Lord,” you can mean anyone without naming them.

Regardless, God’s name was exalted on what might well be the most-watched show of this season. We don’t know the producers’ motives (according to Paul, we can’t even know our own), so let’s not second-guess. Let’s just be thankful.