Derek Webb Interview

I really enjoyed Said at Southern's two-part podcast interview with Derek Webb (one, two) and encourage you to give it a listen.

One thing I love about Webb is his musical and creative progress, as well as his theological progress over the years from the gospel to the implications of the gospel.  His Caedmon's and early solo writing is more gospel and his current stuff is more implications.  This is how we all should progress, right?  Some think that an album like Mockingbird shows gospel changes in Webb, but I think that's a steaming pile.  His second interview shows that his thinking on the gospel hasn't changed except that he has actually tried to work out the implications of the gospel. 

I also love the discussion on labels (they ask him several very good questions) and how hard Webb tries to avoid them and why.  Even as the first half of this interview drew fire from the more reformed crowd, Webb proves himself more humble and more thoughtful and more generous than that crowd in the second interview (which was obviously recorded at the same time as the first and before he knew the response). 

Some don't like Webb for his thoughts on politics, or friendship with Don Miller or Jim Wallis, but these interviews show that Webb is one of the most thoughtful, helpful, dynamic, engaging and self-aware artists out there.  He personifies what it means to be able to hold tight to truth and theology while still listening to other voices. 

Congrats to Tony and the Said at Southern folk.  It was not only a good interview, but it challenged me to think about the gospel, faithfulness, music, and more.  And I love the fact that this interview is done by a website that includes the name of Southern Seminary even as the interview brought fire on Webb from SBTS alumni.  Funny...and sad.

Comments

[Joe Thorn]

Good assessment Steve. I was so irritated at the ignorance flying around the internet after the interview about whether what Webb said was "reformed" or not.

[Wes Crawford]

I completely agree, Steve, that the accusation of Webb's gospel having changed is a steaming pile.

I also agree, Joe, that the web discussion is irritating. There is an especially unfair and embarrassing discussion taking place at the otherwise pretty good 9Marks blog. Could it be that such accusations demonstrate an unwillingness to do the difficult work of working out the implications of the gospel the way Derek is doing?

[Matt Mc]

I love Webb, and I chuckle (and cringe) inside at the thought that those who hate him so much are probably those who are most convicted by his message.

I think it's quite obvious that Webb is both deeply reformed, and deeply concerned about people and justice. I'm not sure why those two things have to be at odds in people's minds. I think back to the Keller sermon "Doing Justice," which I think accurately explains the connection between salvation and social action.

Anyway, may Webb press on.

[Tony Kummer]

Derek was really gracious and humble - I think that comes out on the audio. I was sorry that people responded with so little grace toward him. I started to get the feeling that it was all some kind of theological pride. Or as you put 'a steaming pile.' I think the whole experience made me see my own tendency to be a theological pharisee.

[Bulldawgy]

I have always loved Derek Webb's music and still do - and I think your description of his most recent music as the implications of the gospel is right on.

I don't have a problem with his politics or his political bedfellows - except that I do wonder why he won't take a vocal stand against the sin of abortion.

[Micah Mills]

I don't see that Webb needs to take such a vocal stand against abortion there are thousands who are standing for that cause. He only narrows the audience that will listen to his message if he jumps on the evangelical right band wagon that stands against abortion, gay marriage, and sometimes gambling. Those issues are well made by many others, and often times at the expense of other things that need to be addressed from a Christian perspective.

I applaud him for what he does say in the simple song title "A Consistent Ethic of Human Life." That is a bit of a jab at both sides the right who cares (or seems to) only about the unborn child's life, but doesn't care about murder, capital punishment, and mass killings across the world in wars and other violence. The left who doesn't care about the child's life, but are the most vocal about the death penalty and ending wars. It is just a simple phrase that calls both sides to fully think through what they believe.

I applaud Derek Webb for thinking through the implications of the Gospel in all areas of his life not just a few of them that have become key political issues.

[Tony Kummer]

let me know if you get any stumble traffic on this post - I've been trying to plug it a little