Evangelical Locomotion

Paul Harvey



A so-called "friend" sent this and writes: "Trying to find a scholarly analysis on this could be tricky, but it's too much of a 'jaw-dropper' to go unnoticed... kind of a Backstreet Boys meets Jerry Falwell sort of vibe." Do the (Evangelical) Locomotion.

Comments

Randall said…
Great clip. The aesthetics of this set--the weird background, the hairdos, etc--reminds me of the megachurch I attended as a kid. I wonder if the keyboard can only play "true" melodies. I wish we had more books that read like fun romps through evangelical-land. Just read Christine Rosen's My Fundamentalist Education: A Memoir of a Divine Girlhood. Quite good.

The Gaithers must be responsible for so much Christian kitsch. The schlocky melodies, the soft light, sanctified countrypolitan, torch songs for Jesus...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH4PkOQluww&feature=related
John G. Turner said…
That was almost too painful to be funny.

Clips like that make me think evangelicals must truly have God's blessing. They couldn't have achieved such success on their talents alone.
John Fea said…
I laughed for five minutes straight!
Anonymous said…
This provided a much-needed break from reading today. Thanks.
Unknown said…
Yes, it's absurd, but I find it difficult to laugh because they're so earnest--I am sure that they rehearsed for hours before this moment, and that their friends and family were bursting with pride--even though pride is one of the deadly seven...some members of my own congregation (I serve a Methodist parish) would love this and see it as a genuine expression of faith. Not my theology or worship preference, although I might try out some of the moves next Sunday;)
Robert Cornwall said…
I did have to laugh, because it is pretty bizarre. But it just goes to show you that when Christians try to copy culture they usually come off as schlocky!

Kind of like the Jesus Junk that has taken over Christian bookstores -- I mean Christian gifts!
Pastor Russ said…
I'm trying to write Sunday's sermon, see? But, stuck on a phrase, I took a break to check e-mail, where a friend left a link to this site and to that clip. I said a friend. I'm thinking now, more like an acquaintance. Friends wouldn't do this to friends.
Anonymous said…
WHAT has this got to do with worship?
Anonymous said…
Actually, folks, I think evangelicals can be spared this one. Notice that it says "The Way International" at the end of the video clip. The Way International is a cult group, not an evangelical one.

(Unfortunately for evangelicals, however, is that nobody, including yours truly, doubted that such kitsch is entirely plausible.)