The other day I was listening to the radio and a song by TobyMac (Toby McKeehan) started playing. Since I had nothing better to do as I was driving, I listened.
I was disappointed.
Folks, if you will remember what I wrote in a previous post, I’m not anti-contemporary music…I’m just anti-bad theology. New songs, even those with styles I can’t stand, are fine with me as long as they convey biblical theology, edify the Christian, and bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ. Really, that leaves the Christian music artist with a lot of room to create.
But it seems to me that Toby Mac really missed the mark with this song. In “Feel It” (released in 2015) TobyMac seems to want to appeal to the modern, post-Christian, millennial culture by basing the whole argument for God’s existence on his personal, subjective feelings.
The chorus of “Feel It” reads:
“Feel It”
[Chorus:]
Oh I feel it in my heart
I feel it in my soul
That’s how I know (oh oh oh ohah)
You take our brokeness
And make us beautiful
Yeah, that’s how I know
That’s how I know (You can’t take that from me)
I’m sorry, brother, but your argument is weak, to say the least.
Contrast the above with the first verse and chorus from another song, “Never Alone” by Barlow Girl:
“Never Alone”
I waited for you today
But you didn’t show
No no no
I needed You today
So where did You go?
You told me to call
Said You’d be there
And though I haven’t seen You
Are You still there?[Chorus:]
I cried out with no reply
And I can’t feel You by my side
So I’ll hold tight to what I know
You’re here and I”m never alone
Do you see the difference? The first finds comfort and reassurance in “feeling,” but the second finds faith secure in “knowing.” There is a difference.
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” – 1 John 5:13
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – John 17:17
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32
Notice that last verse? What did Jesus say? Did He say, “You shall have a feeling, and the feeling shall set you free”? Don’t think so.
Feelings fluctuate. Feelings lie.
In the tagline of “Feel It” TobyMac repeats,
Everybody talkin’ like they need some proof
But what more do I need than to feel you?
I’ll tell you (and I bet you already know), Toby, you need the Truth, God’s promises, His Word that never changes…
’cause feelings sure do.
“The bass takes music beyond the mental, transcends melody, and finds its rest in the emotional. There is a big difference between music you simply listen to and music you can actually feel. 
Wake up to a catchy song for your alarm. If you have a smart phone that wakes you up, and if you can set your alarm to be a song, download 
The Recovering Legalist 