You Spin Me Round - Rick Pino

Some of my more conservative blogger friends are all up in arms over this.

This is a video of a song at the end of a summer youth camp program called Summer Ramp ’07.

The song leader, Rick Pino, has the kids spin their socks and jump around while singing “You spin me right round, Jesus, right around” over and over.

The problem some have with this is twofold:

They say this is not worship. The song is vapid, meaningless emotional hype.

Furthermore, the song was actually made popular in the 80’s (without the name of Jesus) by transvestite performer Pete Burns.

The argument continues that, while we have freedom in Christ from sin, we are not free to worship God any ol’ way we want (can I get an “amen” from Uzzah and King Saul?). Also, the blood of Christ allows us to enter boldly into the presence of God (something the OT saints knew nothing of), but not flippantly.

Now, those who know me and have heard me preach know that I’m very sensitive to preserving the truth of the holiness of God. I think one of the main problems with the church today – and this is true of our culture at large – is that we have lost our grip on the meaning of the fear of the Lord. I’m especially concerned about teaching this next generation to frivolously “rush in where angels fear to tread”.

That having been said, I’m also concerned about judging another person’s worship. Yes the song is vapid, maybe even a little silly, but we don’t know what kind of teaching has been going on at this camp (I don’t know anything about Rick Pino beyond this video). It may be that they have been immersed in deep, Biblical, theological teaching all week long and this is just an innocuous “let loose” time.

Are all the kids in that crowd truly worshipping? I doubt it, but I would think many are. Look in on a liturgical church this Sunday, and listen to the organ playing classical hymns. Are all the people in that congregation truly worshipping? Again, I doubt it, but I would think many are. The point is, we don’t know and it’s dangerous to speculate. This is ultimately between them and God.

What about the pagan roots behind the song? I have to admit, this does bother me somewhat. Can we worship God with a song that was originally used to appeal to the flesh? And was recorded by the perverted? Maybe . . .

Do we celebrate Christmas? Doesn’t Christmas have pagan roots? Yet we justify ourselves by saying that we can turn the celebration over to God, let Him redeem that time, and use it for His glory. In fact, that’s what we do with ourselves. Many of us have pagan origins, but we’ve been redeemed and now can be used by God.
Can’t the same be done with a song?

Your thoughts . . .