Recently, Cedar Creek Church in Toledo, Ohio used a worship team cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to inspire and thrill congregants. As I watched the following video, I thought, man if churches start playing 1960s-1980s rock music, with a bit of Staind, Theory of a Deadman, Seether, and Puddle of Mudd thrown in, why I might be persuaded to return to church. As the video shows, the Cedar Creek band is top notch, as are some of the singers. The guy singing the lead? He’s no Freddy Mercury.
What this video really shows is how far some Evangelical churches will go to attract, maintain, and entertain its members. While I am sure congregants were wowed by the worship team’s rendition of one of the greatest rock songs ever, I wonder if any of them asked themselves, what in the hell does this song have to do with worshiping God?
Here’s the original rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody:
Comparing the two, it is easy to conclude that the Cedar Creek version is a cheap imitation of the original — as are most attempts to mimic the “world’s” music. I wonder if Cedar Creek thought about the “nothing really matters” focus of this song? Perhaps that best explains entertainment-driven, cutesy, hip, nondescript shopping mall-like Evangelical churches — nothing really matters.
Now, I am not r-e-a-l-l-y planning to return to church. I had to say this lest anyone thinks I am sympathetic to returning to church. I don’t want word getting out that I am considering a return to the dark side.
What do think? Are you ready to join me next Sunday for church?
Boy, that guy can’t sing for crap!
What’s funny is I have a digital copy of the 24 track master of that song. You should hear the stuff that was never in the mix down! I hear all the outtakes that Freddie didn’t use. And I know the story about how they recorded that song originally…but I digress…
WTH does this song have ANYTHING to do with the church AND what happened to the first verse? Why are they playing a secular song with no christian attachment to it, by a group whose lead singer was openly gay and died of AIDS?
I am puzzled. Not too hard to do since I do not understand the fascination with Trump either from the
That horrible imitation of Freddy Mercury makes me want to cry and throw up at the same time. And how hypocritical to use a number by a gay artist who they would condemn under different circumstances. Do they even understand the name “Queen”?
Well, you know that scripture, “I became all things to all men so that some might be saved” (I hope my memory serves me correct). We love to take things of the world and put a Jesus veneer on it and say we’re reaching the world. The evangelical church is not very original but just lazy.