Last week Derek Webb announced that he will be releasing his upcoming album, Stockholm Syndrome, in two versions – clean and explicit. The controversy surrounds the song “What Matters More,” for both it’s language – there’s mild cursing – and likely the subject matter, which addressed the issue of homosexuality straight on (no pun intended.)Here is the video and lyrics for the song, “What Matters More.” You decide. Frankly, I think the label “explicit” is entirely appropriate, and not in terms of the cursing, but in terms of bringing an important issue and dropping it right at the feet of the Christian community. The Christian community for far, far, far too long has hung it’s hat on two issues: abortion and homosexuality rather than on the general reality that we are all unholy people before a holy God, a God who loves us all and sent his son as an atonement for all of our sins.But that’s another column for me. For now, here’s Derek Webb. He says it much better than I can (and by the way, I’m interviewing Derek next week, so if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section):What Matters More, by Derek WebbYou say you always treat people like you like to beI guess you love being hated for your sexualityYou love when people put words in your mouth’Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak’Cause if you really believe what you say you believeYou wouldn’t be so damn reckless with the words you speakWouldn’t silently consent when the liars speakDenyin’ all the dyin’ of the remedyTell me, brother, what matters more to you?Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?If I can tell what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouthThen it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s aboutIt looks like being hated for all the wrong thingsLike chasin’ the wind while the pendulum swings’Cause we can talk and debate until we’re blue in the faceAbout the language and tradition that he’s comin’ to saveMeanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a shitAbout 50,000 people who are dyin’ todayTell me, brother, what matters more to you?Tell me, sister, what matters more to you? For more about Derek Webb, visit his website.UPDATE: Read my interview with Derek Webb as he talks about his art, this song, and why he doesn’t have any agenda with Stockholm Syndrome.Click here to subscribe to Gospel Soundcheck by email and have the Gospel Soundcheck headlines delivered daily to your email inbox. Visit me on my Rochester Christian Living Examiner page, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!

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