My spirit desires lyrics to newer
songs of worship to God, to appropriately reflect his excellence, his holiness.
I need songs that incorporate theological truth. I can accept that songs should
incorporate the vernacular and speak to newer generations using new idioms, yet
I question what seems a default composer habit of converting transcendence to
familiarity, privilege to banality. Some songs typify this for me. Even a good
composer like Chris Tomlin puts out a song like 'In The Secret,' that assumes
through capitalized pronouns that we should know to whom we are singing,
although there is no reference to that person. And yet we sing the chorus of words, "I want to know You, I
want to hear Your voice, I want to know You more. I want to touch You, I want to
see Your face, I want to know You more." And I cannot escape the feeling
that I am singing about adolescent love. Perhaps it's just me, yet I hope you
can understand my preference for thinking of the sovereign 'otherness' of God
and of Jesus, the uniqueness, the distinctiveness.
If I never sing the lyrics of the emotion evoking,
'One thing Remains,' I can be content. The refrain is, "Your love never fails, never
gives up, Never runs out on me," to be repeated three times, after each of
three verses, and likely a couple of more times for good measure. The
thematic content is something that I myself have prayed with thanksgiving to
God so the lyrics are not fundamentally flawed. The song itself is simply thin
theologically and not worth my time, specially when married to the tune which
becomes vexing, because it is repeated so often. Yet, that's why many people
love the song. So, again, perhaps it's just me. It feels to me like discount
worship, bargain stuff.
As a balance to my view, I am quoting a friend who has written recently a counter point. I am impressed. Bryan Swash "The ever ending critique and misunderstanding of current worship expression. 1. As for repetition ever read Psalm 136? 2. As for no mention of God. Ever read the book of Esther? The context of those songs is the worship service. If someone's mind goes to their teenage crush it says more about them then the song. 3. The purpose of the song is to engage a left brain encounter, a part of us that Jesus drew attention to in Matt 22:37. 4. No one song says it all. Like no one scripture says it all. Again balance is important. The psalms often declare one aspect of a truth but need further scriptures to balance the truth out. 5. Let's rejoice a new generation is seeking to draw near to God (James 4:8) and discovering he is drawing near to them. A very sacred desire and privilege. Is Psalm 134 a ditty? 3 verses only! Blessings all…."
As a balance to my view, I am quoting a friend who has written recently a counter point. I am impressed. Bryan Swash "The ever ending critique and misunderstanding of current worship expression. 1. As for repetition ever read Psalm 136? 2. As for no mention of God. Ever read the book of Esther? The context of those songs is the worship service. If someone's mind goes to their teenage crush it says more about them then the song. 3. The purpose of the song is to engage a left brain encounter, a part of us that Jesus drew attention to in Matt 22:37. 4. No one song says it all. Like no one scripture says it all. Again balance is important. The psalms often declare one aspect of a truth but need further scriptures to balance the truth out. 5. Let's rejoice a new generation is seeking to draw near to God (James 4:8) and discovering he is drawing near to them. A very sacred desire and privilege. Is Psalm 134 a ditty? 3 verses only! Blessings all…."
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