Another one sent in by a reader, recently used for worship:
----
Oh, what I would do to have
the kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is,
And he's holding out his hand.
But the waves are calling out my name
and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win,
you'll never win."
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.
Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand.
But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
But the stone was just the right size
to put the giant on the ground
and the waves they don't seem so high
from on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
singing over me.
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "do not be afraid"
And the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)
I will choose to listen and believe (I will choose to listen and believe)
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
I will listen and believe
I will listen and believe the voice of truth
I will listen and believe
'Cause Jesus you are the voice of truth
And I will listen to you.. oh you are.
-----
This week something a little different. Hoping not to come off as "the authority," I'd like to open it up to all of you right away for discussion and comments for evaluation. What do you think about this song? Is it appropriate for worship? Why or why not?
Showing posts with label ccm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ccm. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Wonderful Cross
Refrain:
Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die
and find that I
may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace
Draw near and bless Your name
Verse 1
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Verse 2
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Verse 3
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all
----
A reader sent in these lyrics by email about a week ago and asked that I might review them. I know it is not Lent anymore, but I wanted some time to think them over and still accommodate his request. I am going to focus on the added refrain for this review.
Assuming "cross" in this song is poetic synonymn for the Gospel message.
"Oh the wonderful cross"
This reflects joy in the Gospel. My concern here is that this becomes the focal point of the entire song (it is repeated four times in the refrain, and the refrain is repeated several times); however, it does not contain any Gospel substance. You kind of get caught up in this little phrase rather than actually reflect on actual Gospel substance - as is contained the hymn text. Many CCM writers intentionalize building emotion in the music and intentionalize making it memorable: *apart from the Gospel* and make no qualms about doing - in fact, they believe that is what makes a good worship song. There is nothing wrong with emotion in music, but the emotion needs come from the Gospel message and not be artificially created by "moving" music. I think there are many worse examples of this happening, but is a concern here.
"Bids me come and die / and find that I / may truly live"
I think we can understand these lines in one of two ways:
1. The Gospel message compels us to come and make a choice to die where we then find true life in Christ.
2. The Gospel message calls us, we come by the Holy Spirit's guidance, we are born again in baptism, our sinful nature dies within us through daily sorrow and repentence, and we truly live in Christ.
I would hazard a guess that the songwriters sing it as #1, as that squares with their teaching and practice, and I believe Lutherans would sing it as #2. I'm not a big fan of songs that do this - allow room for a double meaning and then we sing it, meaning some of the words in a way different than originally intended. There is a hymn in Christian Worship that does this and makes me a little uncomfortable every time we sing it. Sure, you and I can put on my Lutheran eyes and understand it correctly -- but what about the visitor? Is it a clear confession of Christ to the visitor? What about the member that is weak in faith?
"All who gather here / by grace draw near / and bless Your name"
This is Biblical. Perhaps confusing for some in WELS but is fine.
Conclusion: One could understand this text in a way that is doctrinally correct or doctrinally incorrect. The refrain, repeated again and again, does not really add much understanding to the hymn text or further proclaim the Gospel; in fact, it seems to add a little bit of unclarity. Is it wrong for a congregation to use it? Not necessarily, but given the enormous number jewels available in Christian music, why not choose something else, or even the same hymn without the issues this new refrain introduces?
Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die
and find that I
may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace
Draw near and bless Your name
Verse 1
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Verse 2
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Verse 3
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all
----
A reader sent in these lyrics by email about a week ago and asked that I might review them. I know it is not Lent anymore, but I wanted some time to think them over and still accommodate his request. I am going to focus on the added refrain for this review.
Assuming "cross" in this song is poetic synonymn for the Gospel message.
"Oh the wonderful cross"
This reflects joy in the Gospel. My concern here is that this becomes the focal point of the entire song (it is repeated four times in the refrain, and the refrain is repeated several times); however, it does not contain any Gospel substance. You kind of get caught up in this little phrase rather than actually reflect on actual Gospel substance - as is contained the hymn text. Many CCM writers intentionalize building emotion in the music and intentionalize making it memorable: *apart from the Gospel* and make no qualms about doing - in fact, they believe that is what makes a good worship song. There is nothing wrong with emotion in music, but the emotion needs come from the Gospel message and not be artificially created by "moving" music. I think there are many worse examples of this happening, but is a concern here.
"Bids me come and die / and find that I / may truly live"
I think we can understand these lines in one of two ways:
1. The Gospel message compels us to come and make a choice to die where we then find true life in Christ.
2. The Gospel message calls us, we come by the Holy Spirit's guidance, we are born again in baptism, our sinful nature dies within us through daily sorrow and repentence, and we truly live in Christ.
I would hazard a guess that the songwriters sing it as #1, as that squares with their teaching and practice, and I believe Lutherans would sing it as #2. I'm not a big fan of songs that do this - allow room for a double meaning and then we sing it, meaning some of the words in a way different than originally intended. There is a hymn in Christian Worship that does this and makes me a little uncomfortable every time we sing it. Sure, you and I can put on my Lutheran eyes and understand it correctly -- but what about the visitor? Is it a clear confession of Christ to the visitor? What about the member that is weak in faith?
"All who gather here / by grace draw near / and bless Your name"
This is Biblical. Perhaps confusing for some in WELS but is fine.
Conclusion: One could understand this text in a way that is doctrinally correct or doctrinally incorrect. The refrain, repeated again and again, does not really add much understanding to the hymn text or further proclaim the Gospel; in fact, it seems to add a little bit of unclarity. Is it wrong for a congregation to use it? Not necessarily, but given the enormous number jewels available in Christian music, why not choose something else, or even the same hymn without the issues this new refrain introduces?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
----
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
What a beautiful text with which to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. There is no mistaking what this song is about: Christ, who he is, what he has done, and what it means for us. "In Christ alone my hope is found" is a solid and clear teaching of the church, a powerful confession of faith. Stanzas 2 and 3 lay out the story of salvation, from Christmas to Good Friday to Easter. This text points out our sins that condemn us: "ev'ry sin on Him was laid," "scorned by the ones he came to save," sin, whose curse had a grip on me. Make no mistake as to how my sin was paid for: it was "bought with the precious blood of Christ."
Free from stranglehold that Satan has over us, we are alive in Christ. In Christ, too, we are safe. And in Christ, he will take us Home to heaven.
This song is packed with clear Gospel proclamation. It points to our risen Savior. I believe the melody supports the text well.
Praise our risen Lord and Savior for his death and resurrection, that we have hope and peace in Jesus.
----
For further reading and a criticism about one of the lines, check here. In my read-through I did not understand that line in a sense that would be false doctrine, but if you think that your congregation or visitors might, then it would be wise not to use it. Use your discernment.
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
----
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
What a beautiful text with which to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. There is no mistaking what this song is about: Christ, who he is, what he has done, and what it means for us. "In Christ alone my hope is found" is a solid and clear teaching of the church, a powerful confession of faith. Stanzas 2 and 3 lay out the story of salvation, from Christmas to Good Friday to Easter. This text points out our sins that condemn us: "ev'ry sin on Him was laid," "scorned by the ones he came to save," sin, whose curse had a grip on me. Make no mistake as to how my sin was paid for: it was "bought with the precious blood of Christ."
Free from stranglehold that Satan has over us, we are alive in Christ. In Christ, too, we are safe. And in Christ, he will take us Home to heaven.
This song is packed with clear Gospel proclamation. It points to our risen Savior. I believe the melody supports the text well.
Praise our risen Lord and Savior for his death and resurrection, that we have hope and peace in Jesus.
----
For further reading and a criticism about one of the lines, check here. In my read-through I did not understand that line in a sense that would be false doctrine, but if you think that your congregation or visitors might, then it would be wise not to use it. Use your discernment.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Here I Am to Worship
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days
So highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
All for love's sake became poor
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
(repeat)
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
(repeat 3x)
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
(repeat 6X)
----
This song, when used, is usually placed at the beginning of the service as a sort of call to worship - here I am to worship. I appreciate that the song speaks some specific Gospel proclamation - Christ's humility (you stepped down into darkness, humbly you came to the earth you created, ...became poor), a future home in heaven (hope of a life spent with you), and death on a cross for our sins (I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon the cross). That is a fair amount of doctrine and proclamation as compared to many CCM songs. This is good.
What bothers me about this song is the "Here I am to worship" refrain. This is obviously the main thrust of the song. It is the title of the song, and it is repeated many many more times than the rest of the lyrics. It is the part of the song you are going to go home with and have running through your head. The refrain is the focal point of the song. And there is no Gospel proclamation in it. It is about our action - "Here I am to worship."
What happens in worship? God's action or man's? First and foremost is God's action - him feeding us through the means of grace: the Gospel in Word and Sacraments. In response to this, man may respond with praise and thanksgiving. But the emphasis of this song is certainly on this "response" part. For a song about worship, it neglects to even mention Word or sacrament. What does this song teach to the congregation? I think that it teaches that worship is about: 1. our being there 2. our thinking and showing that God is great. If that is what this song is teaching, then it is teaching false doctrine.
I wish the refrain were something more like this:
Here Christ comes to feed me
Here he grants forgiveness
'Cause he has washed all my sins away
Through water, bread and wine and
Through his Holy Word he
gives me his Salvation fully free.
I would not recommend this song for Lutheran worship.
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days
So highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
All for love's sake became poor
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
(repeat)
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
(repeat 3x)
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
(repeat 6X)
----
This song, when used, is usually placed at the beginning of the service as a sort of call to worship - here I am to worship. I appreciate that the song speaks some specific Gospel proclamation - Christ's humility (you stepped down into darkness, humbly you came to the earth you created, ...became poor), a future home in heaven (hope of a life spent with you), and death on a cross for our sins (I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon the cross). That is a fair amount of doctrine and proclamation as compared to many CCM songs. This is good.
What bothers me about this song is the "Here I am to worship" refrain. This is obviously the main thrust of the song. It is the title of the song, and it is repeated many many more times than the rest of the lyrics. It is the part of the song you are going to go home with and have running through your head. The refrain is the focal point of the song. And there is no Gospel proclamation in it. It is about our action - "Here I am to worship."
What happens in worship? God's action or man's? First and foremost is God's action - him feeding us through the means of grace: the Gospel in Word and Sacraments. In response to this, man may respond with praise and thanksgiving. But the emphasis of this song is certainly on this "response" part. For a song about worship, it neglects to even mention Word or sacrament. What does this song teach to the congregation? I think that it teaches that worship is about: 1. our being there 2. our thinking and showing that God is great. If that is what this song is teaching, then it is teaching false doctrine.
I wish the refrain were something more like this:
Here Christ comes to feed me
Here he grants forgiveness
'Cause he has washed all my sins away
Through water, bread and wine and
Through his Holy Word he
gives me his Salvation fully free.
I would not recommend this song for Lutheran worship.
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