Singing to Jesus or My Prom Date: David
Kevin said “So, brotherhood, what do you think is the impact (good or bad) of groups like MercyMe?” First off let me say that I don’t know any Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) “stars” personally. I don’t know their character, their commitments, or even if they are genuine believers. But I do have an opinion about the public face I see of these stars. Interviews I’ve heard on the radio or read in magazines often grieve me. The Lord has given these men and women a platform to share about the character of God, His mercy to them, and most importantly the gospel to a lost and dying world. Instead, what I normally hear is what their favorite foods are, what the last movie they watched was, why they shaved their head, why they choose the clothes they do, etc. And the article on MercyMe shows the increased trend to make references to Jesus more veiled to draw people in who might not know right away that they are listening to music whose supposed aim is to glorify the Lord. What I see of how CCM musicians compose themselves on the stage also grieves me. Again, I don’t know their character and would love to talk with them about such issues, but the way music performances are often given reminds me all too much of secular rock concerts which glorify the musicians.
The danger in making lyrics to the Lord just like secular love songs is that it cheapens the love we have for the Lord. Sure, we love the Lord like a wife/husband (oh, how using the world girlfriend grieves me!), but so much more deeply. These relationships are only a picture of the kind of love the Lord offers us.
Let me leave you with a graphic illustration of how this trend has affected modern worship songs. For a recent song team social gathering I had I gave everyone this test. Indicate whether you think each lyric excerpt is from a secular love song or a worship song. Then look at the answers at the bottom and score your result. For fun I gave extra credit if people knew the songwriter of the secular songs.
A
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
He hears me when I call
B
Look into my heart – you will find
There’s nothin’ there to hide
Take me as I am – take my life
I would give it all – I would sacrifice
…
There’s no love – like your love
And no other – could give more love
There’s nowhere – unless you’re there
All the time – all the way
C
Hold me close
Let your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to your side
D
I have climbed snow peaked mountains
I have swam in oceans blue
But there’s nothing that
Compares to you
I’ve seen fields adorned with flowers
Gazed at open skies of blue
But there’s nothing that compares to you
E
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
F
In the secret, in the quiet place
In the stillness you are there
In the secret, in the quiet hour I wait only for you
Cause, I want to know you more
I want to know you more
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
G
Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart
And let the Healer set me free
J
My love
There’s only you in my life
The only thing that’s right
My first love
You’re every breath I take
You’re every step I make
I
I see your face
In the sky
Breathe your love
In the air
Hear your voice
Through the night
‘Cause no one compares
Your smile is warm
Like the sun
Your eyes shine bright
Like the moon
I’ll spell your name
With the stars
‘Cause no one compares
To you
J
In the darkness
I feel your warm embrace
Your whispers
They calm my fears
My heart melts within me
Knowing that you are near
You are near
I long to feel your touch
You are near
I’m thirsting for your love
You are near
K
Everywhere I look I see your face
Your love has captured me
Oh my God this love how can it be
L
Oh a love like this
Can never be defined
A love like this
With heart and soul and mind
Those precious times I’m with you
Are more tender than a kiss
M
‘Cause you’re everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it’s you I see
You’re everything I know
That makes me believe
I’m not alone
N
Draw me close to you, never let me go.
I lay it all down again, to hear you say that I’m your friend.
You are my desire, no one else will do.
No one else can take your place, to feel the warmth of your embrace.
Help me find the way, bring me back to you.
You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed.
You’re all I want. Help me know you are near.
O
You make me happy
Make me feel so good
You make me happy
Make me feel so good
With the things you do for me
Answers to Find the Worship Song
A. “He Knows My Name” by Tommy Walker (Worship, CCLI #57)
B. “Everything I Do” by Bryan Adams (Secular)
C. “The Power of Your Love” by Geoff Bullock (Worship, CCLI #48)
D. “No Other One Like You” by Jared Ming (Worship)
E. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley (Secular)
F. “In the Secret” by Andy Park (Worship, CCLI #33)
G. “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” by Martin Smith (Worship, CCLI #23)
H. “Endless Love” by Mariah Carey (Secular)
I. “No One Compares To You” by Gentry Wheat and Jayme Thompson (Worship)
J. “You Are Near” by Jason Mitchener and Liane Kuchmy (Worship)
K. “Every Move I Make” by David Ruis (Worship, CCLI #31)
L. “A Love Like This” by Joy Woodruff (Worship)
M. “Everywhere” by Michelle Branch (Secular)
N. “Draw Me Close” by Kelly Carpenter (Worship, CCLI #18)
O. “Happy” by Brandy (Secular)
Where does setting, company, and attitude fit in this equation? I realize you are only making the point about lyrical content and song crafting, but I think when we takl about these songs, don’t these other things HAVE to factor in?
Also, I noticed your Geoff Bullock ref above. Have you by chance gotten to see any of his rewrites of songs? PoyL is one that he rewrote after some close examination and changes in theology.
Interesting stuff.
http://www.signposts.org.au/geoff-bullock-rewrite-index/
http://blog.slaven.net.au/archives/2005/09/27/geoff-bullock-rewriting-his-songs/
David,
hey man, i am not sure how i came across you blog, but i did and here are my thoughts on your post about christian “artist” and songs
well i would 1st encourage you to see these “artist” as sinners. they suck just as bad as the rest of us. then i would say to try and get to know some of them. i have had some good time with people like ginny owens, shane and shane, andrew petersen, shawn mcdonald. they are all normal people, there is nothing special about them but that Jesus gave them a platform.
i would also realize that they have no choice in what is printed from thier interviews. the person that writes the article chooses what goes in it and often thats what people want to read.
I agree with you about the songs at times being written in a away to imply having sex with Jesus but you also took out bits of songs not entire songs. here is a bit of psalm 63
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will praise you
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods
On my bed I remember you;
My soul clings to you;
i just don’t think these all of artist wrote all of these songs with the thought of the church singinng them forever. i would imagine when Martin Smith wrote “i could sing of your love forever” he wasn’t tryinng to write a song that would be beat in the ground by the church. i would tend think it was the out pour of an intamate/exciting time with the Lord.
I think everyone is on this soap box about songs that are sung in church. my thought is if you feel like songs are not gospel centered don’t sing them. i am a worship leader and we sing songs that my pastor and i find to be:
Radical God-centered, Bible-based and Bible-saturated and touches both Head and Heart.
i hear what your saying and i agree with you on bits of it.
keep writing, i enjoy reading your blog.
Very thought provoking. I’ve often thought that many CCM artists make the music too esoteric, leaving the listener to infer any number of conclusions about the message of the song.
Aaron, I found the Psalm 63 comparison very interesting. I immediately agree that worship can/should be an intimate/exciting experience. Worship lyrics should convey this message, but in a postmodern culutre that seeks to blur lines wherever possible, I believe it is especially important as Christians to be clear in the message we portray. I think it is improper to quote Psalm 63 without including the first line: “Oh God, you are my God.” What an amazing delcaration about the direction of the Psalm. Many contemporary songs are different in that they do not include any such specific reference.
What about this idea of making music “accessible”? If “acessible” means “vague in order to draw people in,” my preliminary thought is that vagueness falls short of Christlikeness. Christ was blunt – “No man comes to the Father, but through me.” He was quick to be specific about individual’s sin as well as the way of salvation. No ambiguity involved. And I have a serious problem with the idea of trying to draw people in. Since when is that our job? John said that the Holy Spirit convinces people of sin, righteousness, and judgment. All we are called to do is share the truth of Scripture. Since drawing unbelievers into worship is an attempt at the impossible (since unbelievers are unable/unwilling to worship), artists who seek to use music as an evangelistic tool should be clear with the truth of the Gospel, and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.
As I develop my thinking in this area, I would love to read your responses to my thoughts.
I love the song “you are near” …and it’s never to late to say good bye. So, Liane Kuchmy…Rest In Peace. You are loved.
From,
A Friend