Spending a week at Soul Survivor has made me dislike this song (for which I can't find the music, but here are the lyrics). The verses, as you will see, despite the first one being slightly pantheistic, are generally sound. However, the chorus trails off into '...you're Beautiful'. Which, I cannot deny being true. There is no doubting the beautiful nature of God, Psalm 27 proclaims it. But aside from that one reference, I'm a little unsure of how much modern worship songs should be focusing on it.
Interestingly, Jesus' physical appearance is described as, well... average. He was nothing to look at. And while what has been done for us inspires us to all sorts of praise, I'm a little overwhelmed by the plethora of lovey-dovey, Jesus-is-my-girlfriend (to steal a phrase from an angry Scottish man) type songs. There's a time and a place for adoration, don't get me wrong - but we can't seriously be wondering why there are a lack of men in the church if we consistently churn out this bile.
Bekah and I have decided to take this song to town, and perhaps re-record it. If we can, it'll still contain the encouraging and uplifting lyrics. However, the chorus might be changed to acknowledge some of the different aspects of the Godhead, such as: '...you're masculine.'
Here's hoping. Thoughts and opinions welcomed. I just might not agree with you.
4 comments:
I think it is an awesome idea, and should be commended highly!!
hehe - that sounds like it will be interesting. I'd love to hear the result ... :)
It does have highly panentheistic tones in the first (and second) verses, but I'm not sure that's a bad thing. It worked well for celtic Christianity. Panentheism might be a good apologetic theological idea in our world that is rapidly becoming reductionist and leaving people wondering about its beauty; The beauty is found in he who created it.
But yes, I do agree that the constant churning out of semi-good songs leaves a lot to desired, especially when they play on the 'feelings' of those singing them rather than on true praise.
It's interesting that the first three verses mix first 'I' and 'we', but switch to simply 'we' in the final verse that talks of the consummation. An allusion to the community of worshipers who will forever praise God in his presence post resurrection, or just something I'm reading into the song?
just a thought...sometimes the ESV uses 'glorious' in some of the later Isaiah passages but footnotes it as also being translatable as 'beautiful'. At that point, my knowledge runs out because I didn't pay enough attention in Hebrew(!) but maybe it changes your view of the meaning of 'beautiful'? Love the blog btw.
Chloe
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