A Song I Don't Really Like...Here's Why
Here's a song I'm writing...You're all I want
You're all I ever live for
Everything I do is for you
You're all I think about
I live for You alone
You're my God
Ok, that's no song and it's no song I'm writing. I would not be able to sing it very often. I'm thinking about how God has called us to worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24. In a conversation with Pastor Jim last night we talked about what this means because I want to be the kind of worshipper who worships the way God wants. (On a side note, I do believe that God defines worship, not us.) I believe that to worship in Spirit and Truth means a few thing. 1) It is from our heart, or spirit. It is emotional. As God gives us his heart, we give him ours. 2) Only worshipping in spirit is not enough. 3) Truth is reality. And not just our reality, but God's reality. Pastor Jim showed me that the original context of that word is connected to learning and growing. Worship is to change. The truth is who God is. As He reveals that to us through worship, we are changed. It's more than emotional and more than intellectual.
So I think about songs like the one above, with many lines from other songs (even ones I've written); is it true? I don't live out any of those lines all the time. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Sometimes it really is my heart, but I still don't. I know our heart matters a lot. But when I don't live the things that I sometimes sing about is that insulting? If someone were to say those things to me but live totally different I would be insulted. I view it as hypocrytical.
What do you think? Can one worship in spirit and truth with songs like that?
Disclaimer: I know that worship is a lot more that songs, but for now that's the context of the question. I am a music director.
posted by Tim Oas @ 9:05 AM
5 Comments:
Tim, my problem with songs like this is that singing them makes my emotions appear to me to be so very contrived...and likely not very honest.
This song represents a perhaps worthy ideal that is hard to relate to with any authenticity. It also seems to promote a highly abstract and individualized concept of relating with God that doesn't embrace the spriritual wholeness of desiring other things in light of God's presence...like people, art, hard work, our selves, or hiking in the mountains. But then, again, that depends on the point of view of the one singing.
The fact remains, as you point out, the song only relates with an idealistic desire and not with the reality of our situation. I rarely sing along with songs like this or even understand what it is that I am supposed to think about if I were to sing...
I recognized the melody to that first line, before I read that it was a fake song. It was from Catalyst; I remember singing along to it.
I think you bring up good questions, but at the same time I think you might be overthinking it? During worship, when we sing words like that, it is often true at least for that moment. And it is beautiful and truly a blessing to be able to live in that moment; to be able to feel such adoration and express it. I think it's okay that it doesn't always align with life; God knows that we live in this crazy dual-reality, God knows how hard it is. And I think he rejoices with us when we manage to settle into something pure and good.
PS. Sorry I'm being lame and signing in as anonymous - I stumbled across your blog from a friend's and am quite sure you don't remember me (although we did briefly argue once by the clock, hint hint) :)
i guess my comment would be this.
although my actions do not honor what i sing most of the time, even though they are not in synch, it is the cry of my heart.
anonymous, are you that crazy preacher that would come to campus and raise a rucus for a week every fall? and what are you trying to say? me...argue? you must be thinking of the wrong person. hehe.
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