A common complaint among us evangelicals is that many of our contemporary church songs sound too much like love ballads. I remember seeing a South Park episode where Cartman starts a Christian Band. He decides that this would be an easy thing to do because all that's required is to take an already existing love song and change the word 'baby' to 'Jesus' in the lyrics. But is there really that much of a problem with songs addressed to God which are so heartfelt that they lean towards a romantic expression of faith?
The image of the church being the bride of Christ is one worth considering. What is this metaphor trying to communicate? Is it merely another way of expressing the first commandment; that we as God's people are to be loyal to our creator as a bride is to be loyal to her husband? Is it speaking about how we are under Christ's headship as a bride is under the headship of her husband? Certainly the answer to these questions must be a "yes", but can we see more in the metaphor? It seems that from God's perspective, that he is "married" to his people gives rise to an emotive element within the relationship (eg Ezekiel 16). So as far as the divine to human perspective is concerned, the marriage between God and his people not only describes the functions of the relationship but the emotive aspects as well. As one fellow student asked in a lecture on the process of salvation: "Might God woo us?" Indeed he might! So if strong emotion flows from the divine to us, why do we baulk at letting it flow the other way? Why not allow ourselves to be 'wooed' like a bride might allow herself to be 'wooed' by her husband? Granted, when we sing three "I love you Lord" songs in a row at church, I do start to wish for a little more thought to be put into arranging the song order. But perhaps there is a stronger warrant for 'romantic' songs in church than we might sometimes care to admit.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Heartfelt expression is not the problem, whatever might be included in our regular gatherings, wholehearted thankfulness should be a key theme. Perhaps it is more the words that make me cringe: the words shouldn't be a distraction from the Godward-focus, yet I'm afraid I feel embarrassed sometimes to sing along to third-rate poetry.
1) helpful points marty.
2) agree on the 3 songs in a row about the same thing... the emphasis ought to be the emphasis in the bible... not that we have loved God but that he has loved us.
I think the problem with some of these songs is not that their expression is too strong or too romantic, but too weak. The "boyfriend" metaphor massively underdoes the love we should feel for our Lord. Still, I agree that it's better than no feeling at all.
Nice thoughts. I love that metaphor, and i think you are spot on.
Have you heard of or read the book 'The Sacred Romance'? Thats what its basically all about - getting to know God's heart deeper - he the 'ageless romancer' and us the 'beloved', the one he is pursuing.
Its such a beautiful image - our Lord, all mighty and powerful, wanting to know us intimately!
How many other times would you tell God that you loved him if it weren't for "my jesus, my boyfriend" songs? are we afraid to use such language? great thoughts marty!
I had to laugh when I read this because there was a popular Christian song around a little while ago with lyrics that read:
Jesus, you are my best friend,
and you will always be,
nothing will ever change that
...you may know it.
I laugh because when it was popular I was playing in a church band and we - the musicians - would often heckle the singers in rehearsal by singing loudly,
Jesus you are my BOYfriend
and you will always be
...because if sung too quickly it really sounded like we were claiming that Jesus was our boyfriend. It was so wrong but secretly we always hoped the singers would slip, just once.
Irreverent, I know.
Silly rehearsal pranks aside, I agree that it is very important that we not only thank God for His great love for us but respond as best we can with sincere love for Him, expressed in song and deed.
Post a Comment