Music and worship are major components of who I am. I know worship and music and worship music are for everyone, but for me they are an ology. I think about them, read about them, study them, sprinkle them on my cereal in the morning. I’m not interested in church worship wars or anything that has to do with the judgment of opinion expressed as the only truth for everyone. I am interested in conversation, however. Conversation is about the journey, not the destination. So, I will write about worship music and styles and trends and stupid mistakes, not in the interest of being right or correcting anyone but for the sake of conversation with whoever is willing to share what they are hearing from the Father.
I stumbled across this video of Matt Redman on Youtube. It’s very interesting and provokes so many questions and hopefully healthy conversation. Watch it, please, and tell me what you think. I’ll hold my thoughts for another day. I’m very interested in listening to you.
I just had this conversation, not about worship but about being a man in a overly feminized (not used to be condescending, but to bring out the revelation that a good number of those present are not being included in the conversation) environment. This conversation went on while sitting in church with my friend Jim. I looked around and nudged Jim, and asked him to look around and assess the all too common disengaged glaze in the eyes of men. We listened to the words of the songs, the sermon, the announcements, and it was all to evident that it was geared towards the women who were present. If the men leading are not able to engage and speak to men, then what lay before us??? It is encouraging to hear Matt Redman revisiting the use of words in his songs and consider how it speaks to us “blokey blokes” out there.
Great conversation to initiate Dave!!!
Alan Hirsch had a scathing post like this about two months ago. It’s the Jesus is my boyfriend concern. I see what they are saying but I like Redman and Delirious.
I don’t have any inherent problem with the verbiage of worship songs (unless they are monotonous and overly repetitious) or whiny (ala Darlene Czech). Some things like “Jesus, lover of my soul” is a bit over the top for me, but I get what is trying to proclaim. OTOH, I really don’t picture God as a Mighty Fortress either. It does make for a nice piece of pipe organ fodder.
I do think the American male in particular can’t release the American Maledom sufficiently to feel and act present in worship — this I think is a separate issue from the Dating Jesus complex. Getting real, I feel the same thing about Dating Jesus — I want Jesus as my best friend, pal, Lord, and daily companion. To call him my boyfriend wouldn’t sound right, even though he was a boy, and is a friend. I don’t have a problem calling him my Godfriend.
A while back I went through a few weeks jag where I intentionally envisioned Jesus with me throughout the day — walking down the halls at work, sitting at my desk, in my car, in meetings, in conversations. I did have to get over the picture of Him strolling next to me in the halls at work in a white robe and sandals. I finally found a picture of Jesus in pants, shirt and tie, and that imagery worked well for me. Try this exercise some time. Same Jesus, different context.
I think the same is true for worship music and lyrics. I do stand in awe of Him, and I am so in love with Him, and he is my boyfriend, but that sounds kind of weird taken out of context.
I love Matt’s humility in this video. He views himself as a learner, as one who doesn’t have the answers, who isn’t afraid to look back at his work and admit that he would write it differently today. But that’s the cool thing about the journey…it is always changing and moving forward towards God’s arms.
I agree with Jeromy, the thing that struck me most (and that I appreciated most) about this video was Matt’s openness and humility. He’s ability to admit his humanness in a way by saying that he’s not there yet and he’s still in process… I really liked that.
As for the actual question of worship… to be honest I have had times in my life when I’ve loved and been very touched by the “Jesus is my boyfriend” lyrics of some worship songs – but I’m a girl so maybe that’s some of it. But, I will say that having grown up in the church all my life I have found that the one thing that has been lacking in my life and that I’ve longed for is a sense of God as Other, as seperate, as holy, as awe inspiring. Jesus as my boyfriend worship songs have the problem of maybe making God seem to much like us and too close… maybe that doesn’t make sense. I do believe that GOd is and wants to be close to us, but in worship I long for a sense of awe and wonder of God that I haven’t really experienced much in the church… I think it’s why I’m come to love high church forms of worship, because there is more of that focus on the Holiness of God… Anway, that’s my two cents for what it’s worth
I appreciate the thoughts on this. Personally I’m bothered by this interview. But, before I get into that, let me say this….I trust. I trust the Father with Matt, I trust Matt. Not because he’s a worship leader or some spiritual guru. I trust him because he is a human, my brother. I believe the Father can communicate to him. I wouldn’t always have been able to say that. There was a time when I would have said some pretty judgmental things about all of this. It feels good to be at a place where I don’t have to carry that weight.
Here’s what bugs me about this interview.
First, I personally don’t ever want to write anything (poetry, music, blogs, etc) wondering how people are going to take it. To me that is a sacrifice of my being, my artistry. It’s being dishonest with myself. It is very alluring to my pleaser-self who doesn’t need any help being aroused. For way too many years I did “ministry” that way. Didn’t Bill just say it was a mistake? (http://jeremypryor.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/willow-creek-admits-to-the-mistake-of-century/)
If I’m writing lyrics and come to a phrase that I pen and it says “Jesus I am so in love with You”, it would be wrong for me to wonder how people would take that and change it to “I am so in awe of You.” That’s just me.
Second, the idea that this is a “Jesus is my boyfriend” thing to me is a bit of an oversimplification. The Savior of the universe is not my boyfriend, but I am deeply in love with Him and I personally don’t have any problem with saying it over and over and over. Sometimes it’s very mushy, sometimes it’s with tears and quivering chin because I feel very alone. After all, I am in a relationship with Him. To me it’s a double standard to say I am in a relationship with God and then not say I love Him, or admit anger or frustration or disappointment.
Third, I think that Matt’s statements regarding being true to Scripture are missing something. There are many examples in the Bible of people and beings falling down in awe of the holiness and reality of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What about the God who came during the cool of the evening and walked with Adam and Eve? Relationship was the Father’s original intent. I don’t believe the awe and holiness of God kept Adam and Eve from walking with Him. Speculation would assume more, perhaps. Our inability to judge deemed us unworthy of being in the Father’s presence. So Adam and Eve hid, and so do we. What about John laying his head on Jesus? What of the exchange between the Christ and Peter? “Do you love me, Peter?” Peter didn’t say, “I’m in awe of You.” Don’t hear all of this as saying I’m not in awe of the holiness of God. But, it’s His holiness coupled with the understanding that He IS Love and loves me and has been pursuing me that creates in me a deep and moving love. So I fall on my face and cry out, “I love you.”
When Jesus was asked He said it this way: Love God, love others. To me it’s not a far-fetched assumption to believe that He meant for us to say it. To God and others.
Wow, thank you for sharing your thoughts in the comment above – very insightful – it gave me a lot to think about.
And thank you for yours, Beth.
I love the access to insight that blogging gives all of us.