As promised, here is the last instalment. This one’s not so much about hymns as about those awful, insipid songs that promote Jesus as the doting boyfriend, the product of a schoolgirl crush. You know the ones – you could just as easily subsitute the word Jesus (if it’s even mentioned) for the name of your significant other and use them for the purposes of serenades.
The most adept writers of Jesus love songs seem to be pentecostal/charismatic lyricists. Take this offering from Vineyard for example:
All of earth’s most lovely words
Spoken from the purest lips
Can’t begin to tell You how I feel
Every note the world has heard
Played with tender skill and care
Can’t contain the rhythm of my heartbeat
Simply said, simply said
I love You
Simply said, simply said
I love You
All the shades that canvas wears
Drawing thoughts so strong and soft
Couldn’t paint the colour of my view
Every fragile heart that’s won
Captured by a longing glance
Only knows the taste of this emotion
Longing glances and fragile hearts? Rhythm of my heartbeat? It’s so mushy it’s almost puke-worthy, and doesn’t even hint at being about Jesus.
Thankfully this next one capitalises plenty of pronouns to give us a clue that they might be talking about something other than a spouse:
I am Yours completely
You are the One I love
There is no other I treasure like You
You are the One I love
You are my joy
You are the light in my eyes
And You cause my heart to sing
You’re the One I love
Hillsong isn’t far behind in the swoon-stakes either.
Closer than my thoughts
Closer than a kiss
How could it be
More intimate than this?
More honest words than these I’ll never find.
With all my heart, my strength, my soul, my mind.
I love You, I love You, I’m Yours and You are mine.
I love You, I love You, I love You Jesus Christ.
Let me hear Your voice
Whisper Heaven’s song
Deeper into You
Is where I belong.
That would be a great song between husband and wife if you omit that one “Jesus Christ” part. I really can’t fathom why one would sing phrases with so many erotic undertones to the son of God.
But at least that one mentions his name. This next Hillsong one could be easily sung to a lover:
In my life you’ve heard me say I love you
How do I show you it’s true
Hear my heart, it longs for more of you
I’ve fallen deeply in love with you
You have stolen my heart
I’m captivated by you
Never will you and I part
I’ve fallen deeply in love with you
You and I, together forever
Nothing can stand in the way
My love for you grows stronger each new day
I’ve fallen deeply in love with you
Stolen my heart, captivated, fallen deeply in love – really, it’s incredible. I could go on and on – there’s this one:
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
‘Cause nothing else could 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
and this:
(oh ah) (oh ah)
(oh ah) (oh ah)
Gentle voice, soothes my soul
Loving arms, hold me close
I feel your love, I feel your love
You wipe the tears, the pain I knew
All my fears are washed away
Your healing love, your healing love
Let my heart be true
With these words I sing to you
You are all I want in my life
You are all I want in my life
Your love it shines so bright
(oh ah) (oh ah)
You call my name and I’ll come near
You hold my hand, I won’t let go
I know your love, I know your love
Awwww, he holds our hand and wipes our tears. Holds us close with loving arms, the warmth of his embrace. It all sounds so romantic doesn’t it? I pity the hetero men who have to sing these songs – it must really be more icky for them than it is for me.
In my past life I sang many of these “Jesus is my boyfriend” songs, and if I stayed in the same church and mindset I would have continued wholeheartedly. I really thought they were worship. In actuality, all they are is really a bunch of mushy words that are designed to evoke our emotions and make us feel good.
So much for awe-inspiring worship via that beautiful medium of song. It’s so sad that it seems to be slipping away from us, and instead we’re producing a chick-flick inspired, emotive, romanticised caricature of the true, powerful, grace-filled love of God.
[EDIT] Just found this on Asbo Jesus and thought it was apt:
But…but…Jesus IS my boyfriend! In fact, don’t tell anyone, but I’m cheating on my husband with Jesus!
Wow. You said what I’ve been thinking for years. I used to sing those songs and look around at all the women AND men with their eyes closed and hands raised and sometimes even tears streaming down their face but I would feel WEIRD. I faked the emotions sometimes. My single female friends seemed so satisfied having Jesus as their “boyfriends”. I want a man. Know any?
Anyhow, you wrote this really well. Thanks for confirming I’m not the only one that has thought these songs were way too romantic/erotic/intimate/WEIRD.
Erin, that’s, um, disturbing… Funny, but disturbing.
Barbara, I’m glad it resonated with you. I think there are quite a few people who recoil at these songs, but because they’re so accepted into the mainstream church, most probably wouldn’t think to really question them. Re. a man, sorry, I’m no help there. All the single ones I know are single for a very good reason!
I hope he can hold my hand and wipe away my tears while I vomit. Those songs are so sickly-sweet, I think I’m going to…. bleeuuuaaargh! Blechhhhhhh! Uuurrrrgggh!
Sorry, I’m feeling better now.
I can’t believe I actually used to sing songs like these. You’re right: as a heterosexual man, I do find these songs more than a little “icky”. What it comes down to is that I was singing love songs to a MAN. (Unless Jesus has had a sex change – see http://www.artswales.org/viewnews.asp?id=925 )
Uh, I’m going to vo…bleeerch! Uuuurghaaooooaaarrr!
Sorry, Heather, for throwing up on your blog. Blame Hillsong. I’ll wipe it up, I promise.
No song yet becasue we are on our way to getting my son into a smaller cast YEAH, but one that always gave me the heebie jeebies was Jesus Lover of My Soul and Hungry (Falling on my knees) because they always sounded like the woman was having the big O whilst singing.
DANG, that really sounds bad — having a Christian song called Hungry with the subtitle Falling on my knees!
Sounds like that latest Crummy Search Sign — Swallow when you want to spit! No I did not make that up! Sounds like someone has been touching the Lord’s annointed….
PS — I will not hold it against you if you delete that comment
Matt Redman on worship songs not being male-friendly…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFljv_wit4k
Yeah, we’ve a good selection of those songs, too. Can I have some wine to go with this cheese?
It’s not just new songs either. I was raised on the old Redemption Hymnal, which is packed with sickly 19th- and early 20th century hymns that go on about how sweet, tender and lovely Jesus is. Even way back when I was still wholeheartedly part of the Pentecostal church subculture I found those hymns difficult to sing – they just made me cringe, they were so cloyingly sickly. Much more so now that I’ve disassociated myself from that culture.
Barry, here’s some paper towel and antiseptic
Tyler, I can’t wait for your next instalment. A cast? I’m probably missing the whole back story, but what’s the cast for? Oh, and I’m glad I’m not the only one here with a questionable mind
No deletions required!
Shelly, good video. I hadn’t seen that one before. Hey, if it’s the kind of cheese that goes with a good merlot I’m right in there though
Barry, it’s definitely not a new thing. It is, however, a current trend. I believe musical worship should be real, gritty and awe-inspiring, not cringe-worthy.
I accidentally broke my 7 year old son’s leg three weeks ago at the pool. Worse? He’s special needs, with disabled legs and feet.
Bad, bad mamma. He’s been in a full leg cast for three weeks and now is in a half cast for four more.
ALWAYS OBEY THE POOL RULES.
I was asking because my daughter was in a chest to ankle cast for three months when she was a baby – congenital hip displasia – and I thought maybe it was something similar since the cast was being changed to a smaller one – that happened to her too.
Glad to oblige. Being disturbing, I mean. It’s quite important to me, you know?
But I have to say, I think Tyler is a bit more disturbed than I…not for having thought it, but for having said it.
Then again, what Tyler said is soooo true. I always hated that song. Now I know why.
Just looked up the lyrics to that Hungry song. The number of double-entendres in there is amazing!
Hungry, I come to you for I know you satisfy
I’m falling on my knees offering all of me
I know Your touch restores my life
*shudder*
Yes, but don’t you WANT to have sex with Jesus?
I’m sorry. Couldn’t help it.
Erin, EWWWWWW!!!!!!!
If I didn’t know you so well I’d be deleting comments
What strikes me about these songs is that they are really all about us and our feelings. Narcissism – that’s what it is. They don’t say anything about why we love Jesus (nothing about His praise-worthy nature). Rather, they are full of “I” and “me” – even the ones that have more “You” words in them are in relation to what “You” do for me and how “You” make me feel. As if Jesus is some sort of domesticated pagan good-luck charm that is there for our personal benefit. *Sigh* This is just further evidence of the excessive self-focus in western Christianity.
I’m sorry Heather. Color me sheepish and feel free to delete me as you deem necessary.
But Tyler started it.
MOM! I may have started it… but I didn’t say nuthin about doing the nasty!
Only implied it, and that only works when the people reading are depraved enough to understand, so it ISN’T MY FAULT!
Great minds and all that…
Much more of that, Tyler and Erin, and I’ll send you both to time out!!!
(I so love that part of being a mother! LOL)
Sarah, I absolutely agree with you – it’s all a product of self-focus. I have so much trouble finding songs that are worshipful and not talking all about me now. It seems to be only getting worse not better.
Yes, but don’t you WANT to have sex with Jesus? (Erin)
I read that and almost spit on my keyboard. Hilarious!
One more vid, to go with Sarah’s comment this time: “me worship”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XHkMPA1334
Everyone, now! “It’s all about meeeeeeeeee!”
That video was AWESOME!!! i just about peed, good thing I had an empty bladder!
I’ve seen that video before….it’s great!
Ok, treating this subject with some measure of the seriousness it deserves…maybe all worship music should be instrumental…I have the best worship when someone isn’t telling me what I’m supposed t be feeling.
Shelly, thanks for that
I have seen that one before – as a matter of fact I think I posted it on here a while back.
Erin, that’s an idea
I don’t know, though. I like the fact that worship can be expressed through words. Maybe we need a little of both.
Come on over to the black side and you have R. Kelly beats put this stuff and whahlah a baby is made to church music! LOL. Some of the lyrics are so soupy that I immediately start thinking about my wife “in worship”. One good one is
“Falling in love with Jesus”
Bring Israel Hughton (Lakewoods’ Worship Leader) to the table and you want to skip naked through dandelion fields
We have a song about heaven and they want to see everybody but Jesus (Mary Mary).
Not to mention a slew of “Sing and Get Rich” prosperity songs.
I could continue but I digress
I have been following your post. Very good.
Oh, R Kelly is bad enough without adding corny worship songs! That would be unbearable! Anyway, welcome to my blog, Lionel. Hope you enjoy your stay
And thanks for your kind words.
Yes, those prosperity ones are perhaps a different post – but just as appaling. *sigh*
I will pray for all of you. So sad that no one here wants to draw close to Jesus. Read the Psalms. It’s all about being close to the Lord, more and more each day. And, if you have never felt his embrace when the world rejects you, I hope you will in these Last Days we are living in… When you get rejected for your faith (but maybe you are too wordly or carnal as it seems) His embrace will comfort you. He wants us to lay down all of our sins, folks, even unbelief and it’s worth it, as the writer says, because the scripture says that He does call those who are truly His, his friends.
I thank God for giving us a sense of humour; and I like to think he has one, too.
So sad that no one here wants to draw close to Jesus.
And you know this how? Have you talked to any of us on an individual basis? No? You know, there’s a verse in Proverbs that says it’s a shame when someone makes a decision before knowing all the facts. Congratulations on your sweeping generalization.
Hi, ECJ. Like Shelly said, I think you’re making a huge and unmerited generalisation there. I’m not sure you even really understand this post – it has nothing to do with wanting to be closer to Jesus or not, it’s about using sappy, romantic words in “worship” songs. I really do think you need to re-read the post before commenting again.
What has always bothered me about these songs, as a theologian, are that they are almost exclusively addressed to the Son, but more specifically to the Son’s humanity rather than to the Divine Logos. Rarely will you hear mention of the Father, and almost never mention of the Spirit or the Holy Trinity. Following “lex orandi, lex credendi,” looking solely at music, we fall into some sort of Sebellianism, though one in which there was never a change of “mode” from Son to Spirit.
Going along with the recent direction of comments, it seems to me a rather odd generalization that these sorts of songs promote “closeness” to the Trinity. Certainly, they promote warm feelings within ourselves, but I don’t recall ever seeing a song that I would characterize as “pennetential,” nor is there any mention that we might have to “do” something to be close to Jesus: St. Peter states that we are participants in the Divine Nature, which implies activity rather than passive reception. To put it more blutly, Divine Grace is given to us undeservedly, but we still have to lay hold of it.
To be honest, my favorite “worship” song was written nearly 1600 years ago, is commonly sung only at Christmas, and is quite, contemplating the Father’s love rather than trying to show off mine.