I once had a professor at Pepperdine say, “We sing more heresy in our worship than was banned in all the Church councils.”
While this made me laugh the first time I heard this there is much truth in it. The lyrics to the songs we sing often espouse extremely poor, or unhealthy, theology. The first example in this ongoing new series of posts is a song we sing at my church often. It is called “I Keep Falling in Love With Him.”
The lyrics to the song are:
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and Over and Over and Over Again
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and Over and Over and Over AgainHe gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by
Oh, what a love between my Lord and I
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and Over and Over and Over Again
Now, this is just bad theology! The Bible nowhere tells us we should be in love with God or Jesus. Yes, we are to love God, but be in love with God? I don’t think so. John Stackhouse provides some good thoughts on this topic.
However, even if being in love with God is a legitimate thing to be (and I hold that it isn’t, especially in light of its modern day idiomatic usage among western English speakers) this language of continually falling in love implies that we also fall out of love with God? That just doesn’t seem right at all. God asks for our love. Our agape love. Our unemotional, but deeply committed, love that endures through the ups and downs of the Christian life.
Yes, my faith is very emotional to me. I had my tear filled conversion experience. My faith is core to my being, but it has grown, I believe, much deeper over the last few years. My “spiritual walk” is no longer subject to my fleeting emotions. It is grounded in something much deeper. Lyrics like “I keep falling in love…over and over…” do not help people get beyond fleeting emotional highs and lows. In fact lyrics like these encourage them.
Let us sing intentionally in our worship. Let us examine the theologies our church songs teach. And let us settle for nothing less than good, healthy and intelligent worship songs. We owe nothing less to our Lord and our God.
I agree – let’s not miss the spirit of it though…
that song was very meaningful to past generations like my Christian mom’s.
Yet they loved [ actively, in word and deed] Jesus too.
I don’t think it’s either/or.
I love my husband after 20 years of marriage…in the way you speak of…with commitment and deep reality in action…
but there are times of ‘recovering’ that early sense of being ‘in love’ that are helpful for the journey…and a reminder so that things don’t become just ‘duty.’
Being ”in” something is nice…and we are ‘in Christ.’
I’m probably not explaining too well
I preached on this very issue last week, here in Kabul. Comparing worship of Jesus, vs following him. Jesus nowhere, never asks or commands us to worship him – but he is always asking people to follow him – in a committed, discipled, long term fashion.
It stirred quite a lot of people up. The idea that Jesus is not so interested in our worship (as in our following of him) was not pleasing to some people…
Best,
Phil
http://www.itinerantindigent.wordpress.com
I lost my father who was a minister for the Spanish Assembly of God Church in Colorado Springs back in 1972. He was 48 I was 14. That had an impact on my worship. I see people singing to the Lord and then fall apart. I have kept singing but end in many songs that make me feel sad of the past. I love songs that seem warm: Abide with Me, Holy Holy Holy, Blessed Assurance. For some reason those songs edify me. But these new worship fast songs just make me want to go back to my old ways. I feel from grace until I started reading Power of Postive Thinking by Peale and other books on positive faith. I am not against those who worship, it just does not edify me. My older brother feels the same way. I work with american indian youth and poverty. I love my faith in God.
I agree with the idea/spirit of the post but the example you give seems like pretty good theology to me. Isnt it the story in Hosea? Not to mention that one of the prominent descriptions of Christ’s relationship with the Church is that of a bride and groom. I fall more in love with my wife everyday, and I think it works with Jesus to some extent like that as well.
Personally I dont like the song Mansion, robe and a crown. I wanna see Jesus, screw the other stuff.
Rogue,
Good to hear from you again. How’s Asbury treating you?
In response…
I think the story of Hosea is a message of God’s constant love in the midst of our fickleness. I don’t think it validates our on again, off again relationship with God, but condemns it. If that is what you meant I disagree. Am I misunderstanding your point here?
As far as the bride/groom analogy goes it seems to me the analogy applies to the church as a whole, not to individual Christians. The Church is Christ’s bride. I am not.
I agree with you about mansion, robe and a crown, but my church sings it so well!
I think you are right about Hosea, but I am saying that God does woo me over everyday and I am thankful for that and this song affirms the fact that Jesus reveals more and more reasons for me to love him more.
So for the bride/groom thing perhaps we could change the song to “we”?
Asbury is going quite well. I am really enjoying it here. It is very stimulating and challenging academically, but there is a great focus on spirituality, community, and service etc. There is however and unhealthy affinity for John Wesley, but I guess I can get over that. We have joined a group that is trying to find ways to help the homeless in Lexington and we are working with the spouse and family ministries on campus.
How are things in “your neck of the woods”?
Rogue,
Thanks for the clarification. I like your explanation of wooing you over. I don’t know if you’re familiar with process theology (Claremont is kind of the birthplace of it so I get more than my share, and I don’t necessarily buy it), but what you say here is reminiscent of it to a small extent.
I’m glad Asbury is going well for you. I hope its a transformational experience for you when you’re all done with it. (CST is a Methodist school so I def feel you about the Wesley worship!)
Life is good here. I’m preparing for Ph.D. applications right now so I’d appreciate some prayers on that whole process. Grace and peace.