Bible Question:
Please help me. I attend many contemporary Christian worship services. I often have difficulty understanding the lyrics. Some examples: 1. "Let the river flow" 2. "Let your fire fall" 3. "Dance with me Jesus" I don't understand the lyrics to these songs and it makes my worship experience less than optimal. I finally put my foot down with the "Dance with me Jesus" worship song and now I have the Pastor and elders in conflict over the spiritual accuracy of asking Jesus to dance with us...not what I had intended at all! Does anyone else have difficulty over the spiriual accuracy of these songs? Do I really want Jesus to dance with me? Can I stop the river's flow? Isn't the fire falling from God a symbol of His judgment? Do I want any of these things aspart of my worship experiences? Please advise. Blessings! Bud Greenberg PSALM 133 |
Bible Answer: I count myself lucky in that I attend a parish that's traditional but run by some young and contemporary clergy who really do a number to keep it FRESH! If we contain our vision of The Lord within Scripture we miss out on the grand tapestry he has placed before us. Some very gifted people can write fantastic songs of faith. Even songs not about faith itself can bring us to a deeper relationship with Our Lord. Our pianist, this last Sunday during communion, spontaneously threw out a beautiful song that maybe 5 people in the church were familiar with. Enya, How Can I Keep From Singing. It's a traditional Shaker song. Deeply passionate. My life goes on in endless song above earth's lamentations, I hear the real, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation. Through all the tumult and the strife I hear it's music ringing, It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing? While though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth, it liveth. And though the darkness 'round me close, songs in the night it giveth. No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock I'm clinging. Since love is lord of heaven and earth how can I keep from singing? When tyrants tremble in their fear and hear their death knell ringing, when friends rejoice both far and near how can I keep from singing? In prison cell and dungeon vile our thoughts to them are winging, when friends by shame are undefiled how can I keep from singing? My point? It's not the words that harm us. It's what's in our hearts. As for dancing with Jesus, well, call me nutty but I do it ALL the time. Usually in the kitchen waving a towel over my head and some hymn sung WAY off key. ;) Reading books by or about Teresa of Avila may help you to better understand the Fire of God. She didn't count it as judgement but as a gift in that she BURNED with love for The Lord. And St. Teresa's beloved friend Juan de la Cruz or St. John of the Cross who wrote Dark Night of the Soul. Ever read it? http://www.ccel.org/j/john_of_the_cross/dark_night/dark_night.html Loreena McKennitt puts it to music: THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL Words by St. John of the Cross and arranged and adapted by Loreena McKennitt Upon a darkened night the flame of love was burning in my breast And by a lantern bright I fled my house while all in quiet rest Shrouded by the night And by the secret stair I quickly fled The veil concealed my eyes while all within lay quiet as the dead CHORUS Oh night thou was my guide of night more loving than the rising sun Oh night that joined the lover to the beloved one transforming each of them into the other Upon that misty night in secrecy, beyond such mortal sight Without a guide or light than that which burned so deeply in my heart That fire t'was led me on and shone more bright than of the midday sun To where he waited still it was a place where no one else could come CHORUS Within my pounding heart which kept itself entirely for him He fell into his sleep beneath the cedars all my love I gave From o'er the fortress walls the wind would his hair against his brow And with its smoothest hand caressed my every sense it would allow CHORUS I lost myself to him and laid my face upon my lover's breast And care and grief grew dim as in the morning's mist became the light There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair Hope you enjoyed it. Lisa |