Posted on 10/21/2011 7:26:41 PM PDT by hiho hiho
Over-sexualized.
Worship songs? No. Everything.
Ive been both a victim and a participant in the American cultural norm Scope out opportunities to rejoin comments with, Thats what she said.
(To be sure, the phrase was around long before the TV show The Office, but a certain Michael Scott character seemed to usher the phrase into a broad and sweeping cultural vernacular. Am I right?)
So now, it seems thousands of words and phrases are hijacked, and church gatherings are not immune to it either. Or, maybe its just me. It can be hilarious, dreadful, or just plain embarrassing. Recently, a few worship songs have sort of had their way with me on this, so to speak.
"Bride of Christ" by Marion Coltman (I thought it was entitled: "Jesus, keep your hands where we can see 'em") ...and it's all just a bit too much for me.
I didnt want to think it at the time, but the Casting Crowns song Your Love is Extravagant sounded just a little too much like a friends with benefits song. Golly, all you have to do is take the t off Christ, and you have a fine mess (in my head):
Your Love is Extravagant
Your love is extravagant Your friendship, it is intimate I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place Your love is extravagant
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend Capture my heart again
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again Your love is extravagant Your friendship, it is intimate
Dont get me wrong, Casting Crowns does so many great worship songs I really enjoy. This may be one your favorites, which is fine. I hope it creates a worshipful experience for you, and for everyone, but I get derailed.
Basically, if a worship song talks about touching, my mind wanders. Such as Kari Jobe song:
I wanna sit at your feet.
Drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath, here your heart beat
This love is so deep, its more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, its overwhelming.
In his blog, Jon Acuff posted recently: How to make an entire audience deaf. Its a funny and accurate article about how words can ruin an audiences concentration. So many comments from readers that followed were of amusing and uproarious stories of double entendre and language malfunctions.
The fact is love is risky. God is risky Obviously risky and risqué has sort of been a fine line in songwriting. But, to be honest, I realize that love can often feel awkward as it gets emotionally deeper. When it starts to change and effect usand affect us. The awkwardness is part of the path to greater spiritual maturity. (In this case, Ill let you know for sure when I get there.)
Admittedly, the psalms that King David wrote got quite amatory, and for some it feels embarrassing. I can handle David getting up close and personal with God. Im fine with Song of Solomons sexy talk, and Davids passionate poem songs, but maybe in singing those things corporately, we confront those issues of intimacy differently than we do in our times of personal devotions, songs, or prayers. What do you think about it?
I think the challenge, for me, is a renewing of my mind a bit more, and praying for better ears to hear. Thank you for your patience with me, Lord.
Lastly, for all you songwriters out there, if youre writing something sweet to sing for Jesus, pleasefor medont put the words intimate, secret place, and rhythm too close together. (It can be a worship hijack for some of us, okay, for me.)
When was the last time you felt embarrassed/awkward at the worst time?
Especially with one of these on the front end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBoyPXBTtuk&feature=fvwrel
“I love guitar music.”
And there is lots of things that I too love. But there is no reason to drag chain saws, smoke belching motorcycles, ham radios, Indy cars into church just because someone loves them.
I’m inclined to think that this is purely something in the English speaking world. Since I started attending mass in other languages I noted that there wasn’t this tendency. And then when I go for the occasional English-language service.... it is exactly as you said — too sweet
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