Christian Lyrics

[HookEmHorns]

So, I've been thinking a lot about how difficult it is to write lyrics for Christian music. Not only do they have to deliver a message, but that message also has to be theologically sound. I was recently listening to "Above All" by Michael W. Smith, which is a great song for the most part. However, in this section Smith's theology is incorrect:

Crucified, laid behind a stone
You lived to die, rejected and alone
Like a rose, trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

Michael W. Smith - Above All Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Jesus (God) cannot possibly be thinking of us above all. He is not man-centered but rather God-centered. The point of this post isn't to bash Michael W. Smith as his work has been exemplary for decades. On the contrary, my intent is to highlight how difficult it is for Christian artists to write lyrics that do not stray theologically, etc. They have to constantly be in prayer as well as seek wise counsel when writing lyrics for music. When all of this is considered, Christian artists deserve our prayers as they seek to bring the Gospel to others in one of the most impacting and public forms of media.

Sorry for the long rant - I hope it made a little bit of sense.

 

[didymos]

(...)Jesus (God) cannot possibly be thinking of us above all. He is not man-centered but rather God-centered. (...)

Jesus was man-centered because He was God-centered. Dying for the sins of mankind, He obeyed the will of His Heavenly Father. His death (and life) were all in the line of the Great Commandment.

[SUP]'29 [/SUP]“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [SUP]30 [/SUP]Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [SUP]31 [/SUP]The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”'

(Mark 12:29-31 / NIV)

 

[HookEmHorns]

Jesus was man-centered because He was God-centered. Dying for the sins of mankind, He obeyed the will of His Heavenly Father. His death (and life) were all in the line of the Great Commandment.

[SUP]'29 [/SUP]“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [SUP]30 [/SUP]Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [SUP]31 [/SUP]The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”'

(Mark 12:29-31 / NIV)

I don't intend to start a theological argument in the music forum, but I don't follow your reasoning. Jesus is God, and God cannot be man-centered. He must be God-centered. If God is man-centered, He is violating one of His own commandments: have no other god before me. God also does things because He is holy, righteous, omniscient, omnipotent, etc etc etc. Take a look at these verses. God clearly takes action "for his name's sake." Not for man's sake.

"Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known." Psalm 106:8

"He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3

Let me be clear: I'm not trying to argue for argument's sake. This is an area I have really wondered about recently. Jesus did not die solely for our sins - that's only half of the story. The other half of the story is that He died "for his name's sake." In other words, He died because He (Jesus) is God-centered and not man-centered. And that's a great thing.

 

[santuzza]

Your point is well taken. It is very difficult to write good Christian lyrics. And, as music director of my church, I examine text very carefully. I personally don't write music, and this is one of the reasons -- I have found far too many lyrics that contradict Scripture (Casting Crowns comes to mind...), and I don't want to add to these numbers. There is a lot of popular stuff out there that just isn't biblical. And an awful lot of stuff that is so self-oriented -- Not that testimonial songs are bad (after all, Amazing Grace is a testimonial song!), but I prefer songs that sing exclusively about the character of God.

 

[Stephen63]

To me it's very important that the lyrics be biblically sound for the singers are role models as well as ministers of God. Has any particular song really tug at your heart lately? How would you feel if you found out later that song wasn't right? Imagine the possible destruction from that. Yes, it's that important.

 

[Vcabaniss]

Christian lyrics come from the heart of what words God gave you to write. Not a CCM formula or what will sell to certain genres. I wish others actually understood this.

 

[Lynx]

Christian lyrics come from the heart of what words God gave you to write. Not a CCM formula or what will sell to certain genres. I wish others actually understood this.

Howdy and welcome to the forum.

Please be aware that this is a very old thread. I strongly doubt any of the original participants will reply to you this late in the game.

 

[Lynx]

But since this thread has already been dug up...

It is easy to tell the difference between people who make music for money and people to make music as a ministry.

People who make music for money start with "I need to make a song." Then they choose a topic, words that fit the topic, a tune they think will sell, and finally record the song.

People who make music as a ministry start from a very different point. They start from "this is on my heart and I need to express it." Then they choose words which fit what they need to express, a tune that fits the words and finally record the song.

From the outside the process may look very similar in both cases. But the resulting song shows very blatantly which process was used in making it.

 

[tourist]

Howdy and welcome to the forum.

Please be aware that this is a very old thread. I strongly doubt any of the original participants will reply to you this late in the game.

Yeah, considering they have either been banned or quit the site years ago.