Should Christian Music today contain, "I"?

JerRocks2day · 11-14-2007, 10:18 AM

I've been wondering; Is it alright if Christian Music has phrases like "I Worship", or "I love you" in Worship songs? I've heard that if the lyrics have "I" in them, that would put the focus of the person himself and not being sung directly to God. Any help?

Ax · 11-14-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerRocks2day

I've been wondering; Is it alright if Christian Music has phrases like "I Worship", or "I love you" in Worship songs? I've heard that if the lyrics have "I" in them, that would put the focus of the person himself and not being sung directly to God. Any help?

I think that you're thinking too much.

rock_show_host · 11-14-2007, 10:25 AM

I think the intent and focus of the overall song is what matters, not specific choices of pronouns. I agree that a song should guide our focus toward worshiping God and not emphasizing ourselves, but that applies to the whole message of the song, not just its use of "I.

rock_show_host · 11-14-2007, 10:28 AM

Also, are you only referring to songs meant to be sung collectively in a worship setting (like a church service), or just any type of praise music?

**thesteve** · 11-14-2007, 10:33 AM

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Originally Posted by rock_show_host

Also, are you only referring to songs meant to be sung collectively in a worship setting (like a church service), or just any type of praise music?

I've found myself in an awkward place in worship settings when there's a lot of "I" going on. It definitely depends on the context of the song and how the entire song is written, but there are definitely songs out there where I understand why people feel like the focus is taken off of what God had done for us and is being put on what we're doing for God.

rock_show_host · 11-14-2007, 10:41 AM

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Originally Posted by thesteve

I've found myself in an awkward place in worship settings when there's a lot of "I" going on. It definitely depends on the context of the song and how the entire song is written, but there are definitely songs out there where I understand why people feel like the focus is taken off of what God had done for us and is being put on what we're doing for God.

That's why I was asking. Even though I don't think there's anything wrong with ever using "I" in a worship song, in contexts of corporate worship it can be more distracting. A personal praise or worship song might be different because...well, it's personal, not communal.

**thesteve** · 11-14-2007, 10:42 AM

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Originally Posted by rock_show_host

A personal praise or worship song might be different because...well, it's personal, not communal.

fully agree with this.

JerRocks2day · 11-14-2007, 11:26 AM

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Also, are you only referring to songs meant to be sung collectively in a worship setting (like a church service), or just any type of praise music?

I'm referring to P&W songs. For example, do songs such as "I could sing of your love forever" put the emphasis on the person singing?

bobthecockroach · 11-14-2007, 11:49 AM

Well, when someone tells you "I love you," do you feel they are emphasizing themselves more than you?

**Sean** · 11-14-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerRocks2day

I've been wondering; Is it alright if Christian Music has phrases like "I Worship", or "I love you" in Worship songs? I've heard that if the lyrics have "I" in them, that would put the focus of the person himself and not being sung directly to God. Any help?

I just quickly read through Psalms 1-10 and "I" is all over the place. Clearly, "I" is not a bad thing. The issue is over whether our songs lack depth, sound theology, and originality.

Psalm 2:7
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.

Psalm 3: 4
To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

Psalm 7: 17
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 8:3
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

Psalm 9
For the director of music. To the tune of "The Death of the Son." A psalm of David.
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

**Jeffrey** · 11-14-2007, 12:21 PM

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Originally Posted by Sean

I just quickly read through Psalms 1-10 and "I" is all over the place. Clearly, "I" is not a bad thing. The issue is over whether our songs lack depth, sound theology, and originality.

Well, also, when the "I" is declarative, and one isn't King David, it's hard to sing. I for one can't rightly claim that every move I make is being done for Christ's sake, nor can I say that He's my one desire. Those worship songs make me into a liar.

Nate · 11-14-2007, 04:04 PM

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Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Well, also, when the "I" is declarative, and one isn't King David, it's hard to sing. I for one can't rightly claim that every move I make is being done for Christ's sake, nor can I say that He's my one desire. Those worship songs make me into a liar.

Honestly, I think that's a pretty feeble argument. Was the psalmists liars when they wrote these?

Psalm 52:8-9
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

Psalm 89:1
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

**Jeffrey** · 11-14-2007, 04:25 PM

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Originally Posted by Nate

Honestly, I think that's a pretty feeble argument. Was the psalmists liars when they wrote these?

Psalm 52:8-9
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

Psalm 89:1
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

Maybe. However, aren't both of those attributed to David, a man after God's own heart? I don't see how it's feeble to say that what David could say about himself may not be something I can say. When Paul says at the end of his life that he ran the race well, can a heel-dragging, half-committed Christian honestly use those same words? When Job states in a time of suffering that he is blameless, can a Christian who is not of Job's moral fiber quote the same verses with a straight face during their trials, and claim his statements as their own?

Also, Psalm 137 takes joy in the death of infants. If every Psalm is something we can emulate and sing for ourselves, what's the parallel there?

**Sean** · 11-14-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Well, also, when the "I" is declarative, and one isn't King David, it's hard to sing. I for one can't rightly claim that every move I make is being done for Christ's sake, nor can I say that He's my one desire. Those worship songs make me into a liar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Maybe. However, aren't both of those attributed to David, a man after God's own heart?

But was David trusting in the steadfast love of the Lord during the Bathsheba incident and cover-up? Even with David I don't think you can say those songs are absolutely literally true.

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I don't see how it's feeble to say that what David could say about himself may not be something I can say.

Or a room full of people at various spiritual levels can say.

When Paul says at the end of his life that he ran the race well, can a heel-dragging, half-committed Christian honestly use those same words? When Job states in a time of suffering that he is blameless, can a Christian who is not of Job's moral fiber quote the same verses with a straight face during their trials, and claim his statements as their own?

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Also, Psalm 137 takes joy in the death of infants. If every Psalm is something we can emulate and sing for ourselves, what's the parallel there?

Dashing babies against rocks probably isn't something you want to work into worship, but their are things to emulate in the passage. Their regret over the loss of the promise land due to their rebellion is commendable. Also, we too should have an anger when the things of the Lord (such as His great nation and temple) are destroyed.

Of course, I'm not arguing that this Psalm is meant for corporate worship or that all Psalm's are meant for corporate worship. However, if you can find extreme declarative statements, which are impossible for any fallen human to perform, in the Psalms, then you can't really say they're totally inappropriate for our worship.

Perhaps these statements aren't meant to be taken as literal but as hyperbole or as desires of the heart.

Nate · 11-14-2007, 05:17 PM

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Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Maybe. However, aren't both of those attributed to David, a man after God's own heart? I don't see how it's feeble to say that what David could say about himself may not be something I can say. When Paul says at the end of his life that he ran the race well, can a heel-dragging, half-committed Christian honestly use those same words? When Job states in a time of suffering that he is blameless, can a Christian who is not of Job's moral fiber quote the same verses with a straight face during their trials, and claim his statements as their own?

Youch. Maybe I'm just a little more realistic than you as to the saintlihood of the saints.

David was a murderer and an adulterer, after all. If he was a "man after God's own heart," then surely I stand a chance at meriting the same title.

Similarly, I'm not entirely convinced that (S)Paul didn't continue to be just as "heel-dragging" and "half-committed" after his conversion as he was before.

Job's moral fiber had him telling his wife effectively to shove off and go to hell and ended with a four-ish-chapter reprimand from God Almighty.

I'm not convinced when I read Scripture that these guys were really that much different from me... and I take great great comfort in that.

Quote:

Also, Psalm 137 takes joy in the death of infants. If every Psalm is something we can emulate and sing for ourselves, what's the parallel there?

Not all of the Psalms are meant for corporate worship, obviously... or even for worship at all. I wouldn't claim we should emulate all of them. I was just making a point.

-Nate