Bad Worship Songs?

snizzle · 07-07-2004, 01:51 PM

Ok, first off i'm not sure where this should go. It's about worship songs but it's more about the lyrics which would make it theology. Anyways, onto the question:

What worship songs, hymns, etc would you consider not doctrinally sound and why? A lot of times we sing songs and don't really think about the meanings behind them. What songs out there have lyrics that don't match up biblically?
-shane

DarylB · 07-07-2004, 01:54 PM

http://www.christianguitar.org/forum...ad.php?t=76374

Read this thread that I started.

snizzle · 07-07-2004, 02:30 PM

yea, i went through the thread and besides the first post by sean i don't think it was really what either of us were hoping for. I'm hoping this one will generate some more response that's on topic.
-shane

BurntHombre · 07-07-2004, 03:03 PM

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.

"You" are not necessarily a son of Abraham. If this song was sung in the presence of a Chinese Buddhist, for example, it would incorrectly be telling that person that he or she is a son of Abraham.

snizzle · 07-07-2004, 03:23 PM

good point. Any others?
-shane

Dr. Worm · 07-07-2004, 03:37 PM

At college, we used to sing this song at the end of every service, I forget the exact words, but it went something like

My friends, may you grow in peace
And in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior...

Anyway, the point is that the lyrics were obviously not adressed to God. I tried to make eye contact with my friends as I sang this song to them. But everyone always had their eyes close with their head tilted back and their arms in the air as though they were singing to God that He might grow in peace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. The song on its own is not necessarily bad, I mean there is nothing wrong with singing to your friends that they might grow in peace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. But when sung to God, as it most commonly was, I find it very very bad theology

**Ted Logan** · 07-07-2004, 03:43 PM

Blessed Assurance is pretty terrible. It's full of lies such as
This is my story, this is my song-- praising my savior all the day long.

I Need You More is awful:
I need you more
More than yesterday
I need you more
More than words can say
I need you more
Than ever before
I need you more; I need you more

I could probably think of more if I stopped to think.

ryanspeer · 07-07-2004, 03:56 PM

Hmmmmmm, how's that for an original and new thread topic? Haven't had one of these in - what - a week or so?

Is there a benefit in focusing on the BAD instead of on the GOOD?

**Sean** · 07-07-2004, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanspeer

Is there a benefit in focusing on the BAD instead of on the GOOD?

Well you should focus on the good and avoid the bad. Therefore its good to know what to avoid.

**Sean** · 07-07-2004, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snizzle

yea, i went through the thread and besides the first post by sean i don't think it was really what either of us were hoping for. I'm hoping this one will generate some more response that's on topic.
-shane

Might as well just re-post that here for discussions sake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Above All

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

No, He didn't.

Amazing Love

Amazing love,
I know its true,
and it's my joy to honor You.
In all I do I honor You.

No I don't (the rest of the lyrics are good though)

We're Gonna Dance in the River

We're gonna dance in the river

....okay, whatever that means.

I Found Jesus

I found Jesus

....YAY!!! I'm so great, I FOUND HIM!!! LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME!!!! I'm so great, I FOUND HIM!!! w000t!!!1

Did You Feel the Mountain Tremble?

Dancer's who dance upon injustice

Uhhhhhh what?

Draw Me Close

I lay it all down again, just to hear you say that I'm your friend

Geee, I would think we'd lay it all down for a better reason than that. I mean something along those lines may be an acceptable motivation, but it alone shouldn't "JUST" be our motivation.

You're all I want.....

I wish that were true. The lyrics seem to treat God much more likely ones boyfriend/girlfriend than well GOD. It makes no references that are specific to God alone. Now references to deity at all. You could sing it to your boyfriend/girlfriend. If you factor in the "friend" comment earlier, it doesn't seem to really treat God in the high esteem He deserves. It leans more on emotions and a "powerful" chorus than actual meaning.

In the Secret

No specific lines jump out at me as "bad," but the song doesn't really make any references that are specific to God. Its like a love song. That isn't a terrible thing, but it also means your sort of treating God like your boyfriend/girlfriend instead of treating Him like He is God.

ryanspeer · 07-07-2004, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Well you should focus on the good and avoid the bad. Therefore its good to know what to avoid.

Makes sense. Good insight there. Thanks.

I guess I just see an inherent danger in a thread like this, by nature of the title and original post, to start an almost uncontrollable decent into becoming nothing more than a complain-fest - which I don't see as being very beneficial...

I've re-thought many many songs in a lyrical sense since I've been browsing and posting here on CGR and several songs have been cut from my list of available material because of it. In that respect, learning what's wrong about a song can be a good thing.

As a word of caution to everybody however, please don't let this get out of hand.

**Sean** · 07-07-2004, 04:35 PM

I had this long beautiful response written and then this incompetant computer stole it from me.

I'll never trust this computer again. Its a stupid head. I'd re-type my response but I'm crying too much and fear my tears would short out the keyboard.

Mike Graham · 07-07-2004, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurntHombre

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let's all praise the Lord.

"You" are not necessarily a son of Abraham. If this song was sung in the presence of a Chinese Buddhist, for example, it would incorrectly be telling that person that he or she is a son of Abraham.

Except for the fact that the song is used for corporate worship of believers... kind of.

**Sean** · 07-07-2004, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Graham

Except for the fact that the song is used for corporate worship of believers... kind of.

Exactly....kind of. Most praise and worship songs or hymns would make no sense being sung by a Buddist. Songs for corporate worship are intended for believers.

BurntHombre · 07-07-2004, 06:05 PM

Well, you never know when a Chinese Buddhist might be hiding in the shadows behind a pew, trying to invalidate the theology of our children's Bible songs through his mere presence.

By the way, Sean, I saw your lost post in my mind, and it was truly a thing of beauty.