music

I have always been drawn to music. I can remember being in every children's musical at church and playing snoopy as a 4^th grader in our schools production of the musical "Snoopy." I don't ever remember not enjoying music, especially singing. I picked up the guitar at 16, but that has always been a supplemental tool, singing has been the main objective. Now, I don't have a degree in music nor am I a writer about music, but it still plays an integral role in my life.

As someone who enjoys singing, when it comes to music, I find myself drawn to the language of the song. Don't get me wrong, I love instrumental music (Rodrigo y Gabriela was one of the best shows I've been to), but there's something about singing, something about the story told within the lyrics that is so moving. As a student of theology and a lover of music, drawn to lyrics, I find the Christian music scene quite interesting… Honestly, I probably wouldn't pay attention to it besides the songs sung on Sunday morning were it not for my role as leader of music for college students as part of my intern pastor role and the few times I lead music at Seminary's chapels. This is beginning of a new semester and students are coming back to school, so we are gearing up our Wednesday night services (which are going to be a lot of fun this semester) and I'm feeling challenged about leading music. (A little rant… I can't stand it when those who lead music in a church are called "Worship Pastors." Does that mean that pastors who don't lead music fail to lead worship? Worship is never limited to (but often may be hindered by) music!)

Here is a section of an email I sent to all of the students who help lead music on Wednesday nights. "Music is an inspiring and emotive tool.  It helps us express things words might not be able to, it can draw emotions deeply hidden, it can often be used to manipulate, and it also has the potential to teach.  This last use is what I've become interested in mostly.  We teach children stories through song, often students will put something they have to memorize to a tune (the 50 states, the alphabet).  If this is true of the way children learn, it is also true of the way we learn about Christ.  The lyrics of songs penetrate our understanding of God and Christ, and I feel challenged to teach GOOD lessons about Christ.  (something not always done in music.....)" This is a challenge I want to take seriously and here's why…

In one of my classes last semester we discussed one of the reasons the Nicene Creed was written. The Apostles Creed had already been written and was recited throughout much of the church, but a problem was realized when one could recite the Apostles Creed and participate in one of many Christian heresies, specifically Docetism, with no disconnect. The Docetists believed that Jesus' body was an illusion, and Jesus was merely the spirit of God. There was no "God-man," only God who looked like a man. (There were others who thought Jesus was a really good guy, but not in essence divine.) These folks could recite the Apostles Creed because there is not mention of Christ being both God and man. The Nicene Creed intends to remedy this.

In thinking about how non-Christians could recite the Apostles creed with no qualms, I started wondering about our "worship" music. How often do we affirm Christ's existence as human and divine? How seriously does our "worship" music reflect the prologue to John's gospel where God became one of us, pitching his tent among us? Or Paul's letter to the church at Philippi where we see that Jesus, being in exact nature God, did not consider equality with God something to possess, but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a slave?

What's further? How often does our "worship" music even say the name of Christ?! Granted, I believe it is ok that not every song we sing reflect the dual nature of God's incarnation (as there are other reasons to sing), but maybe it would be nice to see it every once in a while…

With that inspiration, I wrote this song. The title is "Word Made Flesh" and I'm going to see about recording it in the near future.

 

You're God and man. Beautifully combined
Two natures joined. Humanity Divine.
The eternal died. The tree you chose to climb.
A love we share as we're daily crucified.

The rain falls on sinner and the saint.
Our hearts fall weary and faint
We witness your beautiful campaign
That led you to the cross where you know our every pain

You are God. Wildly true.
You are Love. Love that won't refuse
You are Lord Mercifully just
You are here. Your Kingdom come to us

Pain will not be our last breath
For life, victory over death,
Will reign when You resurrect
As known by the Word made flesh
Your love came as Word made flesh
You are our God in flesh.

 

 

OTFIL