With the great volume and variety of worship music available, none of us should have to settle for bad worship songs. We should be able to select hundreds or even thousands of top notch songs very easily.
What makes a song a worship song? Is it enough to contain words like God or holy? How about vaguely spiritual sounding phrases? Should Jesus be mentioned?
We think an excellent worship song should contain the following elements:
- A direct expression of adoration (God, you are...)
- A progression of ideas that culminates in a coherent story
- A focus on God, not us
- Lyrics that do not create uncertainty or cause confusion
- A certain amount of profundity
- A singable, interesting melody
- Allusions to Scripture
- Doctrinal soundness
- Not excessively metaphorical
- Not excessively repetitive
- Jesus is not your boyfriend
This song is found on worshiptogether.com, which usually has very high quality worship songs. A discussion follows.
Verse 1
Ready at the line looking out, looking out to all that's ahead
When every heart confesses Your Name, we're pressing on towards that day
We're never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop
Verse 2
Letting go of every mistake, throwing off the chains of restraint
All that will remain a passion for Your Name, burning as we run this race
We're never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop
Chorus
We are running, chasing after all that You are
We are running, 'cause all that You are is all that we want
Verse 3
Every stride is taken in faith, every step compelled by Your grace
We're taking up our cross, no matter what the cost
We give it all to go Your way,
We're never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop
Interlude
Woah, woah, woah
Bridge
Onwards we draw towards Your light
Desperate we seek to know You more and more
Further we look beyond ourselves
To Your love, to Your love
-------------------------------
Me: Sigh. With all due respect, this song is about me, not about God. It seems like "spiritual" bragging.
J. D.: so is "I come to the Garden Alone", and a host of other songs that help express our hearts as we are captivated by God's goodness and grace. That's kind of what is meant by an "Anthem"- a song that expresses our identity, and preserves our intention.
Me: I am not suggesting that expressing our hearts is wrong. But compare the message of "I come to the garden alone" with these lyrics. One is worship, one is not. One expresses longing for His presence, the other tells of the great things we are going to do. There's a difference.
B.M.: Consider the Bridge as further declaration of the meaning of this song. " Further we look beyond ourselves....." This song, to me, is an example of our response to God and His desire for us to draw closer to Him. Not in our strength but in His.
Me: You're right about that bridge lyric. Sorry, I missed it. I really like the whole bridge, in fact. Too bad it takes so long for the song to get to some sort of solid meaning.
I do stand by my remarks regarding the rest of the song, though. We should not have to settle for substandard lyrics when there are so many rich songs out there.
P.H.: I hear you and tend to like songs better when they don't include the words me and I.
J.D.: I certainly agree that this song is sub-par, but it embodies the Hebrews 12:1 passage like few other songs have. I just wanted to respond because there is a need for what you are calling "Spiritual Boasting". Perhaps corporately, with our brothers and sisters, we need space to make this commitment (again). Perhaps privately, we need access to words that say this as we go through our day. It's a focusing song. Individually, it keeps us on pointe- Corporately, it assembles us as a people to this end. it does what music is supposed to do- and speaks the language of this generation. It's hillsong. for good and for bad. =)
Me: Hi, P.H.! Nice meeting up with you here.
Quite right, I believe corporate singing ought to be mostly songs sung to God in the first person, (God, You are...), songs that give thanks, songs that exalt Him and glorify Him.
There's too many "me" centered songs out there, and these songs generally do not edify. It's one of my pet peeves.
If you're interested, this is a full explanation on my blog: http://mountainmantrails.blogspot.com/2011/08/manifesto-centrality-of-worship-by-rich.html
K.T.: Hmmm... I think this is a sort of modern version of "Just As I Am"; "All to Jesus I surrender" etc. etc. Are these spiritual bragging? I agree that there are too many me, me songs but there is a place for a response song - an opportunity to tell God what we/i will do in response of who he is and what he has done. This song is telling God that all that I need and want is found in him and I will go after that. I don't consider that boasting. God knows what I intend to do and that I'll often fail in doing it but does this failure turn the intent into boasting?
Me: Thanks for the excellent comment, K.T.. The lyric I am centering on as boasting is "We're never gonna stop." It is God that is faithful, there is no shadow of turning with HIM, not us.
We might intend to never stop, but intentions are not enough. I think it would be better to have Paul's more circumspect attitude: Phil. 3:13-14 -- " Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it."
Just some thoughts. I didn't intend for this to be a big discussion. Sorry.
Verse 1
Ready at the line looking out, looking out to all that's ahead
When every heart confesses Your Name, we're pressing on towards that day
We're never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop
Verse 2
Letting go of every mistake, throwing off the chains of restraint
All that will remain a passion for Your Name, burning as we run this race
We're never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop
Chorus
We are running, chasing after all that You are
We are running, 'cause all that You are is all that we want
Verse 3
Every stride is taken in faith, every step compelled by Your grace
We're taking up our cross, no matter what the cost
We give it all to go Your way,
We're never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop
Interlude
Woah, woah, woah
Bridge
Onwards we draw towards Your light
Desperate we seek to know You more and more
Further we look beyond ourselves
To Your love, to Your love
-------------------------------
Me: Sigh. With all due respect, this song is about me, not about God. It seems like "spiritual" bragging.
J. D.: so is "I come to the Garden Alone", and a host of other songs that help express our hearts as we are captivated by God's goodness and grace. That's kind of what is meant by an "Anthem"- a song that expresses our identity, and preserves our intention.
Me: I am not suggesting that expressing our hearts is wrong. But compare the message of "I come to the garden alone" with these lyrics. One is worship, one is not. One expresses longing for His presence, the other tells of the great things we are going to do. There's a difference.
B.M.: Consider the Bridge as further declaration of the meaning of this song. " Further we look beyond ourselves....." This song, to me, is an example of our response to God and His desire for us to draw closer to Him. Not in our strength but in His.
Me: You're right about that bridge lyric. Sorry, I missed it. I really like the whole bridge, in fact. Too bad it takes so long for the song to get to some sort of solid meaning.
I do stand by my remarks regarding the rest of the song, though. We should not have to settle for substandard lyrics when there are so many rich songs out there.
P.H.: I hear you and tend to like songs better when they don't include the words me and I.
J.D.: I certainly agree that this song is sub-par, but it embodies the Hebrews 12:1 passage like few other songs have. I just wanted to respond because there is a need for what you are calling "Spiritual Boasting". Perhaps corporately, with our brothers and sisters, we need space to make this commitment (again). Perhaps privately, we need access to words that say this as we go through our day. It's a focusing song. Individually, it keeps us on pointe- Corporately, it assembles us as a people to this end. it does what music is supposed to do- and speaks the language of this generation. It's hillsong. for good and for bad. =)
Me: Hi, P.H.! Nice meeting up with you here.
Quite right, I believe corporate singing ought to be mostly songs sung to God in the first person, (God, You are...), songs that give thanks, songs that exalt Him and glorify Him.
There's too many "me" centered songs out there, and these songs generally do not edify. It's one of my pet peeves.
If you're interested, this is a full explanation on my blog: http://mountainmantrails.blogspot.com/2011/08/manifesto-centrality-of-worship-by-rich.html
K.T.: Hmmm... I think this is a sort of modern version of "Just As I Am"; "All to Jesus I surrender" etc. etc. Are these spiritual bragging? I agree that there are too many me, me songs but there is a place for a response song - an opportunity to tell God what we/i will do in response of who he is and what he has done. This song is telling God that all that I need and want is found in him and I will go after that. I don't consider that boasting. God knows what I intend to do and that I'll often fail in doing it but does this failure turn the intent into boasting?
Me: Thanks for the excellent comment, K.T.. The lyric I am centering on as boasting is "We're never gonna stop." It is God that is faithful, there is no shadow of turning with HIM, not us.
We might intend to never stop, but intentions are not enough. I think it would be better to have Paul's more circumspect attitude: Phil. 3:13-14 -- " Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it."
Just some thoughts. I didn't intend for this to be a big discussion. Sorry.
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