10.24.07

MODERN HYMNS…GLORY TO GOD!

Posted in Church Events, Teaching, Theology, In The News... at 4:19 pm by Pastor Bill

Since I’ve been posting about the lack of new music that truly glorifies God and exalts Christ, I thought I need to mention it when a truly worshipful album comes along. This selection actually came out in 2005 so it is not ‘new’, except when compared to the dates of the hymns written in most of our hymnbooks. I heard the artist and her husband when I attended a pastor’s conference at Alistair Begg’s church in Cleveland Ohio several years ago. They provided the worship music for the event and I was so impressed that I bought the album. It is entitled ‘Hymns for the life of the church’, and the singers are Kristyn Getty, Margaret Becker, and Joanne Hogg. The tunes are reverently paced (meaning without a rocking beat…making it more appropriate for church singing IMHO), but the lyrics tell the heart of the songs (as with all music). Here are the lyrics to a few that are especially impacting to me.

Let’s start off with ‘The Power of the Cross’, a hymn that takes us to the event of the crucifixion, and reminds us what was accomplished there, and why, and for whom.

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought,
Ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

No Christian should be able to read or sing this without being humbled and grateful to our Loving God, who gave His son for us, rebels and arrogant though we are. Another hymn from the album is titled “Beneath the cross of Jesus“, and again forces us to consider what are the consequences of our sin…what it cost the Savior to redeem us to glory, and also shows us the magnitude of our God’s love.

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I find a place to stand,
And wonder at such mercy
That calls me as I am;
For hands that should discard me
Hold wounds which tell me, “Come.”
Beneath the cross of Jesus
My unworthy soul is won.

Beneath the cross of Jesus
His family is my own—
Once strangers chasing selfish dreams,
Now one through grace alone.
How could I now dishonor
The ones that You have loved?
Beneath the cross of Jesus
See the children called by God.

Beneath the cross of Jesus—
The path before the crown—
We follow in His footsteps
Where promised hope is found.
How great the joy before us
To be His perfect bride;
Beneath the cross of Jesus
We will gladly live our lives.

This hymn also reminds us of our responsibility to love and serve our fellow believers (Romans 14-15) because of the matchless grace that has been imparted to us who have received the saving work of Christ. A final hymn that we will look at is “Across the Lands“, which reveals to us the worldwide work of God on earth, the mission and the success of our suffering yet victorious Savior.

You’re the Word of God the Father
From before the world began.
Ev’ry star and ev’ry planet
Has been fashioned by Your hand.
All creation holds together
By the power of Your voice.
Let the skies declare Your glory;
Let the land and seas rejoice!

CHORUS
You’re the Author of creation;
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man;
And Your cry of love rings out across the lands.

Yet You left the gaze of angels,
Came to seek and save the lost,
And exchanged the joy of heaven
For the anguish of a cross.
With a prayer You fed the hungry;
With a word You calmed the sea;
Yet how silently You suffered
That the guilty may go free!

With a shout You rose victorious,
Wresting vict’ry from the grave,
And ascended into heaven,
Leading captives in Your way.
Now You stand before the Father,
Interceding for Your own;
From each tribe and tongue and nation,
You are leading sinners home!

What are my standards for good worshipful music? 1) Biblically accurate lyrics. 2) Lyrics that are properly reverent and worshipful towards God. 3) Themes that glorify God, exalt Christ and thank the Holy Spirit. Themes that cause us to look up with wonder and amazement to the King of Kings, and to look down in humility in the realization that we are unworthy of our Savior’s sacrifice. 4) Themes that cause my heart to soar with gratitude and agreement with what God has revealed about Himself in His Word.

With those as a few of my standards, there is not much being produced today that measures up. I encourage you to seek out good music, and use it as a tool to lift your heart, mind and life in service to your Lord and King!

SING ON!

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