There are two things that mark modern Christianity: new age Bible versions and praise and worship music. The modern movement has rejected the wisdom of their elders and removed Christianity's ancient landmarks. In place of that good old time heritage, they've erected monuments of their own feelings. Instead of what's right, it's what do I like and what makes me feel good?
I have very strong opinions on music and bible versions. In fact, I can't take worship or preaching seriously if it's not hymns and the King James Bible. That may sound extreme to many but please hear my case: If you had a genuine brand name watch that cost thousands of dollars and you saw someone with a similar watch but clearly a complete rip off of the real thing, would you take it seriously?
Having spent good money on a well designed and carefully manufactured watch you would take good care of it, clean it, and protect it. Perhaps you would only wear it on the weekends or to special occasions. Now then, you see someone else that has that exact same watch. You inquire after it and find that they spent $20 on it at some little shop in Chinatown that sells fake brand name watch. Upon closer inspection, you see the cheapness of the make and the scratches and dings from everyday wear and tear. Would you take that watch seriously? Heck, even it's owner does not take it seriously.
That may be a poor analogy but it's a close sentiment about how I feel about church.
I go to my King James only, hymn singing church and I know that it is real. I know God is worshipped there in truth.
I go to a whatever bible suits you, contemporary praise song singing church and I know it's not real. I'm not saying the people aren't genuinely trying to serve God, I am saying that their worship is shallow. As shallow as the bibles they read and the songs they sing. I know the real thing and I will not take anything but.
I have very strong opinions on music and bible versions. In fact, I can't take worship or preaching seriously if it's not hymns and the King James Bible. That may sound extreme to many but please hear my case: If you had a genuine brand name watch that cost thousands of dollars and you saw someone with a similar watch but clearly a complete rip off of the real thing, would you take it seriously?
Having spent good money on a well designed and carefully manufactured watch you would take good care of it, clean it, and protect it. Perhaps you would only wear it on the weekends or to special occasions. Now then, you see someone else that has that exact same watch. You inquire after it and find that they spent $20 on it at some little shop in Chinatown that sells fake brand name watch. Upon closer inspection, you see the cheapness of the make and the scratches and dings from everyday wear and tear. Would you take that watch seriously? Heck, even it's owner does not take it seriously.
That may be a poor analogy but it's a close sentiment about how I feel about church.
I go to my King James only, hymn singing church and I know that it is real. I know God is worshipped there in truth.
I go to a whatever bible suits you, contemporary praise song singing church and I know it's not real. I'm not saying the people aren't genuinely trying to serve God, I am saying that their worship is shallow. As shallow as the bibles they read and the songs they sing. I know the real thing and I will not take anything but.
I went to a church, for about five or six years, that was not a KJV church and they sang hymns and praise songs together. Normally my family would not attend a church like that but we had been searching for a long time and just gave up. We were spiritually dead during that time.
I don't remember any Spiritual growth during that time. I did, however, get to witness firsthand the contemporary Christian movement. I was never caught up in it, but I've experienced it. I'm not just writing against it from an outsiders perspective. I've been in the midst of it and witnessed it.
I will go into bible versions eventually but first I'd like to tackle the music. It is a big, divisive topic so I've decided to take my time with it and really delve into the matter. This music has taken both the youth and the old of North America. If you think it does not matter, you're wrong. Everything you do matters, and everything you put in your head will manifest itself in your life. It may not happen right away, but if allowed to remain and grow, the things in your head and the sins of your thoughts will manifest themselves in your words and actions.
I will go into bible versions eventually but first I'd like to tackle the music. It is a big, divisive topic so I've decided to take my time with it and really delve into the matter. This music has taken both the youth and the old of North America. If you think it does not matter, you're wrong. Everything you do matters, and everything you put in your head will manifest itself in your life. It may not happen right away, but if allowed to remain and grow, the things in your head and the sins of your thoughts will manifest themselves in your words and actions.
I've already said that praise and worship music is shallow.
To prove this I'll juxtapose a hymn and a well known praise song together and we'll see how they compare.
The two songs are these:
Praise song- Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman*
Hymn- Blessed Be the Name by Ralph E. Hudson and William Clark**
Please note: Blessed Be the Name is in black, Blessed Be Your Name is in blue, my comments are in green
Verse one-
All praise to Him who reigns above -we get to know who we're singing about and give him 'all praise'
In majesty supreme
Who gave His son for man to die -hey look, the gospel!
That He might man redeem - this is why we are singing to Him who reigns above
Blessed be Your name -who are we blessing the name of?
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name
Okay, I get that Blessed Be Your Name has a story to it, but come on, Blessed Be the Name has the gospel in its first verse. Not only that, it tells us who the song is about: Him who reigns above.
Who is the 'your' sung about in Matt Redman's song?
Chorus:
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord! -reference to Job 1:21 and Psalm 113:2
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord-okay this is who we are singing about
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your Glorious name
The hymn is based on scripture. Blessed Be Your name has a nice sentiment in it's chorus.
Verse two-
His name above all names shall stand- reference to Philipians 2:9
Exalted more and more
At God the Father's own right hand-reference to Acts 7:56, Hebrews 1:3
Where angel hosts adore-reference to countless scriptures where angels stand before God
And blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be the Name tells you why we are blessing His name with scriptural references. Blessed Be Your Name is still telling a story.
Verse three-
Redeemer, Saviour, Friend of man -just a few names of Christ that we are singing about
Once ruined by the fall -our depravity
Thou has devised salvation's plan -this is why we are singing about Him
For thou has died for all -our salvation, why we praise Him
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be -I'm thinking this line is probably talking about when things are going well for us, but to say the world is as it should be is not biblical at all.
Blessed be Your name
Once again, you have a hymn that is informative, descriptive, and explanatory and a praise song that keeps saying the same things and doesn't really describe anything except the ebb and flow of life.
Verse four-
His name shall be the Counsellor
The Mighty Prince of Peace
Of all earth's kingdoms Conqueror
Whose reign shall never cease -this whole verse is a reference to Isaiah 9:6, it is prophetic, more of Christ's names, this is why we praise Him, because He will reign in peace, we can rest assured on that.
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering-didn't we cover this already in verse two?
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Now at this point, I'm realizing that Blessed Be Your Name is just feeding emotions. The whole song to this point has been about good times and bad times and praising the Lord in both. It is a very nice sentiment but there has not been one edifying, strengthening line thus far. Not one verse of scripture either- at least from the King James.
Blessed Be The Name has power behind it because it is filled with scripture. I believe every verse in the song. I can sing it loud, strong, and with conviction because I believe the Words and they speak to me the way the scripture does.
Blessed Be The Name has power behind it because it is filled with scripture. I believe every verse in the song. I can sing it loud, strong, and with conviction because I believe the Words and they speak to me the way the scripture does.
So this is where Blessed Be The Name finishes. Blessed Be Your Name has to continue because it hasn't said half of what the hymn said.
You give and take away
You give and take away -reference to Job 1:21
My heart will choose to say, Lord -the heart is deceitful above all things
Blessed be Your Name, Lord
(apparently this repeats three times then breaks out into the chorus)
Okay, so you might be thinking, well the songs have similar names but the point of each was differnt.
Very true: Blessed Be the Name blessed the name of the Lord while describing the names, reasons, and references why we are praising Him. Blessed Be Your Name is about blessing God in good times and bad.
The fact is, the hymn is all about God. It mentions us in our depravity but that is it. The praise song is all about us. It doesn't tell us why His name is blessed or enforce our beliefs about the matter. It just says the same things over and over and over and over again.
If you don't think that the praise song is shallow, you don't know what shallow is. There is so much meat in the hymn, the praise song is half a cracker.
I cannot sing Blessed Be Your Name with any conviction because there's no Word in there. Its just like a love song written by the world.
The fact is, the hymn is all about God. It mentions us in our depravity but that is it. The praise song is all about us. It doesn't tell us why His name is blessed or enforce our beliefs about the matter. It just says the same things over and over and over and over again.
If you don't think that the praise song is shallow, you don't know what shallow is. There is so much meat in the hymn, the praise song is half a cracker.
I cannot sing Blessed Be Your Name with any conviction because there's no Word in there. Its just like a love song written by the world.
I hope this was a help and a blessing to you. Stay tuned for round two!
*Redman, Matt. "Blessed Be Your Name." Rec. 2002. Where Angels Fear to Tread. Survivor Records, 2002. Metrolyrics. Web. 13 July 2015.
**Clark, William. Hudson, Ralph. "Blessed Be the Name." 1888. Timeless Truths. Web. 13 July 2015
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