Before you get mad at me for what you are about to read, it’s only a comparison, not a dogmatic definition of right or wrong.
In Line
Every Tuesday my wife and girls go to Precept Ministries (Kay Arthur) in Chattanooga for Bible study. On some days I go with them and use the time to study. It’s a nice place to study, believe me. However, I am writing this on a computer at Precept while Kay Arthur is talking to someone a few feet away. She is distracting me.
Then, there are other days when my wife and I leave the girls and sneak out to get a biscuit. Today we had to sit in line forever. For jelly biscuits.
Jelly Biscuit – May I insert just one question at this juncture? Why is it you always have to ask for jelly when you order a jelly biscuit? What is it about “jelly biscuit” that confuses people? If I ordered a plain biscuit, I would not expect jelly. But when I order a jelly biscuit, why don’t they assume I want jelly? Why do I always have to ask for it?! Good Grief!
I Hear a Song
It was while we were sitting in line that I heard a song on Christian radio (J103). The song caught my attention because of the lyrics. May I share with you the words from the chorus?
You make me happy…Uhhh You make me feel the way I do… You make me happy, Yeah! I wish the whole world knew you, too! (and then the song ends with a bunch of “la-la-la’s.”)
I started to laugh. Honestly. Was I supposed to be blessed? Encouraged? Uplifted? Edified? Happy?
I know, I know, I know…I know that there are plenty of great, contemporary songs out there. Chris Tomlin, for one, has more than a few. I love several songs from Building 429, Avalon, and the Newsboys. But seriously, why can’t more of them take the subject matter at hand a little more seriously?
I Hear the Past
Some lines from the past need to be heard more often, especially if the best we can come with today is “uhh” and “yeah.”
- My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righeousness.
- A mighty fortress is our God, a bullwark never failing.
- Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?
- I will cherish the old rugged cross.
- Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise: be thou mine inheritance now and always; be thou and thou only first in my heart; High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
Dear Christian song writers, you can do better than “uhh’s” and “yeah’s” and “la la la la.”
Related articles
- Kay Arthur Receives Lifetime Achievement Award (faithinspires.wordpress.com)
Jelly biscuits? Not sure I have come across those, but I do like Chris Tomlin and the Newsboys. I especially enjoy Christy Nockels. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UUpeImcnqA
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Amen brother! I too like many of the newer songs of praise and worship> I also like to listen Southern Gospel as well. I’ve even been known to get a blessing from a good bluegrass gospel song or too. I was also glad to see you reference so many of the hymns of the past too. I firmly believe we should sing the newer songs, but lets not forget the older songs of the faith either!
Mike
When you say bluegrass a tingle runs up my leg, much the same way Chris Matthews felt when he heard Obama’s name. Oops. I made a political jab. Sorry.
That’s funny! The political jab, not the tingle up your leg.
I like new songs and old songs as long as they uplift Jesus. I never have like uuhhhs and yeahs.
Uuuhhh, yeah.