Rod of Alexandria has begun a meme asking different bloggers to choose the worst Christian song in existence and describe why it is so abhorrent to them. Those who know me know that I have been no fan of much of what passes as “Christian music” for many years, be it what we today call contemporary worship or “praise” music, ridiculous, out-of-date hymns (especially those particular hymns with “Christian soldier” themes, or those that employ the use of the word “yonder”), or the newest fad, wannabe Christian rock songs, which (imho) were they any good would be able to cut it with the big boys and girls on the “mainstream” charts like U2. The fact that so many Christian musicians and bands choose to flee to the safety of the “Contemporary Christian” minor leagues to have any chance at “success” is quite telling.
And let not a Christian song’s widespread presence in churches across the country fool you; the fact that a “praise song” gets played repeatedly in many worship settings is usually more of an indication that the song’s instrumentation is easy to play, or that the congregants mindlessly singing along lack any theological training or inquisitiveness than it is an indicator of a well-written song. Let us also not neglect the possibility that many crappy Christian songs survive only because individuals in worship settings are often too polite to look to the person standing next to him/her and say, “This song really, really sucks!” For some reason, we’re told we’re not supposed to criticize bad Christian songs, because it may have edifying qualities to another listener no matter how theologically unstable the song’s lyrics may be. This phenomenon tells us much about the state of Christian music (and Christian knowledge of the actual text of the Bible) today. But I digress…
Contemporary worship or “praise” music bugs me the most. With their theologically vapid lyrics, I have just about had it with what passes for worship music today. The theological complexity of many of these songs today often sounds like little more than: “Jeeezussss, I sooo freakin’ loooove youuuuu, you are my all in all, fill me with your presence, help me feeeeel you inside me, me me me me me me me me.”
It seems “worship” is quickly taking the place of doctrine/dogma as that which stands in the way of what ought to be at the center of the Christian life: service to others. But, service to others is hard (read: “haaarrrrd,” like a whiny child), and takes a lot of time, as does forgiveness, kindness, making do with what you have, and educating oneself about precisely what one believes (and, for that matter, what one does not believe, as well as what can be proved and what cannot be proved, what is outdated, and what no longer belongs as part of a modern Christian life!). It’s much easier and much more fun to see church as a divine therapy session, where self-righteous, self-absorbed doctrine helps us feel superior, and “meaningful worship” helps us recharge for another dreary week of actually having to interact with others outside of the gated communities and guard booths, and make a difference in the unsterilized, unsanitary world Christians are supposed to be affecting. But again, I digress…
Being raised in the Restoration Movement in an a cappella tradition, song lyrics are all the more important, especially when there is no instrumental accompaniment to cover up poorly written, theologically defunct, or grammatically incorrect words.
Speaking of theologically lacking, grammatically incorrect music, let me introduce Lynn DeShazo and perhaps one of the worst offerings of grammatical nonsense of the past few decades. About five years ago, the University Church of Christ in Malibu introduced a song entitled Ancient Words into the repertoire. This group of thrown-together words that some call a “song” has got to be one of the most ill-conceived songs in the recent history of the English language. And yet, it gets passed along from one church to another like a joint at a reggae concert, often without anyone ever pausing to ask, “but is this really any good for us?” If you succeed in getting past the fact that Michael W. Smith is performing it (above), you are then left with the unavoidable reality that the song is a complete butchery of the English language.
Here are the lyrics:
Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart.
Oh let the ancient words impart.Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e’er we roam
Ancient words will guide us Home.CHORUS:
Ancient words ever true
Changing me and changing you,
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.Holy words of our Faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world.
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh let the ancient words impart.CHORUS x4
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.
Please allow me for a second to explain the grammatical concept of a transitive verb.
Intransitive verbs do not need an object. I run. The dog eats. He dies. These verbs are intransitive; they don’t require direct or indirect objects. One cannot die something. You die. In this sentence, “die” is an intransitive verb. However, transitive verbs are verbs that require objects. For instance, were I to say, “Tomorrow, I am bringing,” you would think me an idiot, because “bringing” is a transitive verb and requires a direct object. What, precisely, am I bringing? (Answer: I’m bringing the smackdown on this disgrace of a song.)
Now re-read the lyrics to Ancient Words above and pay special attention to the chorus. “Oh let the ancient words impart.” Period. Impart what exactly? Impart direction? Impart wisdom? Impart love? Joy? Happiness? What are the ancient words imparting? Nothing! We don’t know what the ancient words are imparting because the song’s author never tells us! She just wrote some pretty sounding ancient words together, but forgot the ancient rules of grammar!
Here’s a Christian lyric for you: Of what good are open hearts if we know not what the words impart? (See, this stuff is easy.)
It’s a sixth grade grammatical song for an increasingly sixth grade Christian consumer market, willing to recite anything – including theological and grammatical nonsense – just to have their ears tickled and feel good. In many contemporary worship services, words mean nothing, but, if we sing them with heart and passion, perhaps we can overlook the fact that the lyrics are fundamentally ridiculous.
So add Ancient Words to Ha-la-la-la-la-la-la lei-lu-jah (whose second verse, ‘Jesus is a friend,’ sounds like a bunch of snakes hissing at each other), Blue Skies and Rainbows, Shine Jesus Shine, Onward Christian Soldiers, I Come to the Garden Alone, and anything written and/or arranged for a cappella by Ken Young as songs that should never be sung in corporate worship settings. And, as I have the unfortunate experience being reminded of others, I shall add them to this list.
Until such a time as this, allow me to offer this challenge to songwriters: focus on the lyrics. Good lyrics make good songs. But, don’t just write pretty sounding lyrics. Show your lyrics to others, preferably, to those with a theological education and at least a sixth grade education in English grammar. Use poetic license, but check for glaring grammatical errors. And, for the love of all that is good and holy, write lyrics that have meaning beyond simply fitting alliteratively into a fixed syllabic space.
Filed under: christianity, music, things that suck Tagged: | awful, blue skies and rainbows, christian music, ears bleed, english, hymn, intransitive, jesis is a friend, ken young, language, lynn deshazo, make it stop, meme, michael w. smith, miserable, onward christian soldiers, shine jesus shine, terrible, transitive verb, worship
. . . good analysis
People who sing these ditties are … in an analogous situation to those who are “in love with love”
I heard an interview with Keith Richards in which he discussed the importance of placing the right vowel sound at the right part of the melody. Can you imagine the blank look you would get from CCMers if you brought that up?
To paraphrase one interviewee: “Praise songs are to hymns what greeting cards are to literature”
here is a sure fire winner for worst lyrics EVER!!
“Tween evangelist? Justin Bieber film packed with prayer”
No analysis needed…
USA today Article below…
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-02-10-Justin_Bieber_evangelical_08_ST_N.htm
My “favorite” Ken Young song? Thomas’ Song–the song where we confess that we will not believe in the resurrection unless we see and physically touch the resurrected body of Jesus. Good luck with that!
exactly. i heard that same interview. the important part in much of entertainment is making it sound good, regardless of the meanings. it’s why i always thought smashing pumpkins was even better if you read the lyrics, ’cause you could rarely hear what corgan was saying, and he wrote some pretty cool stuff. it’s why bob dylan never had the commercial success of a pop star: he was busy writing profound lyrics and changing the way people think, not just entertaining them.
the fact that worship music lyrics are playing to the sound and not to the message is troubling indeed. pure entertainment.
Theologically, this song is an ode to bibliolatry.
And yeah CCM is all about music sounding good and never about the lyrics, thus its lack of artistry.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. And add to it, if we were making a list, The Heart of Worship, aka, It’s All About You, Jesus. Uuhhh… no it’s not!
I generally have issues with most of the 7-11 songs — the ones with seven words that we repeat 11 times in case God wasn’t listening the first 10 times.
My least favorite of the genre though would have to be “I Lift My Hands.”
Man, I love this post. I thought I was the only one. Every year at PUL I get a little queezy. Not because I hate the songs (which I do) but because they’re bad teaching. Much of what life-long churchsters have in their heads isn’t the bible, but it’s their preacher, Ben Franklin, and lots of bad song lyrics, too. When the theology of a song stinks and the tune is outstanding (to the taste of the listener) it’s like funneling stupidity straight into the person’s brain.
To quote a movie:
“I weep for the future”
Hi
i agree with you that worship music today is not great could you have a listen to my songs and let me know what you think
Peace
Malachi c3 v16
Tommie
I can see your point regarding the song, but I challenge your apparent view of corporate worship (can’t find that phrase in the Bible) or of singing as worship.
You are right on in your view service to others – that is true worship, according to Romans 12. Somehow we have glorified singing and music, much like the secular world, and elevated them to mean worship. Worship in the Old Testament almost always meant lying prostrate on the ground and offering a sacrifice.
I cringe when I hear “worship service” (no one bows down, we are not serving others where they need it the most), “worship pastor” (how is he teaching me about true worship during the week), “worship rehearsal” (Really? How does one rehearse for worship?) or “go to your house of worship on Sunday” (since Jesus died, the temple system no longer exists, and we are the temple).
The language may be subtle, but it has changed our belief system of what true worship is and put way too much emphasis on music instead of offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, which is our true, spiritual worship.
I assume Dr. Cargill also hates the words of the “ancient” song “Jesus love me – yes I know – cause the Bible tells me so”. I believe your comments on “Ancient Words” are more based on elite biblical knowledge of the Head and NOT of the Heart. I always get nervous with writers who are so in depth with “Religious Studies”. Looking at the teaching of Jesus, what did Jesus say about religion? In John 4 Jesus was saying that neither the Jerusalem church or the Samaritan church is the true church. God is seeking true worshipers! True worship comes from a personal relationship with Him from people who are seeking Him! Jesus is not seeking a church of religious elite but rather people who are humbly seeking Him in spirit and truth. Somehow I believe that God is not judging the content or grammar of the words in the song “Ancient Words” but is judging the motive and content of the writer’s and worshiper’s heart.
Mike L, unfortunately, my problem with the words to this song have absolutely nothing to do with ‘religious studies’ or theology; the problem is simply with the butchering of the English language.
But, in order that you can better understand the point I am making about the misuse of transitive verbs in this song, please allow me to offer you.
-bc
I actually love the hymn ‘Ancient words’ and find it quite amusing to read posts which categorize people who like certain songs (usually ones the writer dislikes). I am also sure that you could study lots of poetry and secular lyrics and find the same grammatical errors to get pedantic about
You say: ‘It seems “worship” is quickly taking the place of doctrine/dogma as that which stands in the way of what ought to be at the center of the Christian life: service to others. But, service to others is hard (read: “haaarrrrd,” like a whiny child), and takes a lot of time, as does forgiveness, kindness, making do with what you have, and educating oneself about precisely what one believes (and, for that matter, what one does not believe, as well as what can be proved and what cannot be proved, what is outdated, and what no longer belongs as part of a modern Christian life!)’
I do not see how you can leap to the conclusion that singing these worship songs automatically precludes one from serving others, practicing forgiveness, kindness, making do with one’s lot and education about one’s faith. I came to my faith by studying many belief systems and finding authenticity in Christianity. That does not stop me from still studying all human belief systems. I also tried to serve others all my life and still try to do so in retirement.
Perhaps people should stop getting so dogmatic about what is only really private preferences, and stop demonizing people who disagree.
DL
diana,
fair enough. but that doesn’t fix the poor grammar in the song.
there are plenty of popular songs that butcher the english language.
i’m still trying to figure out from this song what exactly the ancient words are imparting.
as for your comments about service vs. worship, i am not saying that doing one precludes one from doing the other.
i am saying that singing songs (particularly those written with poor grammar) should not take the place of service.
thanx for the note.
wishing you,
bc
Hi bc
I think the objective of grammatical rules are to help people to understand one another, not to be a burden or a weapon to use against others. I often cannot understand very young people and grieve about their butchery of the English language. However, I know they understand one another, which is the purpose of language so I must just relax, or a coronary or stroke may be my just reward. As I said about poetry and lyrics, as long as we understand what the author is trying to convey, grammar should be of secondary importance. in ‘Ancient words’, my love of the Bible as God’s word to us, finds an echo in the lyrics, however ungrammatical.
Kind regards
Diana
Bob, I am a member of the millennial generation, and while I enjoy praise and worship music, I sometimes get annoyed at songs that seem to be a lot of noise with little substance. However, I think you are wrong in your criticism of Ancient Words. It has a powerful meaning, and ironically, your criticism of it is the exact reason why I like it. I believe that the song is what is needed in today’s Christian music era. Michael is singing about the Bible and our need to heed its words. That is why I like it. Other songs often sound abstract or weak. This song is about the Bible–literally. It is also well orchestrated. Every note isn’t in one key, and there are more instruments than the guitar and the drums as are the case with other songs. Since when does a song have to fit all of the rules of the English language? Like poetry, songs are art, and they don’t always fit the rules of grammar. I think you should examine this song with your heart and less with your head. There is nothing biblically inaccurate about it, and it is not heresy, so I really don’t see a problem with supporting it.