It’s All About Me! – Egocentric Hymns
Obscuring the Gospel message should never be tolerated.
One of the common critiques leveled against contemporary worship music is the tendency to espouse self-centered lyrics. But theology centered around the writer is just as common in beloved hymns as in modern Christian radio hits. For a congregation to lift its voice in what should be a song of praise or orthodox declaration, but to instead revel in one’s own emotion is nothing short of idolatry.
Well Intentioned Message
Self-centered worship songs are popular, regardless of the genre, and have been so since the nineteenth century. What began as a well-intentioned desire to relate to God on a personal level, led to the idealization of spirituality. One can easily see this in the shift of hymn themes. Congregations who once sang about the mystery of the Trinity, the coronation of Christ as
Read “Egocentric Hymns”
Problems With a Favorite Hymn
Hymns such as Alfred Ackley’s “He Lives” may on the surface appear to declare
Another major theological problem lies in the final line of the refrain. Here Ackley declares that he knows Christ lives because Christ lives within his heart. To speak of Christ living in one’s heart is not uncommon, unbiblical though it is. The problem is that the author bases his confidence in the resurrection on his own emotion, instead of scripture alone. Basing Christian belief on feelings and emotions creates a self-centered faith at best and the potential for heresy at worst.
Do not all false religions claim peace and assurance? I recall many years ago seeing a tv ad for the book of Mormon. The character in the ad appealed to its truthfulness by stating “I just feel so at peace when I’m reading it!” The very core of Christian faith-conviction and assurance should come from scripture alone. It should not exude from within the subjective and ever-changing human heart.
Egocentric Singing Obscures the Gospel
It can be difficult to critically analyze the hymns that so many hold near and dear. Those who grew up in a hymn tradition may be emotionally attached to the texts and tunes that parents and grandparents have passed down from generation to generation. Many hymns hold a great deal of sentimental value and over time develop an untouchable quality that borders on the sacred.
See “Grandpa’s Hymns“
One possible reaction to placing golden oldies under such scrutiny is to minimize the effects of vague text in an effort to defend them. There is a great temptation to shrug our shoulders and say “It’s not a big deal. We all know what they mean.” Or, “I’m an adult, I’m mature enough to decide what to believe, regardless of what I sing.” But what we must remember is that there is just as much danger in declaring a false gospel through song as through the preached word.
Most defenders of poor hymn texts would not sit idly by under unbiblical preaching for one second. But many readily rationalize poor theology while it is dressed as a hymn. And though some amount of ambiguity may be permitted both in preaching and song, inasmuch as it reflects the frailty of mankind attempting to poetically describe and praise the infinite God; obscuring his Gospel message should never be tolerated.