Based on lyrics alone, would you consider this song Christian?

[WolfGate]

Based on lyrics alone, would you consider the song below Christian? Do you think non-believers would consider it Christian?


You spoke a word and life began
Told oceans where to start and where to end
You set in motion Time and Space
But still you come, and you call to me by name

But still you come, and you call to me by name

If you can hold the stars in place,
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To The One who holds the stars

The deepest depths, the darkest nights
Can't separate, can't keep me from your sight
I get so lost, forget my way
But still you love, and you don't forget my name

If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
You're never too far away
You never show up too late
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars

Your love has called my name
What do I have to fear?
What do I have to fear?
Your love has called my name
What do I have to fear?
What do I have to fear?

If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
(Lifting up my heart)
If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
You're never too far away
You never show up too late
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars

You're the one who holds the stars

 

[Dave-W]

Based on lyrics alone, would you consider the song below Christian?

At first blush - yes.

On second look - not necessarily. It reminds me of some of George Harrison's music which was actually an expression of his adherence to hinduism. (like "My Sweet Lord")

 

[WolfGate]

Thanks Dave. I chose that song for a reason. On the one hand, the biblical references are pretty clearly there. God speaking creation into being - Genesis 1. God placing stars (holding) with his hands - Psalm 8:3. God calling to us by name - Isaiah 43. Jesus calming the raging sea - Mark 4. Others as well.

On the other hand the song never specifically mentions God or Jesus.

There have been other discussions where opinions have ranged pretty far apart. I've seen everything from "a song has to be directed specifically towards God in praise or worship to be a Christian song" (I don't agree with that) to "a secular song can be Christian if I perceive it that way" (I don't agree with that either). FWIW, Wind Beneath My Wings was the example given there, blugh... Lyrically that made no sense but hey, it was used.

Then there is the area between those extremes. What is required for a song to be considered Christian. So I'm curious how people perceive this song with regards that question.

FWIW, the band that does and wrote this song is a Christian band but decidedly not a praise/worship band.

 

[markb77]

At first blush - yes.

On second look - not necessarily. It reminds me of some of George Harrison's music which was actually an expression of his adherence to hinduism. (like "My Sweet Lord")

Not to be pedantic, but Harrison was a Hari Krishna.

 

[Dave-W]

Harrison was a Hari Krishna.

Correct, which is a segment of Hinduism.

 

[Goodbook]

Hmm
Well, how great thou art is definately a christian song.
This song reminds me of that praise song but it doesnt mention the Lord, Jesus specifically, or who God is.
This one, i would say, is a bit of a mixture. Non christians could be singing it to any god they worship..including satan posing as an angel of light. They wouldnt know all those bible references.

 

[Goodbook]

If it was set to rock beat music or growling guitars, then it would be non christian.

 

[Goodbook]

Also, theres an element of doubt in it. Eg IF you can calm the raging sea.

Well we know Jesus actually DID!

 

[WolfGate]

Hmm
Well, how great thou art is definately a christian song.
This song reminds me of that praise song but it doesnt mention the Lord, Jesus specifically, or who God is.
This one, i would say, is a bit of a mixture. Non christians could be singing it to any god they worship..including satan posing as an angel of light. They wouldnt know all those bible references.

Kind of as you said, I would not consider this a praise or worship song. And I chose it because yes, it is a bit of a mixture. I do think Christians would catch the bible references but others likely would not.

On your other post,interestingly, this band does do a lot of rock songs - some of which lyrically clearly mention Christ and the gospel - but would only be described musically as rock. This song, however, is a ballad which melodically is similar to a lot of praise/worship songs. Sound is not too far removed from some of Hillsong United's recent recordings.

But for this thread I'm more intrigued by how people perceive the lyrics.

 

[Goodbook]

To me its kind of like a generic hillsong. Some of them are quite banal, if thats the word. Its all about the singers feelings rather than who God is.

Wind beneath my wings...is a bit of a mixture too. It does mention God though. So it could be about the holy spirit, but the holy spirit always points toward Jesus.

 

[Goodbook]

And how do you lift up your heart anyway? You can lift up your hands but its a bit weird to lift up your heart.

 

[WolfGate]

Are we talking about the same Wind Beneath My Wings? The only God reference is the singer thanking God for sending them the person who was the wind beneath their wings. And it adds stuff that would make it clearly not theologically correct if the song were about God. Look at the whole first verse.

Wind Beneath My Wings"

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

 

[WolfGate]

To me its kind of like a generic hillsong. Some of them are quite banal, if thats the word. Its all about the singers feelings rather than who God is.

I can agree in the case of this song with what I underlined. As I said, it is not a praise/worship song where I would expect lyrics directly about God and his glory and who he is.

Hillsong does a lot of music. Some of it is emotional; most of it is pretty direct in praising God and holding up who he is.

 

[Goodbook]

Agreed. Im not knocking hillsong, or emotions, but we live by faith not by feeling. Feelings can sometimes deceive us.

 

[WolfGate]

Agreed. Im not knocking hillsong, or emotions, but we live by faith not by feeling. Feelings can sometimes deceive us.

Agree. We are told to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. Emotions are certainly in there - but not in isolation! They are there with knowledge and faith and prayer and all the other things that allow emotion to be properly directed towards God and not towards deceiving us!

 

[Goodbook]

Are we talking about the same Wind Beneath My Wings? The only God reference is the singer thanking God for sending them the person who was the wind beneath their wings. And it adds stuff that would make it clearly not theologically correct if the song were about God. Look at the whole first verse.

Yes thats the one i meant not its not about God our Father in Heaven but the wind beneath my wings...wind can equal the holy spirit. Also the holy spirit is kinda invisible and nameless but always pointing toward Jesus.

Does this song make you think about Jesus? You can thank God our Father for sending Jesus. Or some people would say anyone who is like Jesus, someone who is Christlike.

 

[WolfGate]

Yes thats the one i meant not its not about God our Father in Heaven but the wind beneath my wings...wind can equal the holy spirit. Also the holy spirit is kinda invisible and nameless but always pointing toward Jesus.

Does this song make you think about Jesus? You can thank God our Father for sending Jesus. Or some people would say anyone who is like Jesus, someone who is Christlike.

No the song does not make me think about Jesus, mainly because of the lyrics in the first verses. I don't think God is content to walk a step behind me. He expects to lead me. I don't think He is content to let me shine and be the one with all the glory. I think His expectation is that He shines in glory.

To me treating the song as about God relegates him to second position. It's like that old bumper sticker "God is my co-pilot". Cute, but the truth is God expects to be our pilot.

 

[Dave-W]

If it was set to rock beat music or growling guitars, then it would be non christian.

Why? I could very easily see (and play) a metal version of "How Great Thou Art."

And a bluegrass version.
And a jazz version. (I can actually hear in my head a version with a big band background similar to Dorsey's Opus 1)

 

[Dave-W]

Im not knocking hillsong, or emotions, but we live by faith not by feeling. Feelings can sometimes deceive us.

So if you ever get married, you want your husband to only love you intellectually and NOT emotionally?

Is not Our Lord described as a husband to His people?

 

[Grafted In]

Here' s a band that does an excellent job of pointing out the phoniness of some Christians.