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

[Goodbook]

The song actually makes me think of bette midler in the movie beaches. She played an aspiring entertainer and her best friend was not theatrical.

 

[Goodbook]

She could have been meaning her friend was waiting in the wings behind the scenes on stage.
Anyway.

I suppose it could mean anything depending on who you sang it to.

 

[Goodbook]

I am listening to this cd a friend found thats called Give me Jesus todays best loved christian songs and most of them...dont mention him at all its just peoples feelings and doubts.

I wouldnt know, if I was an unbeliever, that its a christian song.

 

[Goodbook]

One is called Here with me and it could just be referring to anyone really.
The YOU is of course, meant to be Jesus, but why the songs just dont want to address him by name I dont know.

 

[WolfGate]

I am listening to this cd a friend found thats called Give me Jesus todays best loved christian songs and most of them...dont mention him at all its just peoples feelings and doubts.

I wouldnt know, if I was an unbeliever, that its a christian song.

I'm not familiar with that CD. Tried to look it up but could not find it. I think the song you referenced is probably one that Mercy Me made popular. I put the lyrics below. It is interesting in the sense that I think a Christian would clearly understand, because of some of the phrases in the song, that it is about Jesus, but someone not much exposed to Christianity might not get it. "You are holy" combined with "I surrender to your grace. I surrender to the one who took my place" for example should be a dead giveaway to people who have exposure to Christianity. I do agree with you in this song it would have been easy to add "Jesus" and remove no doubt.


Lyrics
Here With Me - Mercy ME
I long for your embrace every single day
To meet you in this place and see you face to face
Will you show me, reveal yourself to me
Because of your mercy I fall down on my knees

And I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

You're everywhere I go, I am not alone
You call me as your own
To know you and be known
You are holy and I fall down on my knees

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

I surrender to your grace
I surrender to the one who took my place

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

 

[Dave-W]

I wouldnt know, if I was an unbeliever, that its a christian song.

Why is it important for unbelievers to know?

Listening to a recording is not a great way of evangelism. That is supposed to be done one on one.

 

[Goodbook]

Yea they could have just sang, I surrender to Jesus who took my place.

 

[Citanul]

I do agree with you in this song it would have been easy to add "Jesus" and remove no doubt.

Yea they could have just sang, I surrender to Jesus who took my place.

I'm actually going to disagree with both of you and say that for that specific set of lyrics, adding a reference to Jesus might not have really worked. The song is directly addressing Jesus, so to say "I surrender to your grace, I surrender to Jesus who took my place" is somewhat awkward, and even throwing in "you, Jesus" somewhere still feels a bit out of place.

Having said that, I'm not familiar with Mercy Me at all, so I don't know if their other lyrics are also similar it that they don't have direct references to Jesus or God. While I don't think a Christian band/artist needs to mention Jesus in every song, if they're not including lyrics that are clearly Christian in most of their songs then I don't think that they should position themselves as a Christian band/artist. It's OK to have some songs which may be a little non-specific like the two quoted in this thread, but those shouldn't be the norm.

 

[WolfGate]

I'm actually going to disagree with both of you and say that for that specific set of lyrics, adding a reference to Jesus might not have really worked. The song is directly addressing Jesus, so to say "I surrender to your grace, I surrender to Jesus who took my place" is somewhat awkward, and even throwing in "you, Jesus" somewhere still feels a bit out of place.

Having said that, I'm not familiar with Mercy Me at all, so I don't know if their other lyrics are also similar it that they don't have direct references to Jesus or God. While I don't think a Christian band/artist needs to mention Jesus in every song, if they're not including lyrics that are clearly Christian in most of their songs then I don't think that they should position themselves as a Christian band/artist. It's OK to have some songs which may be a little non-specific like the two quoted in this thread, but those shouldn't be the norm.

Mercy Me is pretty clear in the total context of their songs that they are Christian. Remember the song that somehow got lots of popular radio airplay, "I Can Only Imagine" which was about what the singer might do when he gets to heaven? That was them.

I do not disagree with what you said in your second paragraph.

I Can Only Imagine
MercyMe
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When you face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by you glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
When I find myself standing in the son
I can only imagine when all I would do is forever
Forever worship you
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine hey ya ah

Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine hey ya ah

I can only imagine yeah yeah
I can only imagine

I can only imagine ey ey ey
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine

 

[Citanul]

Mercy Me is pretty clear in the total context of their songs that they are Christian. Remember the song that somehow got lots of popular radio airplay, "I Can Only Imagine" which was about what the singer might do when he gets to heaven? That was them.

I'm completely out of touch with what's popular (Christian or secular), so I don't know that song, but it is clearly a Christian song. So if that's more indicative of their lyrics then I don't think it's that big a deal if they have the odd song like Here With Me that doesn't directly refer to Jesus.

 

[WolfGate]

I'm completely out of touch with what's popular (Christian or secular), so I don't know that song, but it is clearly a Christian song. So if that's more indicative of their lyrics then I don't think it's that big a deal if they have the odd song like Here With Me that doesn't directly refer to Jesus.

Not a big deal at all. Context is often king, as the cliché goes. Properly inserted into a worship service, even a song that doesn't directly reference God/Jesus/Holy Spirit can be appropriate IMHO if it is addressed to the One being worshipped, the intent of the songwriter is understood, and the lyrics don't cause concern in some other area.

For this thread, I was mostly interested in how different people would interpret the lyrics of a few songs by themselves - without any context surrounding them to provide clarity. (Now, how musical style affects someone's perception is a totally different question!!)