"I'll Fly Away"

[jimmyjimmy]

Just heard it on Pandora.

Good theology or bad?

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

Some bright morning when this life is over, I'll fly away
To a land on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have grown, I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away
To a land where joy will never end, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallellujah by and by, I'll fly away

 

[hedrick]

As an African-American spiritual its makes sense, because it sees the resurrection life as freedom from slavery. However for current free Americans, it has the danger of confusing resurrection with the Greek idea that we are souls trapped in bodies, and dying frees the soul to flit away to heaven.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

As an African-American spiritual its makes sense, because it sees the resurrection life as freedom from slavery. However for current free Americans, it has the danger of confusing resurrection with the Greek idea that we are souls trapped in bodies, and dying frees the soul to flit away to heaven.

Nice input, Hendrick

My criticism of it is that it encourages a dualism that is more Platonic than Christian.

Adding to the many errors of Arminianism, its implied dualism keeps Christians from engaging with surrounding culture. (Much more could be said on this)

I agree with you, except I think it makes sense for no Christian. Christ brings us through adversity, not around it. We can trust him just as much in our suffering as we can in our triumph.

 

[JM]

I say it the song contains bad theology BUT...I still love to bang it out on my banjo.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I say it the song contains bad theology BUT...I still love to bang it out on my banjo.

Sweet!

 

[JM]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlhF2ucH6Eg

 

[jimmyjimmy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlhF2ucH6Eg

Aren't you a little too far north to play the banjo?

 

[JM]

Nah, I'm 20 min away from North Buxton. Not only that, old time music is heavily influenced by Scottish line out singing. I can also cook soul food!

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[StephanieSomer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlhF2ucH6Eg

Being a musician myself, I thoroughly enjoyed that! Thank you!

 

[JM]

Thanks. I'm not really all that good. Just play a few songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0hC52JH5TE&list=UUFnSvrlN0NO3NL3rPhlr0PQ

 

[phydaux]

I say it the song contains bad theology BUT...I still love to bang it out on my banjo.

 

[drjean]

I find no issue with the lyrics..and love the ditty! It was one of the first I learned after accepting Christ in my teen years.

King James Bible
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

New American Standard Bible
As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.

ill fly away lyrics

I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away
To a land on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I’ll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away
To a land where joy will never end, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallellujah by and by, I’ll fly away

 

[JM]

I can see the Gnostic dualism. The idea that we should flee the physical for some etheral mysical shore.

 

[StephanieSomer]

I like the song. It does tend to lift peoples spirits. But, it IS heavily flawed doctrinally. The idea of leaving Earth and going to live on some "celestial shore" is NOT Scriptural. Man was created to live on Earth. We're not going away. God promises to bring heaven TO Earth.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I like the song. It does tend to lift peoples spirits. But, it IS heavily flawed doctrinally. The idea of leaving Earth and going to live on some "celestial shore" is NOT Scriptural. Man was created to live on Earth. We're not going away. God promises to bring heaven TO Earth.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Thanks, Stephanie

I'm picking on the song a bit, but in all seriousness, bad theology leeds to bad actions. If I maintain the dualistic posture of the song, I end up not caring about the physical world that God made, for instance. I don't care for the physical needs of people (as much as I could) when I see Heaven as an immaterial escape from the physical world.

There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and we will not be playing harps on clouds; we will inhabit the earth in our new physical bodies. This reality will shape our behavior, and "I'll-fly-away" thinking also shapes behavior, but not into truly Christian action.

 

[JM]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Thanks, Stephanie

I'm picking on the song a bit, but in all seriousness, bad theology leeds to bad actions. If I maintain the dualistic posture of the song, I end up not caring about the physical world that God made, for instance. I don't care for the physical needs of people (as much as I could) when I see Heaven as an immaterial escape from the physical world.

There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and we will not be playing harps on clouds; we will inhabit the earth in our new physical bodies. This reality will shape our behavior, and "I'll-fly-away" thinking also shapes behavior, but not into truly Christian action.

Not according to you...you have stated that when you believed the bad theoloy of the Arminians you were a better Christian.

 

[gord44]

Not according to you...you have stated that when you believed the bad theoloy of the Arminians you were a better Christian.

I think you have the wrong Brian good sir.

 

[JM]

I think you have the wrong Brian good sir.

I do!

Apologies. A round on me.

:o

 

[twin1954]

The problem with that song, and so many others, is that it is focused on ME. It is nothing but sentimentality and wishful thinking. There is no worship in it and it in no way points us to our true hope Christ Jesus the Lord.

"Amazing Grace" is an example of a song that speaks of me but it does so in such a way that the focus is on the grace of God in Christ not on me. It isn't full of sentimentality or wishful thinking. It points us to Him who has saved me from my wretchedness.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I do!

Apologies. A round on me.

:o

As a Presbyterian, I can actually take you up on that.