Rant about Music

Time for a rant. I have some bottled up frustration about some evidences of the sappy, superficial theological perspectives of some of our “contemporary” music that we call “praise and worship.” Before you write me off as an old fogey, I will tell you that I have been shaken to the core by much of creative energy and inspiration of writers to catch the emotional flavor of God’s love for us and our responses to Him. Much of what we sing is taken right from scripture and it blesses my heart, as, I am sure, it blesses God.

Yesterday, I experienced a moment in worship that, in my wildest imagination, I never dreamed I would ever experience. The worship team chose to use a song by JohnMark McMillan called, “Oh How He Loves.” It is quite popular through the Hillsong movement in Australia because the chorus is a repetitive phrase of “how He loves us.” That, in itself is something we are to be reminded of over and over. Even hymn writers such as Charles Wesley, Fanny Crosby and Frances Ridley Havergal were overtaken by the fact that our God loves us. They could poetically express in lyrics often set to appropriate music. And so, while appreciating the reflection of “how He loves us so,” I was floored by a phrase in the second verse of the song. The line reads, “So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss…” And that is how it was sung.

I do not presume to know what the author was experiencing when he wrote those words, or if his relationship with God involves that particular act, but for me, it was another evidence of superficiality and tastelessness in worship. The David Crowder Band recorded this song and had the wisdom change the lyrics because of the potential controversy of the original. Crowder changed it to “an unforeseen kiss.” That works for me. I wish the worship team had used the Crowder lyrics.

So, is it just me or does anyone else have that same type of reaction? I am trying very hard not to react as an “older” person, but to understand. I am just thinking that “sloppy wet kiss” is not a very appropriate way to relate to how God loves us, especially in Sunday Morning worship. I’d invite your arguments, but more importantly I’d invite us all to engage with our worship leaders to examine closely those songs that fit and those that don’t. If the song is good but doesn’t say what we want it to say, why not write some lyrics that say it well? Unforseen kiss or sloppy wet kiss? I would choose the former. What about you?