Take a look/listen:


Lyrics:

I think this song is a lot like the expressions in the SoS and appropriate for our Bridegroom - what do you think?

I like the song and would like to do it in worship, though I am tempted to modify 2 lyrics - the ones with fragrance and capture - although I am not sure the latter line couldn't be interpeted to be acknowledging our tendancy to wander.

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

Hi Panta! Like a moth to a flame, I've been drawn hither...

My 2 cents... I think this song is very similar to the Song of Solomon. I'm not of the camp that believes the SoS is a 'spiritualization' of the Bridegroom/Church. I know this goes against alot of Reformers and Theologians. But because of the sexual overtones, this would make it an inappropriate way to refer to our relationship with God. But very appropriate for our relationship with our mates. And herein is one of my beefs with the contemporary songs sung in Church. It sounds more like I should be singing them to my wife and not God.

I'm not EP, but a Hymn/Pipe Organ type of dude. The Hymns should be teaching something about God and should be describing what God does for us, not how we 'feel', especially the mushy kind of love, which is a lower form of love than what we should feel for God. The loss of the term 'sublime' is an example. Awe, majesty, grandeur, 'holiness' are better feelings that should be described. A love described in that song is, well for lack of a better term, like a 2nd level of love that we can express to another human being, not a kind of love that is with us and God. G. K. Chesterton does a great job in explaining the dumbing down of our feeling for God in his book 'Men Without Chests' It influenced me and opened my eyes to the difference.

Just my 2 cents - Grymir

__________________
Timothy Johnson
First United Presbyterian of Moline
PCUSA (Yea, I know)
Theology/Philosophy Sunday School Teacher
Davenport, IA

What exactly are the "rhythms" of God's grace? His fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place? Seems like sentimental fluff to me.

__________________
Davidius
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

TOO BRUTAL! David man. Everything OK?

__________________
~etexas~

I just have to say that I like this song mainly because I can play it on the mandolin (though its not that hard) and its a fun song to play.

That said I believe the song is a very beautiful/poetic way to explain the love of God..."extravagant". I also think that the word extravagant is one of the better words in the english language to use in speaking of God's love. Sure the song may "feel" sentimental, etc, but feelings explained in the song are true to the Christian faith. Whether or not the SoS is metaphorical, etc, God clearly speaks in intimate marital terms to his people in scritpure which would seem to warrant usage in the song.

__________________
Matthew Morales (Husband to Rachel)
Redeemer Presbyterian Church (Santa Rosa, CA)

"...But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2b (ESV)

"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face"-William Cowper

Everything's fine...I am just really sensitive to sappiness because that's all my previous Christianity (in a charismatic church) consisted of. It feels good to sit there with your eyes closed, swaying back and forth, talking about God's rhythms, intoxicating fragrances, and other such nonsense, but it's not much more than that. This is one of the songs we used to play when we would all sit in a dimly lit room and get all sappy in preparation of "prophesying over each other," so I guess it especially hits home.

__________________
Davidius
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

Come on man.....admit it.....you miss the swaying! Did you lift our ams man?(I love your Dimly lit room touch.)

__________________
~etexas~

David - I thought you were EP? Have you de-converted?

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

I must confess the mandolin is what first attracted me to it - I have a progressive bluegrass band and it seems to fit us very well, stylistically.

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

So is there a decoder ring you eventually get here at the PB for terms like EP?

__________________
Jacob
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Covenant Fellowship Church
West Chester, PA

"Grace renews nature; glory perfects grace." ~ John Owen
Blog - The Strasbourg Inn

not really, you sort of get used to the "terms of art" - EP = Exclusive Psalmody - but EPers know who they are!

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

No, No, I still am. But I'm not commenting on this song on the basis of the RPW and its merit for worship. I still listen to some Christian music outside of church!

__________________
Davidius
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

Wonder who moved this from the Worship forum - since the primary question was it's appropriateness for worship from a non-EP perspective?

Is EP the requirement for worship song discussions? Just curious.

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

Folks - I requested non-EPers only - I try to respect the wishes of the thread author when "EPers only" is in the title.

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

I dunno, maybe whoever moved it thought that the song was so bad that you were just joking when you asked about it, as if it were "The Free Will Song" or one of those other funny things posted for our amusement.

As I said, I was just discussing the song from a general perspective, not even within the context of worship, which is why I don't feel like I'm being intrusive as an EPer. What the thread title implies is that you don't want an EP debate. That's not at all my aim. I'm stepping into the non-EPer's shoes for a moment and saying that it would not be appropriate for worship since it's not appropriate outside of worship!

__________________
Davidius
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

You may be right, David - apparently something caused a negative reaction.

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

See HERE for some help with the acronyms. You will also find links to other threads on the same subject.

__________________
~James Helbert~, Wytheville, VA
Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCUS
TheBibleAlone.com / The Edinburgh Inn
"Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” - Zechariah 3:2

I don't know, JD. I'm no where near being EP and it seems awfully "warm and fuzzy" to me. I don't see a problem with listening to it outside of worship though. Just my .

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~James Helbert~, Wytheville, VA
Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCUS
TheBibleAlone.com / The Edinburgh Inn
"Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” - Zechariah 3:2

Thanks, bro - that is really the crux of the conversation - "warm and fuzzy" or a word picture?

Are the principles in the text at all biblical?

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook

Also - for all non-EPers participating:

As an non-EPer - would you have a problem singing portions of the SoS in worship?

__________________
-JD
1Thess5:21
Ordained Deacon, PCA
Serving in the SBC
MS

Team blog: ChristianSkepticism.org | Personal:...a Longmire rambles | facebook