What do you think about using anthropomorphic language when speaking about God and His ways in songs? The Bible says a lot of things that sound really strange if you don't realize that it's using anthropomorphic language. You could come away from certain passages feeling like you have support for open theism and all kinds of other false doctrines if you didn't know any better.
So, what about speaking this way in songs? There are two songs in particular that I'm thinking of. I don't know if either of these artists are Reformed in any sense although I have my doubts. The first song is from Nichole Nordeman. I will try to post the lyrics and highlight the parts that I think could be making use of anthropomorphic language. It they're not using anthropomorphic language, then their doctrine is way off.
[video=youtube;dr-lB5ELHes]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr-lB5ELHes[/video]
Say goodnight to the light of the setting sun
One more day, one more way
Of keeping track of all I've done
I run this race, keep this pace
I'm doing fine
And I won't stop until each box
Gets checked a second time
And life becomes the round and round
Revolving door that won't slow down
It won't slow down
Do You wish, do You want us to breathe again?
Say goodbye to the lines that we've coloured in
Brown and grey from day to day
Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new?
Try and try to invoke us to live in You
That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery
This routine is nice and clean from dawn to dusk
I rise and rest, I do my best
When will it ever be enough?
And life becomes the bigger noise
Drowning out Your little voice
Your little voice, Jesus
Do You wish, do You want us to breathe again?
Say goodbye to the lines that we've coloured in
Brown and grey from day to day
Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new?
Try and try to invoke us to live in You
That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery
We take stock, and we punch the clock
And we make sure all those zeros have balanced in the end
Do You wish, do You want us to breathe again?
Say goodbye to the lines that we've coloured in
Brown and grey from day to day
Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new?
Try and try to invoke us to live in You
That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery
The other song that I was thinking about is by the gospel artist Smokie Norful.
[video=youtube;yLQbtLZmnbc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLQbtLZmnbc[/video]
Verse 1:
Sometimes it's seems hard to see I'm there for you.
And sometimes it's hard for you to see I'm there with you.
Be strong, hold on and know, I'm right there in the middle.
Chorus:
When you cried, (I was there).
When you were sad, (I made you happy).
When you were alone, (I was your friend),
I'm in the middle.
When you were in need, (I provided)
When you couldn't see, (I led the way)
(I was there to see you, see you through it all)
I'm right there in the middle, in the middle of.
Verse 2:
Sometimes I know in my heart that you really love me.
But other times I must question your faith.
Don't give up, always love God,
don't give in (I'm right there in the middle)
Chorus 2:
When you cried, (I was there).
When you were sad, (I made you happy).
When you were alone, (I was your friend),
I'm in the middle.
When you were in need, (I provided)
When you couldn't see, (I led the way)
(I was there to see you through it all)
I'm right there in the middle, in the middle of.
(In the middle of your pain and your heartache),
in the middle, in the middle of.
Bridge:
I was there in the middle of your pain,
I was there when they tried to take your hope away,
I was there when you didn't know your right from wrong.
I was there when your friends walked out on you,
I was there when you didn't know what to do,
when you searched and found all of your family was gone.
When you couldn't see your night from day,
Oh I was there when you couldn't find your way,
I was there from the beginning until the very end,
I was there, I was there, it was me.
I was there I heard every plea,
I'll come running everytime.
Ending:
Be strong, (just hold on and know)
(I'm right there in) in the middle, in the middle of,
I'm right there, right there in the middle of.
So, what about speaking this way in songs? There are two songs in particular that I'm thinking of. I don't know if either of these artists are Reformed in any sense although I have my doubts. The first song is from Nichole Nordeman. I will try to post the lyrics and highlight the parts that I think could be making use of anthropomorphic language. It they're not using anthropomorphic language, then their doctrine is way off.
[video=youtube;dr-lB5ELHes]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr-lB5ELHes[/video]
Say goodnight to the light of the setting sun
One more day, one more way
Of keeping track of all I've done
I run this race, keep this pace
I'm doing fine
And I won't stop until each box
Gets checked a second time
And life becomes the round and round
Revolving door that won't slow down
It won't slow down
Do You wish, do You want us to breathe again?
Say goodbye to the lines that we've coloured in
Brown and grey from day to day
Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new?
Try and try to invoke us to live in You
That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery
This routine is nice and clean from dawn to dusk
I rise and rest, I do my best
When will it ever be enough?
And life becomes the bigger noise
Drowning out Your little voice
Your little voice, Jesus
Do You wish, do You want us to breathe again?
Say goodbye to the lines that we've coloured in
Brown and grey from day to day
Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new?
Try and try to invoke us to live in You
That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery
We take stock, and we punch the clock
And we make sure all those zeros have balanced in the end
Do You wish, do You want us to breathe again?
Say goodbye to the lines that we've coloured in
Brown and grey from day to day
Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new?
Try and try to invoke us to live in You
That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery
The other song that I was thinking about is by the gospel artist Smokie Norful.
[video=youtube;yLQbtLZmnbc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLQbtLZmnbc[/video]
Verse 1:
Sometimes it's seems hard to see I'm there for you.
And sometimes it's hard for you to see I'm there with you.
Be strong, hold on and know, I'm right there in the middle.
Chorus:
When you cried, (I was there).
When you were sad, (I made you happy).
When you were alone, (I was your friend),
I'm in the middle.
When you were in need, (I provided)
When you couldn't see, (I led the way)
(I was there to see you, see you through it all)
I'm right there in the middle, in the middle of.
Verse 2:
Sometimes I know in my heart that you really love me.
But other times I must question your faith.
Don't give up, always love God,
don't give in (I'm right there in the middle)
Chorus 2:
When you cried, (I was there).
When you were sad, (I made you happy).
When you were alone, (I was your friend),
I'm in the middle.
When you were in need, (I provided)
When you couldn't see, (I led the way)
(I was there to see you through it all)
I'm right there in the middle, in the middle of.
(In the middle of your pain and your heartache),
in the middle, in the middle of.
Bridge:
I was there in the middle of your pain,
I was there when they tried to take your hope away,
I was there when you didn't know your right from wrong.
I was there when your friends walked out on you,
I was there when you didn't know what to do,
when you searched and found all of your family was gone.
When you couldn't see your night from day,
Oh I was there when you couldn't find your way,
I was there from the beginning until the very end,
I was there, I was there, it was me.
I was there I heard every plea,
I'll come running everytime.
Ending:
Be strong, (just hold on and know)
(I'm right there in) in the middle, in the middle of,
I'm right there, right there in the middle of.