A friend who is still at the church we left a couple years ago keeps me informed about some of the unbiblical comings and goings there, including some of the poor choices of “worship” songs by the music leader they hired to help them change the direction of that church.
Well, this week they learned a new song — and as with virtually every other new song this music leader has brought in it is just another “radio song” which isn’t appropriate for congregational singing. Of course, also like many others he’s brought in, there are some problems with the lyrics, which show the total lack of discernment on the part of the music leader — as well as by the members of the congregation who just accept this tripe without thinking about what the lyrics actually say.
With that ranting introduction, let’s look at the “new song”:
"Open Up The Heavens"
by Meredith Andrews
We've waited for this day
We're gathered in your name
Calling out to you
Your glory like a fire
Awakening desire
Will burn our hearts with truth
You're the reason we're here
You're the reason we're singing
[Chorus:]
Open up the heavens
We want to see you
Open up the floodgates
A mighty river
Flowing from your heart
Filling every part of our praise
Your presence in this place
Your glory on our face
We're looking to the sky
Descending like a cloud
You're standing with us now
Lord, unveil our eyes
You're the reason we're here
You're the reason we're singing
[Repeat Chorus]
[Bridge]
Show us, show us your glory
Show us, show us your power
Show us, show us your glory, Lord
[Repeat Chorus]
Before even analyzing the lyrics we can see there is the normal senseless repetition which is endemic to this type of song. And of course there is a bridge for the musicians to “show their stuff.”
Open up the heavens,
We want to see you
How does God open the heavens, and how are we to see Him?
Open up the floodgates
A mighty river
Flowing from your heart
Filling every part of our praise
Wow, this sounds very charismatic — they always have a “mighty river” flowing from God. Okay, what “floodgates” is God supposed to open? What is this “mighty river flowing” from God’s heart? Is it that charismatic river of the Holy Spirit that we are always called to jump into? And just how does whatever this river is go about “filling every part of our praise”?
Your presence in this place
Your glory on our face
We're looking to the sky
Descending like a cloud
You're standing with us now
Lord, unveil our eyes
Is God’s presence any more in the church building than anywhere else? And how is God’s glory on our faces here? And are those who are singing this song in the congregation really looking to the sky or are they looking at the inside of the building? Is God/Jesus really descending like a cloud and standing right next to us? If the author of the song, and anyone singing this nonsense, actually wanted the Lord to “unveil our eyes,” all they have to do is read the BIBLE!!
Show us, show us your glory
Show us, show us your power
Show us, show us your glory, Lord
How is God supposed to show us His glory? How is God going to show us His power? Does He not do this in His creation? Again, this is charismatic nonsense which really is meaningless.
I listened to a YouTube of the author singing this song, and I can see where this song gives the congregation a chance to get all emotional and dancing around; the comments were about just how “powerful” this song is!
I looked up Meredith Andrews on the ‘net to see if she was associated with either Steven Furtick or Hillsong, since they are all the rage in the church today. What I read about her was much like reading about Beth Moore — God gave both of them what they’ve written! Yep, direct revelation from God.
“I never felt like I could write corporate worship songs, but that’s what I always wanted to do because I am a worship leader,” Andrews states. “So I just started asking the Lord for songs and I was like, ‘God I don’t just want songs to fill a record. I want to hear from heaven. I want to write your heart’ and I was just overwhelmed with the way the Lord answered and the songs that are on this record. This album, I feel, is the most authentic to who I am. I can’t believe the songs that we have and the way that God met us at every turn and the moments that we captured on this record.” (My bold emphasis.)
Oh, and her pastor is/was James MacDonald. That says a lot, especially when you know she was the worship leader (“worship” meaning only the songs, I guess).
Meredith may have talent, but the lyrics of this particular song don’t demonstrate a talent for anything making a whole lot of sense. Ah, but it sure makes the congregation feel good, and that’s what is really important, isn’t it?
4 comments:
"This album, I feel, is the most authentic to who I am."
There you have it! That album is most authentic to who she is. Not to who God is.
-Carolyn
This is clearly NAR drivel - open floodgates, a mighty river of unnamed content all coming from an unnamed source. This all fits in with the acolytes of C. Peter Wagner's machinations of great outpourings of unnamed substance. At least Meredith Andrews didn't go "Full Joyner" and claim that God promised her a Grammy.
Reports of this nature re-ignite the joy I feel that I've found a God worshiping, Christ loving, bible centered congregation that sings those wonderful old hymns found in a green book that's in every pew.
Carolyn,
But, but, but...God gave her the songs!
Doug,
Yeah, we long for that but have been unable to find one around here so far, so we've settle for a place with occasional drivel.
Post a Comment