My blogging friend Choralgirl came up with a really cool
meme. To quote her, "If I could choose ten hymns that together have truly shaped me, that speak to me, that comprise my theology, what would they be? It's really a tough exercise for me, because there are so many wonderful candidates in the history of Christian music. But I think I have a fair representation here of texts and tunes that will always live in me, and the reasons for each."
She emailed and asked if I would be interested in doing this, and I said yes. Not all of my choices will be traditional hymns. But they will give a fair idea of my faith and its progression.
NOTE: The name of each song shows as a link. If you click on those links, you'll go to a YouTube performance.
This one is a children's song that I sang as a very young child in Baptist Sunday school. It may seem hokey, but I believe it really had an impact on me and helped to counteract the almost unconscious racism of my parents.
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children
Of the world.
2.
Just As I Am
This one is not a positive memory. As I was growing up, my church had a long, protracted altar call every Sunday, and during the altar call, the congregation would sing verse after verse of "Just as I Am." I have no particular objection to the lyrics of the song, but the way it was used was very manipulative. As a result, I can no longer sing it without cringing.
1. Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
2. Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
3. Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
6. Just as I am, thy love unknown
hath broken every barrier down;
now, to be thine, yea thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
I know this is an old stand-by, but it meant a lot to me when I was growing up as a child in a rather legalistic church. Grace wasn't a concept that was demonstrated to us very often, so this song was important.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
4.
Crown Him with Many CrownsI fell in love with this hymn as a child, I think because it so beautifully expressed my love for Jesus (and possibly because, like most kids, I was fascinated by crowns). I have a very clear memory of singing this song at the top of my voice as I walked the eight blocks to my swimming lessons one summer day. I was about eight.
Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him
who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless King
through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed over the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing,
who died, and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of love,
behold his hands and side,
those wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends his burning eye
at mysteries so bright.
Crown him the Lord of Heaven,
enthroned in worlds above,
crown him the King to whom is given
the wondrous name of Love.
Crown him with many crowns,
as thrones before him fall;
Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns,
for he is King of all.
Crown him the Lord of lords,
who over all doth reign,
who once on earth, the incarnate Word,
for ransomed sinners slain,
now lives in realms of light,
where saints with angels sing
their songs before him day and night,
their God, Redeemer, King.
I went to Wheaton College, where we were required to attend chapel four days a week. During the winter quarter, we were allowed to sign up for optional chapels that would focus on particular themes or types of worship. I signed up for one that focused on scripture songs, because it was taught by one of my literature professors and he'd taught us some of the songs during the devotions with which he opened class. Knowing these songs really enriched my life. The professor, Joe McClatchey, died at the relatively young age of 55. Joe, I dedicate this part of the post to you. (P.S. The lyrics have since been made gender neutral, but what I've posted below is the way I learned them.)
I am the bread of life
He who comes to Me shall not hunger
He who believes in Me shall not thirst
No one can come to Me
Unless the Father draw him
And I will raise him up
And I will raise him up
And I will raise him up on the last day
The bread that I will give
Is My flesh for the life of the world
And he who eats of this bread
He shall live for ever
He shall live for ever
Unless you eat
Of the flesh of the Son of Man
And drink of His blood
And drink of His blood
You shall not have life within you
I am the resurrection
I am the life
He who believes in Me
Even if he die
He shall live for ever
Yes, Lord, we believe
That You are the Christ
The Son of God
Who has come
Into the world
6.
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light. (Instrumental--all I could find)
In my twenties, I was part of an urban fellowship group that was my second family. That group was my salvation in many ways. I can't possible express in a blog post what they meant to me. Anyway, this is a song that I learned to love during worship services with them.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain: In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
2. I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path.
And show me the way to the Father.
3. I'm looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
We shall know the joy of Jesus.
For many, many years I was a member of a church called Reba Place, which is a Mennonite congregation that emphasizes simple living, social justice, community, and accountability. A musician named Jim Croeggaert wrote many of our worship songs. This is the one we sang every Easter Sunday morning. The link above is Jim himself singing the song. It brings back so many memories. (It's possible some of you might know this song, which was recorded by Sandi Patty, but her version is too "professional" and over-produced to me.)
Was it a morning like this
When the Son still hid from Jerusalem?
And Mary rose from her bed
To tend the Lord She thought was dead
What is a morning like this,
When Mary walked down from Jerusalem?
And two angels stood at the tomb,
Bearers of news she would hear soon.
Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice
To feel you again?
Over and over like a
Trumpet underground,
Did the earth seem to pound:
“He is risen”
over and over
in a never ending round
“He is risen, alleluia, alleluia!”
Was it an morning like this,
When Peter and John from Jerusalem?
And as they raced for the tomb,
Beneath their feet was there a tune?
Was it a morning like this,
When my Lord looked out
On Jerusalem?
He is risen, alleluia, alleluia.
Those of you who've been reading this blog for a while know that I love
T Bone Burnett, partially for his music and partially for a kindness he once showed to me. He has had a profound impact on my life and my faith. Of all his songs, this one is the closest to a hymn.
There's a river of love that runs through all times
There's a river of grief that floods through our lives
It starts when a heart is broken in two
By the thief of belief in anything that's true
But there's a river of love that runs through all times
There's a river of love that runs through all times
But there's a river of tears that flows through our eyes
We fight through the night for freedom as it fades
Into a jail where we fail every time we make a break
But there's a river of love that runs through all times
I had to run before I knew how to crawl
The first step was hard but I've had trouble with them all
But now the night grows darker and the day grows dim
'Cause I know I never will see you again
And I almost made you happy
There's a river of love that runs through all times
There's a river of fire that burns with no lights
The flame is the pain of dreams gone up in smoke
From the lies we deny and we breathe them till we choke
But there's a river of love that runs through all times
The arts group where Michael and I met used to sing this hymn at its worship services. I love the words because they truly express what I believe. So we also had it sung at our wedding. In this video, it's kind of hard to understand the lyrics, but at least you can hear the melody. Here are the lyrics:
Where charity and love prevail there God is ever found:
Brought here together by Christ's love by love are we thus bound.
With grateful joy and holy fear his charity we learn;
Let us with heart and mind and soul now love Him in return.
Forgive we now each other's faults as we our faults confess,
and let us love each other well in Christian holiness.
Let strife amoung us be unknown; let all contention cease;
be God's the glory that we seek; be ours His holy peace.
Let us recall that in our midst dwells Christ, His only Son;as members of His body joined we are in Him made one.
For love excludes no race or clan that names the Savior's name;
his family embraces all whoses Father is the same.
10.
Oh, the Deep, Deep Love of JesusI think I might have sung this song only once, in college chapel, but it spoke to me so deeply that I have loved it ever since, and I would like for it be sung at my funeral.
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current
Of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to
Thy glorious rest above!
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth
never, nevermore!
How He watches o'er His loved ones,
died to call them all His own
how for them He intercedeth, watcheth
o'er them from the throne!
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!
I really hope that some of you will take up this meme. I know that several singers and musicians read my blog. If you do it, please link to Choralgirl as well as to me.
