The Love Chapter

It being the month of love I wanted to talk about what the verses from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 are all about and what Paul was meaning to say when he wrote this. First of all, Paul wasn't trying to be sweet with this letter, he was reprimanding the Corinthians. He was telling them what real love is all about and the characteristics of love, because they were not a loving church, in fact they were a very judgmental church.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Love is patient - now being patient with someone really isn't easy, but it basically is saying that we need to love the person/people even though they have imperfections, flaws and differences.

Love is kind - kindness is patience in action. Kindness is tender and shows forgiveness when wronged. Forgiveness is not easy either, but when you forgive others you feel better than when you did when you held a grudge.

It does not envy - do not be jealous of what the person has that you don't, if they really love you they will love the talents you have, and you should do the same.

It doesn't boast - it's doesn't brag about what one has had that another doesn't which also goes along with "it is not proud." Which is saying that pride is not a good virtue, in fact God hates pride.

It is not self-seeking - it is not selfish, your care for others before yourself, and treat them with kindness.

Not easily angered - of course we get angry with the ones we love, it's human nature, but if you love them the way God asks, then we will love them enough to find the good in everything they do.

Keeps no records of wrongs - this is sort of like not holding a grudge. One notices what they did was wrong but forgave them for it and don't hold a grudge against then because of happened

Love does not delight in evil it rejoices with truth - so the devil does not love you, he has evil intentions towards everyone. That's not love, he cares only about what he wants and how he can steal, kill and destroy us. God, on the other hand, is love and God is truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres - protect the ones you love - make sure they always safe from anything, or anyone. Trust - being able to trust someone is a huge part of what love is, always hopes and always perseveres, it never dies - if it is true love than it will never die no matter how many obstacles are thrown Your way. 

Decrying "Deep Cries Out"

I attended a youth conference this weekend with the Evangelical Free Church denomination, and -SHOCKER- we never sang the song "Deep Cries Out." 

Let me tell you, it was a breath of fresh air. I cannot remember attending another youth conference or camp in which that song was not used in worship time. I am a part of the Assemblies of God (AG), and they love to sing this song. Because of its wide-spread use within the AG, I have decided to tackle "Deep Cries Out" today. 

(If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/CkJH3zGM-cs)

There is a lot to like in the beat and catchy tune of "Deep Cries Out," so I can see why AG worship leaders frequently use it. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love Bethel Music, a band which includes the author of this song William Matthews. William is an incredibly talented musician who excels in ushering in the presence of God. He also happens to be downright hilarious. However, this song, which is probably his most well-known, is not my favorite.

       

Worship leader William Matthews

 

All too often, I see worship leaders using this song manipulatively because 1) it is accompanied by specific, choreographed actions that the congregation is expected to do and 2) contains many highly-exciting, emotional elements. Worship leaders may lead this song out of a concern that people don't seem "excited" enough for worship, and some even use "Deep Cries Out" to meet their own egotistical desires. Whether the decision to lead this song manipulatively is made consciously or not, those motives are wrong. 

I choose to skip over this song when selecting worship sets, and I have good reason. To examine my reasoning, let's check out the lyrics of the song: 

Verse 1: 

I've got a river of living water
A fountain that never will run dry
It's open Heavens You're releasing
And we will never be denied

John 7:38-39 says, "'Whoever believes in me [Jesus], as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." This notion of a flowing river of water coming from our acceptance of Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit is certainly Biblical. There is indeed "an open heaven" God is releasing as He willingly pours out His Spirit on all flesh. 

Yet, I have a problem with the last sentence of the verse: "And we will never be denied." This is completely man-centered and theologically inaccurate. God gives us what He pleases according to His grace, not because we make loud, emotional demands of Him.   


Pre-Chorus: 
Cause we're stirring up deep deep wells
We're stirring up deep deep waters
We're going to dance in the river, dance in the river
Cause we're stirring up deep deep wells
We're stirring up deep deep waters
We're going to jump in the river
Jump in the river and everybody singing now

Again, this portion of the song is extremely man-centered as it's says "we're stirring up deep deep wells"; It eliminates God's choice completely by implying that people can force the Holy Spirit to move in whichever ways they please. The song then calls for people to respond with wild emotions in dancing and jumping as a result of the people stirring up "the water" themselves.


Chorus: 
Deep cries out to deep cries out to
Deep cries out to deep cries out to
So we cry out to, we cry out to, You Jesus

Here lies my biggest problem with the song. The terminology "deep cries out to deep" comes from Psalm 42, so in that sense it is Biblical. Verses 6-7 say, "My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me." 

The analogy of water used here is very different from the river of living water Jesus described in John 7. The entirety of Psalm 42 is a cry of anguish. Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary writes on these verses saying, "[The psalmist] was overpowered and overwhelmed with a deluge of grief... when the windows of heaven were opened and the fountains of the great deep were broken up." Henry goes on to say that the phrase "deeps cries out to deep" describes "one affliction [coming] upon the neck of another." Certainly we would want to cry out to Jesus if wave after wave of trials were flowing over us, but this is not the river of living water described previously the song. Would we dance, jump, and shout for joy in the waters of tribulation? I think not. The usage of this phrase in "Deep Cries Out" was taken out of Biblical context. Clearly, William used Biblical analogies of water in his song without taking them for their true meanings. 

I've listened to Bill Johnson (lead pastor of Bethel Church where this song was created) speak about the concept behind this portion of "Deep Cries Out." He justified its use by saying that "deep cries out to deep" as used in Psalm 42 means that the depths of our hearts are crying out to the depths of God's heart. This is a nice concept, but it certainly isn't in context. 

Bridge: 
If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left
And if He goes to the right then we'll go to the right
We're going to jump jump jump jump in the river
Jump jump jump jump, everybody

If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left
And if He goes to the right then we'll go to the right
We're going to dance dance, dance dance in the river
Dance dance, dance dance, everybody
If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left
And if He goes to the left then we'll go to the right
We're going to shout shout shout shout in the river
Shout shout shout shout in the river, everybody

Certainly we want to follow Jesus wherever He leads us, whether that leads to good times or bad.  But again, this seems to be taken out of Biblical context. If we are jumping into the deeps similar to those described in Psalm 42, would we dance and shout for joy? I think we would all have a much less hearty response. 

I believe that there are essentially two aspects of congregational worship: communal and personal. The communal aspect of worship is that the body of Christ comes together as one to declare the truths of God. The personal aspect of worship is in each individual worshipping God of out his or her own spirit and drawing into a closer relationship with Him as a result. 

I don't feel that this song fits either of those purposes. It is not a worship song at all because it is not declaring the truths of God in such a way that we'd draw closer to Him. It may fulfill a communal need to prepare and become "excited" for worship, but it is not a worship song in and of itself. If a communal "call to worship" is necessary at the beginning of a worship set, it can be done in other ways. I believe that our time spent in congregational worship should be just that– worship. 

  

For these reasons, I choose to not lead worship with the song "Deep Cries Out." However, I will gladly serve on a worship team and sing or play this song out of service to my worship leader. There are some positives to this song and it can be led in a worshipful way, but overall I do not find it worthy of a worship set. 

–Chloe

Not by Sight

Hey everyone! 

I learned a lesson this past week that I'd like to share with you.  For the past few weeks I've been having trouble seeing, especially out of my right eye, even with my prescription glasses and contacts.  This is incredibly annoying, as you can figure, and it gives me headaches once in awhile because of the strain on my vision.

This past week at youth group we had a relaxed worship night and I asked one of my youth leaders to pray for my eye.  I thought I might have a scratch on my eye or something and prayer works, so you really shouldn't underestimate it.  She prayed over me and I went back to where I was sitting and journaling. I kept asking God why I couldn't see, not in a hateful, demanding way, but just that I didn't understand.  While I was praying and asking God things I looked down at the cover of my journal.  My sister had gotten me this journal for my birthday and as you can see, it says, "Walk by faith, not by sight." 

 

It's as if God has personally delivered me this journal to give me a message at this exact time.  I found myself remembering and being thankful that throughout my life, even if I can't see the next step, God can.  God calls us to walk by faith, not by seeing exactly what comes next or even seeing at all.  Through my blurry vision*, He still can see everything perfectly, and He will let me know what comes next.  Until then, I'll trust that I'm in His hands. 

Something to Remember: 

Trust in God and walk with Him because He knows what the next step in your life is, even if you can't see it yet.  

-Michelle

*This morning I went to the eye doctor and found out that my vision has gotten a lot worse from my last appointment (4 months ago).  I have astigmatism in my right eye and my left eye is just worse in general.  I had to update all of my contacts and pick out a new pair of glasses.  I am so glad that I know what is going on with my eyesight now, even if it isn't the best news.