lyrics, language, and love

Renée Antrosio – August 30, 2022 3 Comments

I deeply appreciate the time, prayer, and work that goes into choosing songs that express the themes of teaching in ways that facilitate worship. I learned a lot from Barbara Linder during the pandemic as we co-labored to plan the online services. The constraints of arranging pre-recorded elements are different from the challenges of live services. Each offers opportunities; each has their limitations.

Some say that people’s theology is more influenced by what they sing than what the pastor preaches. So we care about the words, as well as the music. We seek songs about justice and mercy. We balance expressions of individual faith with the Biblical emphasis on collective identity. It is not all about “I”, but also “we” and those whom we serve. Worship is a time to focus our gaze on God, not ourselves, to express praise and awe and adoration. 

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of creation! comes from the German Reformed (Calvinist) Church tradition, written by Joachim Neander in 1680 shortly before he died of tuberculosis at the age of 30. I enjoyed reading a bit about his life and the Neanderthal valley with high rocky sides, between which flows the little river Düssel, where tradition holds that some of his hymns were composed in a cave. I also found the Hymnary.org analysis interesting:

Many are of a decidedly subjective cast, but for this the circumstances of their origin, and the fact that the author did not expect them to be used in public worship, will sufficiently account…. The characteristic expressions and points of view of German 17th century Pietism and of the “Covenant Theology” are easily enough detected. But the glow and sweetness of his better hymns, their firm faith, originality, Scripturalness, variety and mastery of rhythmical forms, and genuine lyric character fully entitled them to the high place they hold.

Over three hundred years later, in a different culture and context, (how?) do we use these hymns in our corporate worship? Opinions differ, obviously. Some say: stay true to Catherine Winkworth’s 1863 translation into English. Some would alter wording to reflect the modern group worship context, which differs from the writer’s personal use in a very different circumstance, so very long ago. 

I like the bird imagery of being sheltered, reminding us when Jesus likened himself to a mother hen, saying to Jerusalem:

“How often I wanted to gather your people together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” Matt 23:27

It seems like a lovely opportunity to sing:

Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under her wings, and so gently sustaining!

The discussion of what to do with lyrics that ascribe male gender to the one God who said  “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us…” (Gen.1:26a) is ongoing at New Covenant. Sometimes we change lyrics and language to align better with our theology, particularly if such adjustments are easily singable. Sometimes we note the mismatch between the original writer and our own time. Sometimes we choose a new song and allow the old to reside in history.

But what is most important in our discussions is that we speak to each other with love, humility, and respect. We have different identities and histories and experiences of God. We believe that our differences, like the vast variety of creation, display the awesome diversity of our Creator. We were not meant to be alone, so let us not be divided by difference, but embrace our common humanity as an expression of God’s image in us. 

I am humbled and grateful to be part of this ever-thinking, ever-seeking, ever-learning community of faithful followers of Jesus. May we continue to journey together in mutual service and gratitude for God’s love for us in giving us each other.  -Renée