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Commentary

Song Idea for Easter

By April 1, 2010June 20th, 201423 Comments

If you are looking for a good song for Easter, I have an idea for you. This might be too late for this Sunday, but you can tuck it away for next year. I have found that it is difficult to find a good celebratory song specifically about the resurrection. “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” is always a classic, but this might give you another option.

The song is “Christ Is Risen by Matt Maher. The lyrics are very good and include interesting phrases like “trampling over death by death.” My church’s worship leader has introduced the song for the past several weeks to familiarize the congregation with it. By this Sunday (Easter), everybody should know the song well enough to sing it with a celebratory tone! Follow link below, which will bring you to iTunes, where you can catch a sample of the song. You also might be able to hear it on YouTube. Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/alive-again/id330199826

23 Comments

  • I am struggling to imagine celebrating anything worthwhile with a song like this.

  • Nat Kealen says:

    Sigh. I think a lot of people hear a song and automatically judge it based upon style. Just because a particular artist sings a song a certain way does not mean another one would sing it that way or that a congregation would as well.

    Is the song theologically heavy? No. Is it scriptural? I see glimpses of it in there. Is it simple? Certainly. Was it written recently? Probably.

    I didn’t particularly care for the ending (I listened to it on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2KNvuscKRA) , but I found it to be ok.

    I love “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” as well. Some of the lyrics are similar to the song you mentioned. I think it’s good for churches to try new songs. It can cause people to think a little more about what they are singing as they learn it. I’ve noticed myself that when I sing a familiar traditional song I have to concentrate a little more on it because it’s too easy to just “sing” it. However, that’s ok. I need to think about how and what I’m saying to God in praise.

  • Greg Long says:

    Todd,

    You’re struggling to find anything worthwhile with a song celebrating the fact that Christ is risen from the dead?

    Thanks for sharing, Mike.

    P.S. The youtube link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2KNvuscKRA

  • Greg Javaux says:

    I know I am too old to fit into Quest, but couldn’t resist offering this Easter hymn we used this year:
    See What a Morning by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.

    you can find the lyrics here:
    http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns.aspx?id=27

  • Jamie Hart says:

    How wonderful is our God to give a variety of music to use in our cultural contexts and preferences?!? What works for Mike may not work for Todd…and that’s OK. Personally…I enjoyed the song, Mike. Really love “Alive Again” from Maher.

    We sang a mix on Sunday (because I have a mixed congregation). Did “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” and the iWorship DVD version of “In Christ Alone” which mixes in “The Solid Rock”…great version! We also did “You are God Alone!” LOVE that one. Is there a better day…or more worthy cause to worship?!?

    Thanks, Pastor Javaux for the link…LOVE the Getty’s and I’m not sure I’ve heard this one.

  • Will Hatfield says:

    We use the Getty’s See What a Morning quite often. It’s great.

  • Nat and Jamie, you appear to be saying “beauty is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder,” and that all styles of music are equally valuable. A litmus test I have used to test the consistency of this position is to point to the following song and ask if it really is equally valuable as the songs of our great-great-great grandfathers (or if it is even reverent at all):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_SOGBQ-Er0

    What do you think?

    Todd

  • Jamie Hart says:

    Todd,
    I want to state up front that I put music preferences in the “Romans 14” category. I’m aware that good and godly men see this topic differently than I do. I’m perfectly OK with that as I believe God’s has allowed some freedom. I’m willing to discuss my views…as long we do so with love and Christlikeness…and not with “disputing.” I’m sure you agree.

    I will answer your value question…but I want to make a few important caveats before I do. First, I hold to a pretty strict “sufficiency of Scripture” view. IMO 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:4-5 (among others) teaches us that what I need to know to please God is revealed in His Word. It says enough and through studying His Word we can know what we need to know to honor and please Him. Secondly, I differentiate between the terms “world” and “culture.” I think 1 John 2:16 defines “world” as a self-driven heart condition. In other words, when God teaches us to separate from the world, I believe He is talking about the selfish heart conditions that we see evidenced in the world. I don’t believe He has culture in mind…unless that cultural act is tied to the sinful, selfish, heart condition and/or breaks clearly stated biblical commands. Third, I believe we have a biblical command to adapt culturally for the sake of the gospel. Paul is pretty intense in his language in 1 Cor. 9:19-27…but the point is we are make great effort to reach people for Christ.

    So now to your “litmus test” for consistency…does “Shake Ya Body” have equal value to the songs of the great-great-great grandfathers. Well…to whom? To you and I…probably not. In my opinion of what I read of the lyrics…it’s pretty silly. But would “O God our Help in Ages Past” (love the song, by the way) played on a piano and organ have equal value to someone who grew up with rap and hip-hop?

    I don’t know your background, Todd…so I’m making an assumption when I say you probably didn’t grow up on streets of a big city where that style of music is the norm…so for you (and me) that style sounds so ridiculous that it becomes the litmus test. But how does “our” music sound to someone not familiar with it?

    I want to state that there are several biblical reasons why I wouldn’t play “Shake Ya Body” in worship. But you asked about “value.” I’m answering based on your question.

    Just out of curiosity, what about “Christ is Risen” makes you struggle to use it in celebration?

  • Jamie, I’ll give you credit for being a consistent relativist in your evaluation of “T-bone’s” abomination. But I confess that I quickly tire of these discussions.

    To borrow a word from the Wesleys, the poetry of “Christ is Risen” is doggerel — and the tune is insipid.

  • Todd, I’ll assume that calling this song an “abomination” was simply your attempt at rhetorical flare, and not a theological judgment upon the lyrics.

    Still, I find myself agreeing with your dislike of the song, but strongly disagreeing with your seeming hatred of it. Its not that bad, but its not that good either. Its somewhat unimpressive, a bit bland, a little trite (but still some substance cannot be denied), and lacking depth (but I will admit I am more partial to the “new hymnody” style of the Getty’s, etc). The music was less satisfying than the lyrics (and I would think would need to be significantly adapted to be suitable for congregational singing).

    Still, the song was CLEARLY about the risen Christ. It was biblical and Christ-centered. Instead of marginalizing His work on the cross, the song focuses on it. So it may not win a dove award (or shouldn’t, at least), but let’s not be too zealous about throwing it in the trash pile. It has value.

    Also, I find your approach no less relativistic than Jamie’s and Nate’s. You don’t like it because it doesn’t align to some personal litmus test. They like it because it does.

  • Jamie Hart says:

    Todd,
    Well, what can I say…you asked a question and I answered your question.

    As far as being a “relativist”…forgive me for being a little defensive. I’ll land on absolutes when God does. When He doesn’t what choice do I have but to allow freedom? And, for what it’s worth, your opinion of “Christ is Risen” is based solely upon your opinion. You have that freedom, Todd…but if I wear the relativist label than you do as well…unless there are absolutes that I missed somewhere.

    Regardless, I’m sure you lead the people of Granite Falls in heartfelt worship…and that’s what really counts. And I hope you get a chance to be involved with the MARBC. Good men serve Christ in Minnesota…Darrel Friar, Jim Goodew, Ron Hemsworth, Brian Wiita, Dwight LaPine, Jake Heppner, John Shroder…men who LOVE God! I greatly enjoyed shouldering with them for Christ’s name when I was in the state!

    God bless.

  • Josh, the “abomination” to which I referred was T-bone’s song, “Shake Ya Body.”

    Jamie, thank you for your well wishes. We are in the MARBC, but struggle with that. We share the same doctrinal statement, but when we get together our conversation falters because how we put that doctrine into practice, indeed, how we imagine God, is so different. If you go to our website and read the first couple paragraphs of “Our History,” you’ll begin to get the idea.

  • Jamie, regarding what you said about relativism — I’ll not engage you further on that, but I encourage you to study further to grasp what it is I’m trying to say. You might start with C. S. Lewis’ book, The Abolition of Man.

  • Are things such as “beauty” now considered scientifically verifiable?

    I have to admit I chuckle when I see people throwing out terms such as “relativism”, because usually they don’t understand the deeper philosophical battles behind these words. What most people call ‘relativism’ is simply ‘specific truth’ (a very different philosophical beast, indeed).

    But, can we really say that one piece of human produced art is inherently “beautiful”? Can we scientifically determine that all people should like dark chocolate? Has art come under the domain of science? If so, that would be a news flash to the entire Chrisitan philosophical community over the last 2,000 years. I would suggest any belief that ‘universalizes’ art doesn’t really stem from a Christian worldview, but by one that has been overly influenced by modernism (e.g. the cult of the ‘hard sciences’).

    Still, I am not even sure what Todd is objecting to. He may have a very valid point (see my post above, where I agreed with his dislike for the song). But Todd, you are being somewhat coy with your statements (one-liners generally are not helpful. And to send someone to Lewis to interpret your few words is less helpful yet).

    If your not prepared to define what you mean by words like relativism, then I would suggest you don’t pin that word onto another commentor.

    Just some advice from a brother you respects you (FYI, I visited your website, and was greatly blessed by what I saw).

  • Oh, and thanks for the clarification about T-bone. Silly of me to have missed that (but I have to confess I didn’t even know who T-bone is. I had to ask another staffer to find out).

    …and, after just listening to one of his songs, I believe I was better off not knowing.

  • David King says:

    Thanks for the song Mike, I had not heard of that artist before and I found the song you mentioned and the style employed very helpful. Praise God for the diversity of musical styles available to us to worship Him.

    Thanks for sending this new music our way, please keep doing so!

    ps. congratulations on the new addition to the family…God is good (and sleep is overrated)!

  • Josh, it isn’t that I’m not prepared to, it’s just that I don’t have time to bring folks up to speed in these basic things.

    Those that are willing to do some homework will prosper from my recommendation. Those that are unwilling have already stopped thinking, and will hardly benefit from my efforts in this forum.

    I really do recommend that book as a primer.

  • Todd, I think the problem here is that while this book recommendation would certainly help us understand C.S. Lewis opinion on this subject of ‘objective values’, it doesn’t really tell us what you mean or how you are applying that conversation here.

    Lewis certainly advocates for the reality of objective values (or, as he oddly puts it, the ‘tao’). Certainly a waterfall has an objective aesthetic value (also our actions can be considered objectively good or bad). I don’t think you’ll find many people here disagreeing with Lewis on that. But we should keep in mind that men such as Martin Luther and G.K. Chesterton strenously advocated for the inherent value of popular art (pop music for Luther, pop literature for Chesterton). I see nothing in Lewis’ writings that would disagree with those thoughts.

  • Josh, if you apply the first two lines of the second paragraph of your last post, you’ll be able to answer your earlier statement, “But, can we really say that one piece of human produced art is inherently “beautiful”?”

    A larger issue that keeps cropping up is the whole notion of Biblical sufficiency. That argument is a non sequitur. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us what it means to take God’s name in vain, but God commands us not to do it. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us what reverent worship looks and sounds like, but God commands us to worship with reverence and awe, for he is a consuming fire. We’re expected to know, and no excuses.

    Nor does the Bible tell us whether cigarettes or cocaine are bad, nor whether we should use choose a rifle, grenade, smart bomb, nor nuclear warhead when fighting a battle, nor whether we should have two houses of representation in our government, nor pretty much most of the specifics of our daily lives.

    Does the Bible tell me whether it is acceptable to gesture toward heaven with my middle finger while I am preaching? Does the Bible tell me whether the F-bomb is an acceptable word? Does the Bible tell me that major keys are happy keys and minor keys are sad keys, like Bob Kauflin says? (Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjf6TjfgfFY )

    We cannot apply any principle in the Bible without introducing some second premise into each categorical syllogism.

    We can say that something is beautiful and something is ugly, and we can say so with confidence. This doesn’t mean it is easy. It doesn’t mean we can be equally confident about everything. But if somebody points to a garbage heap and tells me it is beautiful, I’ll not allow the possibility that he might be right — I’ll simply pity him.

  • Nat Kealen says:

    Sorry. It’s taken me a while to respond. We just finished our assoc. spring conference.

    Todd, I think your last comment sums up well what you are trying to say. While the lyrics may be good, there is the presentation and music that go along with it that may be not. Of course, to a lot of people beauty can be ambiguous. To God, what is beautiful? Is it what that brings glory to Himself?

    Maybe the question we should ask, is how would God receive or view this type of worship? Does our culture and norms condition us to worship a particular way? For instance, why do some people think it’s okay to raise hands while singing and/or praying and others don’t? Frequent psalms mention it. To use your argument, the Bible doesn’t mention how to do it as well. (palm up about chest high? one in the air? both in the air? waving? not at all? prostrate?)

    In another example, Bach wrote most of his music to glorify God, (I believe–someone correct me if wrong), over a wide range of minor and major keys. Sadly, the world has taken some of his music and associated it to things such as horror movies or even rock music. (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o&feature=related). I consider a lot of his work to be creative and beautiful.

    It amazes me almost every time I sing a traditional song that at one time it was contemporary. Did Victory in Jesus or the Old Rugged Cross face such scrutiny? I don’t know. Of course, the message of many of them are timeless. I cherish the hymns of our fathers but also realize that new hymns and songs can be written today.

  • Jamie Hart says:

    Todd,
    How did you come to believe that C.S. Lewis’ view on relativism was a “basic thing?” Do you incorporate the reading of the book in your discipleship?

    Do you believe the word of God says enough for us to know how to live pleasing to Him? Do you integrate other “truths” in all areas of ministry, such as counseling?

    Do you feel like the music issue is as clear as our garbage dumb illustration? What do you do with other godly men who differ? Where does Romans 14 fit into your thinking? Are there “doubtful things” or are all areas as clear as the garbage dump illustration?

  • Brian Dare says:

    If you don’t mind me changing the direction of yet another music argument….Our church learned and sang “I Will Rise” by Chris Tomlin. We also sang a couple of the classics. It really went great! I loved how well the congregation sang out the new song by Easter with enthusiasm. Great reminder of how Christ conquered death and we too will rise! Another good option is Getty’s “See What a Morning”

  • Jamie, I invite you to browse our website for answers to your questions.

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