Many of you know that I (Tim) love music (primarily Christian Contemporary/Worship) and as I have listened to some songs lyrics wondered if they are on track. An old time favorite song of mine by 4Him (who remembers that group from the 80s and 90s) is called "A Man You Would Write About" you can view the old music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WCZXNhx3TgWe. The lyrics for that song are:
From the time, time began You Always chose a man
To lead the people safely by Your way
To be a voice and echo what You say
Like David or Abraham
Your Word is full of such men
And if the Bible had no closing page
And still was being written to this day
CHORUS
I want to be a man that you would write about
Oh a thousand years from now
That they could read about
Your servant of choice in whom you found favor
A man who heard Your voice
Generations away it is my prayer
That they will look back and say
Oh to have that kind of faith and love
What a solid man of God he was!
More recently, Casting Crowns has a song out called "Only Jesus". The music video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXIBP2BdYR8. The lyrics for this song are:
Make it count, leave a mark, build a name for yourself
Dream your dreams, chase your heart, above all else
Make a name the world remembers
But all an empty world can sell is empty dreams
I got lost in the light when it was up to me
To make a name the world remembers
But Jesus is the only name to remember
CHORUS
And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus
All the kingdoms built, all the trophies won
Will crumble into dust when it’s said and done
'Cause all that really mattered
Did I live the truth to the ones I love?
Was my life the proof that there is only One
Whose name will last forever?
Both songs have interesting premises. What do you think? Is one song "right" and the other song "wrong"? Can they both be "right"? Parts of both songs "right"? I think it depends on the heart of the songwriter. In the 4Him song, if the desire is only to be someone God would want to use as an example in His word then I think the song is great. If it is more about vanity and leaving a mark on the world than maybe it is missing the mark. What do you think? Let me know how you see things.
From the time, time began You Always chose a man
To lead the people safely by Your way
To be a voice and echo what You say
Like David or Abraham
Your Word is full of such men
And if the Bible had no closing page
And still was being written to this day
CHORUS
I want to be a man that you would write about
Oh a thousand years from now
That they could read about
Your servant of choice in whom you found favor
A man who heard Your voice
Generations away it is my prayer
That they will look back and say
Oh to have that kind of faith and love
What a solid man of God he was!
More recently, Casting Crowns has a song out called "Only Jesus". The music video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXIBP2BdYR8. The lyrics for this song are:
Make it count, leave a mark, build a name for yourself
Dream your dreams, chase your heart, above all else
Make a name the world remembers
But all an empty world can sell is empty dreams
I got lost in the light when it was up to me
To make a name the world remembers
But Jesus is the only name to remember
CHORUS
And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus
All the kingdoms built, all the trophies won
Will crumble into dust when it’s said and done
'Cause all that really mattered
Did I live the truth to the ones I love?
Was my life the proof that there is only One
Whose name will last forever?
Both songs have interesting premises. What do you think? Is one song "right" and the other song "wrong"? Can they both be "right"? Parts of both songs "right"? I think it depends on the heart of the songwriter. In the 4Him song, if the desire is only to be someone God would want to use as an example in His word then I think the song is great. If it is more about vanity and leaving a mark on the world than maybe it is missing the mark. What do you think? Let me know how you see things.