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George Stuart
  • Debating with Rev. John Squires about the use of the Old Testament
  • Home
    • Bible Studies
      • Introduction
      • Leaders' Guide
      • 1. The Character of Biblical Literature
      • 2. The Canon of Scripture
      • 3A.The Hebrew Language
      • 3B. The Greek Language
      • 4. Problems with and Praises for the Bible
      • 5. We don't always agree
      • 6A. The Divine Oracle
      • 6B. Prophesy - Allegory - Type
      • 6C. Historical Criticism
      • 6D. Literary Criticism
      • 6E. Bultmann - Demythologisation
      • 6F. Is the auther dead?
      • 7. Growing Theological understandings
      • 8. The Names of God
      • 9. How important is the Old Testament
      • 10. Jesus - Who was he?
      • 11. The Cross - What is it?
      • 12. The Authority of the Bible
    • Contact Me
    • Singing A New Song
      • Year A Lectionary
        • Copyright
        • Introduction
        • Advent
          • No second chance
          • The second coming of Christ
          • John's preaching
          • The expectation
          • Virgin birth
        • Christmas,
          • The outcast shepherds
          • God lives within humanity
          • Jesus Christ is born in our country
          • At the manger
          • Jingle bells ring out
          • Summer Christmas
          • The birth of a baby
          • Joseph, the dreamer, and Moses
          • The Word
        • Epiphany
          • The baptism of Jesus
          • Where does Jesus live?
          • Call to discipleship
          • Inclusive love
          • Jesus' teaching
          • Blessed
          • Salt and light
          • Deeper than law
          • New meanings
          • Can we see Jesus?
        • Lent
          • Temptation
          • Born again
          • Jesus speaks to the woman of Samaria
          • Living water
          • Healing on the Sabbath
          • Hope and light
          • Is it God's will?
          • Jesus weeps
          • Ride on
          • Ride on. Ride on in majesty
          • Brokenness
          • Gethsemane
        • After Pentecost
          • His teaching
          • Jesus teaching
          • More than sparrows
          • Rewards
          • His love
          • The sower
          • The parable of the weeds
          • The mustaerd seed, Yeast, etc
          • The hungry ones
          • In a boat on the sea
          • The story in context
          • Confrontation
          • Who is Jesus?
          • Growing tensions
          • Resolution
          • Forgiveness
          • The labourers in the vineyard
          • Actions speak louder than words
          • The two sons
          • Workers in the vineyard
          • Everyone is invited
          • Jesus in conflict
          • Render to Caesar
          • The Two Commandments
          • Dressing to impress
          • The unexpected
          • An active faith
          • Ministering to Christ
      • Year B Lectionary
        • Advent
          • The seond coming of Christ
          • John's preaching
          • Where's the Messiah?
          • Myths and legends
        • Christmas
          • The outcast shepherds
          • God lives within humanity
          • Jesus Christ is born in our country
          • At the manger
          • Jingle bells ring out
          • Summer Christmas
          • The birth of a baby
          • Baby Jesus according to Mosaic Law
          • Looking
          • Parental guidance
        • Epiphany
          • John preaches
          • Call to discipleship
          • The Christ call
          • Jesus and New Testament demons
          • Healing
          • Jesus - the gracious healer
          • Jesus heals
          • Can we see Jesus?
        • Lent
          • Temptation
          • Cross bearing
          • Temple cleansing
          • Loving the world
          • We would see Jesus
          • Ride on
          • Ride on. Ride on in majesty
          • Gethsemane
        • Easter to Pentecost
          • Good Friday?
          • Killed by cruelty
          • The saddest of all days
          • The triumph and the tragedy
          • Christ alive in us
          • Resurrection - life from death
          • In praise of doubt
          • Thomas
          • Scars on hands and feet
          • Good shepherd
          • I am the vine
          • Love others
          • Jesus' love of his disciples
          • God's Spirit
        • After Pentecost
          • Born again
          • Beelzebub
          • Growing seeds
          • Jesus calms the storm
          • Who deserves love?
          • Care in face of hostility
          • The death of John the Baptist
          • The crowds kept coming
          • In a boat on the sea
          • The story in context
          • To make him king
          • The bread of life
          • No one special
          • Jesus' flesh and blood
          • To whom shall we go?
          • Teaching of the ancestors
          • Confrontation
          • Who is Jesus?
          • Who is the greatest
          • The struggle
          • Jesus and the children
          • Rich young man
          • Power exerised through service
          • The blind beggar
          • The Two Commandments
          • Giving
          • The future
          • My kingdom
      • Year C Lectionary
        • Advent
          • Christ is seen again
          • John's preaching
          • John's preaching
          • Mary's praise
        • Christmas
          • The outcast shepherds
          • God lives within humanity
          • Jesus Christ is born in our country
          • At the manger
          • Jingle Bells ring out
          • Summer Christmas
          • The birth of a baby
          • The Word
          • When Jesus was 12
        • Epiphany
          • Wise men visit
          • John preaches
          • On the third day
          • Jesus' mission
          • Jesus' first public teaching
          • Can we see Jesus?
        • Lent
          • Jesus' temptation
          • Jerusalem
          • Why?
          • The prodigal son.The two sons
          • Anointing Jesus' feet
          • Ride on
          • Remembering in bread and wine
          • Brokenness
          • Who is the greatest?
          • Gethsemane
        • Easter to Pentecost
          • Killed by cruelty
          • He died
          • He had to die
          • Christ alive
          • Resurrection- Life from death
          • Christ lives again
          • In praise of doubt
          • Thomas
          • Feed my sheep
          • Are you the One?
          • The Two Commandments
          • Remembering
          • I give you peace
          • Tough love
          • Unity
          • I am in the Father
        • After Pentecost
          • The Spirit
          • The Roman slave
          • The widow's only son
          • Jesus at dinner
          • Demons
          • Would be disciples
          • Maybe disciples
          • Disciples are sent out
          • The good Samaritan (1)
          • The good Samaritan (2)
          • Mary and Martha
          • Praying - Livking values
          • Share wealth
          • Urgent action
          • No peace
          • Healing on the Sabbath
          • Prestige and humility
          • Cost of discipleship
          • The lost sheep
          • The lost coin
          • A smile
          • Jesus and wealth
          • Economic justice?
          • Duty
          • The ten lepers
          • Persistence
          • The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
          • Hospitality
          • Life and death
          • The future
          • Amazing words
      • First line of lyrics
      • Titles of lyrics
      • Metrical index of tunes
      • Volume 1 Contents
        • Copyright
        • Introduction
        • Worship and Praise
          • As we come together
          • Softly shout for joy
          • Praise for the beauty of life
          • It is so grand
          • We look in wonder
          • Proclaim faith, hope and love
          • Personal thankfulness
          • A thankful hymn
        • God
          • Everything in God
          • The power of love
          • United in God
          • God is all in all
          • The universe in God
          • God is constant pursuing Love
          • God's love gives freedom
          • My God is in Jesus
          • God of reconciliation
          • Contradictions in God
        • Trinity
          • God - a trinity
          • God Beyond, Within, Between
          • God Within, Between, Beyond
          • God pictured as human
        • Jesus - His life and mission
          • The ordinary is marvelous
          • I remember a man
          • The life of Jesus
          • Jesus - the Christ
          • Jesus the gracious healer
          • Jesus - the law breaker
          • Jesus - the man who lived freedom
          • Jesus - the prophet
          • Jesus - teacher, carer, rebel
          • Jesus - the One who challenges
          • Jesus - the revealer
          • Strong love
        • Jesus - the cross
          • Ride on. Ride on in majesty
          • Killed by cruelty
          • Good Friday?
          • The cross
          • The tragedy and the triumph
        • Jesus - His Resurrection
          • Christ alive!
          • Resurrection - Life from death
          • God's resurrection way
          • Resurrection life
        • Jesus - His second coming
        • The Christian life - Personal
          • All will be well
          • Held in God's embrace
          • Contemplation
          • God is friendly
          • Be open
          • Where is purpose?
          • Fruits of the Spirit
          • Conquering fear
          • Is it God's will?
          • Questions
          • Certain of uncertainty
          • Moving forward in belief
          • The journey of life
          • God within our life
          • Struggling with loneliness
          • Companionship with our 'self'
          • Our lasting home
          • Deep in my soul
        • The Chriatian life - community
          • We can change the world
          • Call to action
          • God Within stirs us
          • Inclusive love
          • The work of God
          • The caring God within
          • Victims
          • Whose side is God on?
          • That joyous day
          • The near edge
          • How dare we!
        • The Bible
          • Movement forward in the Bible
          • Our sacred book
          • Sacred writings?
          • Love - 1 Corinthians 13
        • Parables
          • The Good Samaritan
          • The lost sheep
          • The lost coin
          • The great feast
          • The labourers in the vineyard
          • The sower
          • The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
          • The mustard seed
          • The prodigal son
        • Sacraments and special services
          • Invitation to the sacrament
          • We are welcome
          • Remembering in bread and wine
          • Breaking bread at Emmaus
          • Borkenness
        • Nature
          • Nature's moods
          • Our mother earth
        • Inter-faith
          • Sharing faiths
          • More than tolerance
          • Life's delight
      • Volume 2 Contents
        • Introduction
        • Welcome to worship
        • Christmas
          • At Christmas, God is seen anew
          • At the manger
          • Christmas - Mid-summer
          • Jingle Bells ring out
          • Summer Christmas
          • The birth of a baby
        • God is love and mystery
          • Compassion is a sacred name
          • Divine persuasion
          • God is love at every time, at every place
          • God is Love
          • God is Love, unfailing grace
          • Sacred - The will to live
          • God is surrounding inherent
          • Spirit sightings
          • There is a Presence
          • We can but worship
          • With love, we need no more
          • God Beyond, Between, Within
          • God is dancing
          • Imagining stars
          • God Beyond
          • Dancing with God
          • God - The love dance
          • God present to all
        • The Canberra Affirmation
          • Para 1 Creaitivity
          • Para 2 Presentness
          • Para 3 Jesus
          • Para 4 The Bible
          • Para 5 Paths to the sacred
          • Para 6 Values
        • Pushing the limits
          • Advancing in the Spirit
          • Dreaming of a new faith
          • Push the limits
          • We can't stop asking questions
          • We must dispute
          • When Common Dreams are shared
        • The environment
          • God is in nature
          • God is in nature's cycles
          • God -The life force
          • Caring for non-human life
          • Climate change
          • Climate in our hands
          • Climate is warming
          • Stewards of climate
        • Social justice and violence
          • Accumulating or sharing
          • Compassion
          • Economic justice?
          • God of the poor
          • Peace from justice
          • Religious peace
          • Religion and violence
          • The times we live in
        • Discipleship
          • Be open ...
          • Christ is alive
          • Courage to be
          • Does it really matter?
          • Feeling the pain
          • Friends
          • Give respect to humankind
          • God Between
          • God shares our pain
          • God Within
          • Hope and light
          • Humans do amazing things
          • Jesus crossed the road
          • Others
          • Live fully
          • Living with uncertainty
          • Our mission and vision
          • People are God's language
          • The sounds of life
          • To speak in love
          • When somewhere someone
        • Jesus and God's Kingdom
          • God's Kingdom
          • Hear from Jesus
          • Jesus' love
          • Jesus' teaching
          • We move to visit Calvary
          • Why do we look beyond?
        • On the Bible
          • No second chance
          • John's preaching
          • The expectation
          • Virgin birth
          • Jesus and New Testament demons
          • Gospel truth
          • Stories of disciples
          • The gospels
        • Inter-faith
          • Difference
          • Diversity
        • Fun songs
          • Jonah
          • Laugh with God
          • Noah
          • It's not fair
        • For the young ones
          • God is inside
          • When I ...
          • Jesus wants us ...
          • When I'm happy
          • All belong
          • All is Mystery
          • Don't think we must too
          • Jesus' friend
          • We are all blest
          • When I'm...
      • Volume 3 Contents
        • Introduction
        • Welcome to worship
          • Welcome
          • We are welcome
        • Nature and the Cosmos
          • A fantastic journey
          • Nature's beauty
          • Nature's harsh harmony
          • Night and day
          • Wonder and radiance
        • God - Mysterious yet a 'Presentness
          • Mystery
          • God's presentness
          • God becomes a Presence
          • There is a Presence
          • God's word
        • Life and Love
          • We are blest
          • Love and ...
          • In love we can learn to grow
          • Love will flourish
          • The mystery of love
          • At-one-ment
          • Joy
          • Hope
          • The Light of day
          • Peace
          • Our journey
        • Jesus' stories and teachings
          • The wise men visit
          • The Word
          • The way, the truth and the life
          • God made flesh
          • The Jesus song
          • Jesus story - The role model
          • Jesus story - The rebel
          • Blessed
          • Jesus speaks
          • Jesus gives peace
          • I give you peace
          • The Two Commandments
          • New meanings
          • Jesus - The teacher
          • Stress and anxiety
          • Render to Caesar
          • Jesus in conflict
          • Confrontation
          • Parables
          • Jesus stories
          • Forgiveness
          • Everyone is invited
          • Who is Jesus?
          • Where does Jesus live?
          • Can we see Jesus?
          • With whom did Jesus eat?
          • Hospitality
          • Hungry ones
          • Sharing meals
          • Meals
          • The ten lepers
          • Jesus speaks to the woman of Samaria
          • Healing on the Sabbath
        • Easter
          • Ride on
          • Gethsemane
          • Do we run away?
          • He died
          • He has to die
          • Why? Oh! Why did Jesus die?
          • The saddest of all days
          • Each time I visit Calvary
          • Thomas
          • Christ lives again
        • Discipleship
          • We cannot ask
          • Praying - Life's Values
          • Seeking
          • Rewards
          • Duty
          • As we consider
          • I'm proud
          • A smile
          • Feed my sheep
          • The death of a criminal
          • A dream of dignity
          • Ministering to Christ
          • I must leave
        • Dedication - New Members
          • A prayer
          • A prayer for blessing
          • Grand occasion
          • Ground of all being
        • Dedication - Ordination
          • Ministry
          • With formal joy
        • Dedication - Baptism
          • We join with thankful hearts
          • The miracle of a baby's birth
          • The mystery of growing
          • The wonder of new life
          • In this sacrament with water
        • Funerals
          • Amazing grace
          • When tears begin to flow
          • Tragedy
          • Life cut short
          • Jesus - Life and resurrection
        • Anzac Day
          • We pay respect
          • Anzac remembering
        • Mothers' Day
          • Mothering
        • Fun for children
          • Jesus asks us
          • Jesus loves
          • Jesus said
          • Jesus teaches
          • Jesus was a teacher
          • Salt and light
          • Together
      • Volume 4 Contents
        • Introduction
        • Welcome to Worship
          • Each of us is welcome
          • We gather in this place
        • God
          • God dares
          • God in everything
          • God in process
          • God is mystery
          • God is our partner
          • God of change
          • In awe and thankfulness
          • In God
          • In God we live and move and be
        • Christmas
          • God is vulnerable
          • The outcast shepherds
          • A summer Christmas
        • Easter
          • A Sacrifice
          • Amazing words
          • He was e threat
          • Rebel Jesus
          • Scars on hands and feet
          • Christ alive in us
          • On the cross
        • New Faith Statements
          • Introduction
          • Statement 1
          • Statement 2
          • Statement 3
          • Statement 4
          • Statement 5
          • Statement 6
          • Statement 7
          • Statement 8
          • Statement 9
          • Statement 10
          • Statement 11
          • Statement 12
          • Statement 13
          • Statement 14
          • Statement 15
          • Statement 16
          • Statement 17
          • Statement 18
          • Statement 19
          • Statement 20
          • Statement 21a
          • Statement 21b
          • Statement 22
          • Statement 23
        • Discipleship
          • Courage in the struggle
          • Creativity
          • God’s incarnation
          • God’s kingdom is within us
          • In praise of doubt
          • Let us prize life
          • Ministering to Christ
          • Power
          • Resolution
          • The beauty within us
          • We resolve to follow Jesus
        • The Cosmos and Nature
          • God’s melody
          • In each and every process
          • With thankful hearts
          • We stand in awe
          • We stand in awe (2)
        • Classics
          • Love is essential (Abide with me)
          • “I will be with you always.” (Away in the manger)
          • Jesus is honoured (Crown him with many crowns)
          • We are pilgrims (Guide me O Thou great Jehovah)
          • What can I ask? (And can it be?)
          • We are all blest (How great Thou art)
          • I will sing of love (I will sing the wondrous story)
          • We all are truly blest (Now thank we all our God)
          • As we contemplate the birth (Once in Royal David’s city)
          • Rejoice when love is found (Rejoice the Lord is king)
          • The church commits to witness (The church's one foundation)
          • The Jesus story of times past (The head that once was crowned)
          • When Jesus died so long ago (There is a green hill far away)
          • With praise and elation (To God be the glory)
          • Jesus is our friendly teacher (What a friend we have in Jesus)
        • Jesus
          • The man who lived in Galilee
          • Jesus confronts
          • The Good Samaritan
        • Sacraments
          • Jesus’ flesh and blood
          • On the third day
        • Celebrations
          • New Year
          • Celebrating the church
          • Church anniversary
          • Face the challenge
          • Induction
        • Faith, Hope and Love
          • A faith of energy
          • Amazing that it should be so
          • Hope can be elusive
          • Life can be full and empty
          • Love - unpredictable
          • Love builds on love
          • Love generates love
          • Love is ...
          • Love is … (2)
          • Love is … (3)
          • Love makes a difference
          • Love shared between two
          • Love’s power
          • Loving is the answer
          • The gifts of love
        • Uncertainty
          • Confidence in uncertainty
          • Living with uncertainty
          • Stress and anxiety
        • Does violence win?
          • Mass tragedy
          • Violence in the Bible
      • Chart
      • Gospel passages used
      • 32 Themes
        • Baptism
        • Before Easter
        • Celebrating - Anzac Day
        • Celebrating - Church Anniversary
        • Celebrating - Induction and Ordination
        • Celebrating - Mothers' Day
        • Celebrating - New Year
        • Christmas
        • Crucifixion
        • Discipleship
        • Faith, joy and hope
        • Funerals
        • God in all
        • God in the environment and our stewardship of it
        • God in humanity
        • God is love
        • Jesus - God visible
        • Jesus - the compassionate one
        • Jesus - the man
        • Jesus - the rebel
        • Jesus - the teacher
        • Light
        • Love
        • Multi-faith
        • Praise
        • Questioning
        • Resurrection
        • Sacrament of Communion
        • Social justice
        • Stress and anxiety
        • The Bible
        • The Cosmos
        • The Trinity
        • Violence and peace
        • Welcome to worship
        • Young ones
      • Index of Gospel passages used
      • Jesus - God visible
      • Sacrament of Communion
      • Singing a New Song
      • Copy of Singing a New Song
    • About
    • Exodus
    • Shorter Papers and h
      • Seasons of creation
      • In our own Image
      • Celebrating Christmas
      • My last church service
      • My Trinity
      • A different creation story
      • Rewards
    • Season of Creation
      • Introduction
      • Humanity Sunday
        • Liturgy
        • Background Reading
      • Animal Sunday
        • Liturgy
        • Background Reading
      • Cosmos Sunday
        • Liturgy
        • Background Reading
  • Exodus
    • Introduction
    • The story of the Exodus (2)
    • The story of the Exodus (3)
    • The story of the Exodus (3)
  • Starting all over again?
    • Acknowledgements
    • How to possibly use this book
    • Contents
    • Introduction
    • Question 1
    • Question 2
    • Question 3
    • Question 4
    • Question 5
    • Question 6
    • Question 7
    • Question 8
    • Question 9
    • Question 10
    • Question 11
    • What comes next for me
    • Lyrics used
    • The full set of new lyrics used
    • Bibliography
    • Comments from readers
George Stuart

Home       Singing a New Song       Volume 1 Contents

Introduction

Progressive Religion is a realistic endeavour to match a timeless faith with a modern view of the world.  One of the biggest hurdles in making such an essential adjustment to inevitable change, is our reluctance to leave the comfort zone of familiar thought forms. Many of us have been so indoctrinated by traditional religion that we no longer question the relevance of what we believe. 

 

One of the most effective tools of persuasion has been the singing of well worn hymns.  We have done this until they have become almost inseparable from our way of life and thought.  Some of us who strongly object to the archaic theology of the old lyrics, still find ourselves resonating with the words, while singing them against our better judgement.

 

The new lyrics in this first edition of "Singing a New Song”, as well as those in this enlarged edition, at once liberate us from the reinforcing influence of those old unhelpful thought forms, and at the same time serve to develop in our minds a new and increasingly familiar vocabulary of belief and practice.  If this book of sacred songs achieves that for those who are brave enough to adventure into progressive religious thinking, it will have been well worth publishing.

 

The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought is releasing this second and enlarged edition of well-loved hymn tunes with modern words at a time when the world is being torn apart by sectarian violence.  The last thing the world needs is a claim, by whatever world religion, that it has a monopoly on the sure way to human and cosmic fulfilment. 

 

Our understanding of the historical Jesus is that he did not make such a claim.  Many of the lyrics in this song book are about him, and they will be sung with relish by progressive Christians. 

 

They will, however, be useful for people of all religious backgrounds who comprehend his universal message that God is a non-violent deity, that God’s realm is a non-violent realm, and that such a vision is worth giving one’s life for.

 

We are therefore dedicating this song book to peace.  This is not to be confused with spiritual certainty or security.  Nor will it quieten debate within traditional religious circles. It is for those who are willing to make the sometimes costly decision to walk away from unhelpful religious language and re-invent a new and relevant phraseology for worship and contemplation.

 

Eric Stevenson, Convener,

Centre for Progressive Religious Thought (Sydney)     August, 2006


Comments by the author 


Hymnbooks and books of religious songs are, in essence, books of theology.  Lyrics express the theological views of the lyricist.  If singers intentionally reflect on the ideas being sung then the theological framework or paradigm of the lyricist may  become clear.

 

Some singers claim that the words are not important. They assert “It’s the tune that I love”, and sometimes also state – “I don’t take much notice of the words, anyway.”  While this may be true, it may not counteract the cumulative, subliminal  influence of lyrics sung repeatedly over a number of years.   When the lyrics become memorized through simple repetition, the embedded ideas can become an integral part of the theological environment in which singers and listeners both think and believe.

 

Accordingly, the lyrics of well-known and often-sung hymns can become potentially more powerful influences than words of scripture.  Singing is often more engaging than listening to a sermon or prayers.     Worshippers may ‘drift off’ at times while  listening, but, when singing the mind can be actively engaged with the lyrics.

 

It can also be suggested that by participating in congregational singing, each singer is being encouraged to give tacit agreement to the words and ideas being sung.  When the lyrics use words and express ideas which singers no longer enthusiastically or wholeheartedly endorse then much personal irritation may be felt.  This feeling of unease is being experienced by a significant and growing number of people.

 

Analysis of my lyrics will reveal that I am not writing for traditional/conservative people who feel content with traditional theological words and ideas.   I write my lyrics particularly for many of the older members of congregations who have grown up in the church and love the many old tunes that they have sung over the years but who now find that the traditional words are no longer meaningful, helpful or even tolerable.


 The Theological Framework of the Lyrics

 

The aim of my lyrics is to re-present God in words and phrases that utilize concepts different from those often employed in traditional as well as in many modern lyrics.

 

Through the influence of customary tradition, God is usually presented in words and phrases as omnipotent (all-powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing).  God  resides in heaven on a judgement throne .  God is usually presented as ‘coming’ or as the One requested ‘to come’... God is often presented as the Creator and sustainer of the universe. God is presented as separate from humanity, a supernatural being who intervenes in worldly affairs from time to time, who answers prayer, whose promises are true and reliable, who feeds the hungry, gives solace to the sad and grieving and in whose presence the faithful will remain forever in heaven after death. God is also depicted as loving, forgiving, merciful and willing to sacrifice his only Son for the good of humanity.  And in their conclusion, numerous traditional hymns take the singers to ‘heaven’ in the last verse.

In stark contrast my lyrics present God as ‘mystery’ … the mystery that permeates all that is … the mystery that surrounds all that is; mystery that enables and facilitates all relationships between all that is and everything else; the ‘mystery’ that gives rise to interdependence.   In my lyrics God is not a supernatural being.  Instead, I present God as love, harmony.  God is the source of life. God is the invitation to life.   It is God in whom we live and move and have our being.   In my lyrics the cosmos and nature are not suggested as being the ‘work’ of God but rather as an incarnation of God – one of the ways in which we have a concrete, as it were a ‘fleshly’ expression of God.

 

The aim of my lyrics is to re-present Jesus in words and phrases, that utilise concepts different from those often employed in traditional as well as in many modern lyrics.

 

In traditional and many modern lyrics, the divinity of Jesus is emphasized.  He is usually presented as the second person of the Trinity … the unique Son of God; the one promised in the Old Testament; the one who is to be worshipped and adored; the one sent by God from heaven and was ‘humbled for a season’ or ‘laid his glory by’; the one to whom we pray; the one who now sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.   His birth is presented as being other than normal;  his death as being sacrificial and redemptive for human sin; his resurrection as conquering the power of death, and his ascension as being a raising to heaven and to God’s side.  In traditional lyrics Jesus is often referred to as Saviour, Prince or King of Glory, Redeemer, Lord and God, the Lamb who in dying retrieved Adam’s fallen race, Deliverer, Messiah, Shepherd, Friend.   He is very seldom referred to as human, as a man.

 

In stark contrast my lyrics emphasize the ‘humanity’ of  Jesus.  My lyrics continually refer to Jesus as a man, a Jewish Rabbi.   They paint the picture of a man who was on the side of the poor and disadvantaged … a man whose life was full of integrity, courage and love … a man who fought against wrong and the   illegitimate use of power … a man, who in the exercise of his personal freedom and in acting out his own integrity, went to the cross.  

 

In my lyrics Jesus is sometimes depicted as one who was ‘broken’ by life. The cross is presented as a matter of tremendous tragedy, brought about by injustice and corruption.   They try to display the courage of Jesus and the ultimate futility of violence when challenged by love.  The resurrection of Jesus is a defining  example of the profound process of life from death – God’s renewing way.   The second coming of Christ occurs when love is expressed.

 

The aim of my lyrics is to re-present humanity in words and phrases that utilise concepts different from  those often employed in traditional as well as in many modern lyrics.

 

In many modern and traditional lyrics (at least those in the Australian Hymnbook – first printed in 1977), humans are depicted as sinners.   In the AHB of just over 575 hymns, more than 20% make reference to human beings as: lost, weak, blind, helpless, wretched, ‘Adam’s fallen or helpless race’, sinners, as having a huge debt; people who need forgiveness, deliverance, redemption, saving/salvation.  Being found guilty is the principal judgement pronounced on people.  Nevertheless humanity is still loved by God.  Occasionally, saints are mentioned but these usually refer to those who are  deceased and who were faithful believers in Jesus. 

 

In stark contrast my lyrics picture humans as being a mixture of failed attempts at discipleship and good and successful  intentions.   Human life is seen as a mixture of joy and sadness, grief and happiness. Humans have a divine dimension - the ‘God within’ – and God is exposed when they act lovingly and responsibly.   Humans, not God, must feed the poor, comfort the sick and sad as well as right the wrongs of this world.   As humans do these things, God is involved, not because God intervenes but because the ‘God within’ is uncovered.


In my lyrics singers will discover a number of other themes   including: 

  • Faith is not about believing a set of doctrines, but about walking into the Mystery of God.

  • Discipleship is more a matter of behaviour rather than assent to any creed, dogma or doctrine.

  • The end of this life is ‘dying into God’ rather than a going to heaven.

  • The Bible is taken seriously and critically rather than unquestionably the ‘Word of God’.

  • God’s incarnation resides in and through the cosmos. God’s incarnation is seen not only in Jesus but in all humanity, and in nature as well.

  • The sacrament of Communion is a memorial of a man suffering with dignity and courage, with integrity and grace rather than a memorial of a sacrifice for human sin.

  • Nature is displayed as mysteriously beautiful with ‘moods’ not conditioned by, or subservient to, human needs; not a Nature of ‘All things bright and beautiful’. It has aspects of harshness, cruelty and unpredictability.

  • Inter-faith celebration is promoted rather than the exclusiveness of Christianity.

 

I hope you find the contents of this collection of new lyrics to well-loved traditional tunes both helpful and useful.  As you sing, I hope the words encourage you think a bit more about your faith.

 


Grace and Peace  George Stuart     August 2006

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