One of the things I’ve occasionally observed in worship music is an attempt to write passionate, heartfelt, and moving lyrics – but missing that target and instead writing heresy.
It hurts my heart.
I stumbled on a song recently that perfectly fits this bill. I’ll offer two caveats before I complain: first, I could be misinterpreting the song lyrics. I don’t really think I am, but music is an artistic expression and I can certainly be misinterpreting the lyrics, intention, or meaning of what I’m hearing. The second clarifier is that I don’t assume the artists are intending to misrepresent truth – at worst I assume they were just being overzealous and missed some implications. Unfortunately, though, those misses are weighty.
The song in question right now is More to Me by Steffany Gretzinger, featuring Chandler Moore. Overall, I don’t mind Gretzinger, and Moore is one of the best Christian vocalists… I don’t know who I like more (probably Josh Garrels). I’ve listened to some of Gretziner’s albums before, but haven’t been all too compelled. And I don’t remember hearing this song, or being so struck by these lyrics.
Overall, I loved the feel – it’s beautifully stripped down and the vocals are wonderful (until the bridge, I guess). One YouTube commentator said it was “intimate,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s passionate and the longing for Jesus is so clear. I love that. Moore’s accompaniment, in particular, is careful and adds so much, while being so subtle.
That said, I would argue the beginning of the chorus include a pretty bad lyric, attempting to be sincere:
All of the others,
They don’t matter,
You are everything
I’m amazed that anyone could consider saying, “everyone else doesn’t matter – because of my love for Jesus!” There are so many ways to misconstrue a concept like this; so many ways read, internalize, and then act out this semi-gnostic, overstated, silly notion. And on face value, it’s certainly not biblical.
How in the world could you imagine saying, “Jesus, everyone that you valued above you life – they’re worthless to me! I only want you!”
It is impossible to want Jesus without wanting His people.
I understand the concept that Gretzinger is going for. But it’s not what she sang.
The second half of the chorus is correct, and communicates that concept better:
All of the others
They come after
You mean more to me
You mean more to me
Awesome! That’s correct. They all come after Christ, but you can’t ignore, dismiss, or invalidate them! I don’t even think Jesus’ strong, hyperbolic comparative language in Luke 14:26 gives warrant for this lyric: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Jesus is clearly speaking in the hyperbolic – Gretzinger is not clearly being hyperbolic. Jesus is using langue of posture, Gretzinger is using language of value. There is a difference.
I also have tensions – though perhaps a little more nuanced – with the bridge. She sings:
Let me set a table
For the One that I love
This is my desire
All I have is ready
To fulfill Your longing
What do You desire?
My tension here isn’t exactly the precise notion, although there’s a little of that. And I readily admit, I’m being very picky and critical here. Instead, my tension is a co-opting of biblical motifs to express biblical truths, but ignoring the context of those motifs for the plain text reading.
That is, she’s using the imagery of setting a table as a positive expression of her desire to serve God, while in the Bible, setting a table is almost always either used to describes God’s sovereign humility towards us. When it is a person setting a table for God, it seems to be consistently inappropriate.
That is, we see God, “setting a table before us, in the presence of our enemies” (Psalm 23:5). This is God’s protection and lavish grace on His people. Or, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Rev 19:9). God prepares a feast for His people, claimed by His Son’s blood.
Conversely, as Abraham prepares a table for the Lord, Sarah laughs and scoffs at God’s promise and Abraham is chastised for their lack of faith (Genesis 19:13-14). Or, when Jesus visits, Martha busies herself with cleaning and preparing a table, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. Martha is cautioned, “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'”
Again, I assume I’m being nitpicky here. But Gretzinger is adopting biblical motif language while seeming to reverse the meaning, or at least ignoring some of the implications. I can clearly hear her intentions. And they’re good! Let’s response to our love of Christ by serving and seeking to love Him through our actions! That’s good! (I’m going to ignore the final two lines – “to fulfill Your longing, what do you desire?” They seem a little messy).
But ultimately, I think it’s worth being careful with our language.