china - "Amazing Love" vs. "And Can It Be"

Below you will find the lyrics from two famous songs. The first song, as you might already know, was obviously in some way based upon or born out of the second.

As you read the lyrical content of the songs, try to take note of what has changed in the past 270 years since the first song was written. You can find my thoughts at the bottom of this post, after you finish reading the second song.

You Are My King (Amazing Love) - Newsboys (2003)

Im forgiven because You were forsaken

Im accepted, You were condemned

Im alive and well, Youre spirit lives within me

Because You died and rose again

Chorus:

Amazing Love, how can it be?

That You, my King, would die for me

Amazing Love, I know it’s true

And it’s my joy to honor You

In all I do, I honor You

You are my King….

Jesus, You are my King..

Jesus, You are my King…

And Can It Be - Charles Wesley (1738)

And can it be that I should gain

an interest in the Savior's blood!

Died he for me? who caused his pain!

For me? who him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be

that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be

that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!

Who can explore his strange design?

In vain the firstborn seraph tries

to sound the depths of love divine.

'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;

let angel minds inquire no more.

'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;

let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father's throne above

(so free, so infinite his grace!),

emptied himself of all but love,

and bled for Adam's helpless race.

'Tis mercy all, immense and free,

for O my God, it found out me!

'Tis mercy all, immense and free,

for O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned sprit lay,

fast bound in sin and nature's night;

thine eye diffused a quickening ray;

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

my chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in him, is mine;

alive in him, my living Head,

and clothed in righteousness divine,

bold I approach th' eternal throne,

and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Bold I approach th' eternal throne,

and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

-So, what did you think? Do you prefer the first or the second of the two songs? I am not asking which type of music you prefer (hymn vs. contemporary), but about the lyrics themselves.

I am afraid that the vast majority of our modern Christian worship music is lacking tremendously in its content. The first song, although it doesn't have any theological error of any kind, doesn't even begin to scrape the surface of the depth of the meaning of the Truths that it is meant to share with the listener.

The second song, however, is rich with theology (knowledge about God) and it seeks to mine the depths of the riches of the Truths found in Holy Scriptures.

In other words, in our modern worship, we have sacrificed content for something more attractive. We seek to make songs sound 'pretty' and 'catchy' instead of 'boring' and 'preachy'.

But where are we to receive more Truth, more knowledge about God himself? From the former, or the songs of today?

Are we better off for having adapted in the way that we have, or is the shallowness seen so often in modern Christendom a direct result of the theological shallowness found in so much of our music and our preaching?

I am afraid the answer is very obvious.