There is a God who loves them

I’ve been helping at the Inner City Church for a few weeks now, and it’s been a great time of serving, learning, and growing. My last blog post was a rant about a worship song I don’t care for. Today, I want to write about a worship song that has taken on new meaning for me recently because of my involvement with Inner City. It’s Michael Gungors song “Wrap me in Your arms“.

The song, to be completely honest, is a bit too touchy-feely for me to get into right now. I know God loves me, and I enjoy singing about His great love. But things in my life are great, and I don’t find myself hurting or in need, wanting him to wrap me in His arms.

At the Inner City Church, though, I am around people who are hurting and in need, yet I realize that I don’t always want to proverbially or literally wrap my arms around some of them. People aren’t always lovely. The lady who told me she had an abortion because she didn’t want to carry a gay man’s baby comes to mind. So does the mentally handicapped boy who came to church Sunday with dried snot and blood on his face. Or the child who I had to physically restrain Sunday morning so he wouldn’t endanger other kids. And espcially the preteen who can’t go two words without a vile comment about women popping out of his mouth.

These are people who are stained by the sin in the world, and they aren’t pretty. Others at the church are far easier to love, but they too are hurting and in need. They desperately need to know of a God who loves them. Lately, I’ve found myself wanting to change the song’s lyrics to make it a prayer on their behalf:

There is a God who loves them
Who wraps them in His arms
And that is the place where they’re changed
And that’s where they belong

Take them to that place Lord
To that secret place where
They can be with You
You can make them like You

Wrap them in Your arms
Wrap them in Your arms
Wrap them in Your arms

David, the Pentecostal Icon

When I woke up this morning, I had a song in my head you may know if you’re frequently exposed to the charismatic or pentecostal Christian subculture: “When the Spirit of the Lord”. If you’re not familiar with the song, here’s a clip of a band performing it. It’s the one about dancing like David, and I don’t know about you, but I hate the song for several reasons.

Among my reasons for disliking this song is that it implies I should only praise God when “the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart,” and it actually encourages people to lie. Lots of people sing the lyrics “I will dance, I will dance, I will dance like David danced” while they are not dancing.

However, my chief reason for disliking this song is that it is about David – not God. I’m not interested in singing about David; he’s never done anything for me. But I really do like to sing about God’s goodness and power. On this point, “When the Spirit of the Lord” fails to be a real worship song in my opinion.

I find it amazing that churches sing this song, since it isn’t about God. Given the bias against Catholics that exists in many pentecostal and charismatic circles, I have to wonder if we would be as quick to sing the song if it was about Mary. Could your church sing this?

When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will believe like Mary believed
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will believe like Mary believed

I will believe, believe, believe like Mary believed
I will believe, believe, believe like Mary believed

When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will obey like Mary obeyed
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will obey like Mary obeyed

I will obey, obey, obey, like Mary obeyed
I will obey, obey, obey, like Mary obeyed

"We love the Lordie"

I just watched a video from a so-called Christian youth concert. Rick Pino, a worship leader with Fire Rain Ministries, adapted the chorus of Orgy’s “You Spin Me Right Around” song from the 80s into a “Christian” song by changing the word “baby” to “Jesus”. Yes, it’s like the South Park episode where they mocked Christian music by doing the exact same thing.

Before starting the song, Rick had everyone take off their shoes under the guise of reverencing God’s holiness. However, what he really wanted was for everyone to take their socks off and spin them around while singing the song. After the song, Rick announced, “We love the Lordie.”

What ever happened to reverencing (ie, worshipping) God?

Just in case you’re curious, here are the lyrics to the Orgy’s song:

Chorus:
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round, round, round
(x2)

If I, I get to know your name
Well I, could trace your private number, baby

All I know is that to me
You look like you’re lots of fun
Open up your loving arms
I want some, want some

I set my sights on you
(And no one else will do)
And I, I’ve got to have my way now, baby

All I know is that to me
You look like you’re having fun
Open up your loving arms
Watch out here I come

Chorus:
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round, round, round
(x2)

I got to be your friend now, baby
And I would like to move in just a little bit closer

All I know is that to me
You look like you’re lots of fun
Open up your loving arms
Watch out here I come

Chorus (x2)

All I know is that to me
You look like you’re lots of fun
Open up your loving arms
Watch out here I come

Chorus (x2)