It hasn't been a very enjoyable evening. We have been at music practise this evening where we have been asked to try out a new worship song. It must surely have a claim to be up there amongst the worst worship songs of all time: "Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin.
Where do I start my rant about how bad this song is? Should I start with the horrendous irony of the song-title itself, which claims God is indescribable but nevertheless gives it a shot? I will leave aside the plodding 6/8 rhythm and the dull baseline, the repetitive chorus - these are sort of standard in modern worship songs. I will leave aside the utter banality of the final line in the chorus, "You are amazing, God" (which ranks alongside Tim Hughes, "You're altogether lovely" in its toe-curling naffness). What seals it for me is the second verse, which manages to combine poor theology and cringingly bad poetry in a striking tour de force:
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?
Who imagined the sun and gave source to its light?
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night?
None can fathom
This is the sort of song that gives Richard Dawkins and other religious sceptics so much ammunition its ... undescribable. Even if we concede that these might be poetic images, the implications behind them are obvious. If God has told every lightning bolt where to strike then what is the moral consequences of the suffering that causes? Is He smiting the evil-doers or is He simply capriciously and maliciously striking down everyone? And as for creating the day and night just to give us light and warmth, this is another example of that terrible theology that implies that the universe has been created for our convenience. Its just rubbish, pure and simple.
Rant over. Sorry about that. I'll be better in the morning. Mel has just reminded me that I have vowed to remember how I might have an impact on other people - so sorry if I have offended anyone who happens to like this song.
4 comments:
Count me in as one who does like this song - though not uncritically. I'm going to do a post on my blog (http://www.jandmclark.com/), as you do raise some good points about it.
Hi Simon,
Happy New Year and hope the career plans go well for you. I'm not much of an expert like you on the whole God thing (except lighting a candle occasionally and speaking to 'something') but do you like any CCM (Comtemporary Christian Music)? It can be very uplifting. I like Amy Grant and Avalon. Worth checking out...
Jake - Chelt
Why don't you tell us which songs help you encounter God instead of criticising - it might be helpful to someone!
Cheers
Pete...
Hi Jake / Pete
Thanks for your comments. Sorry if it took a couple of days to get round to reading them!
Can't say I've spent much time listening to Amy Grant or Avalon but I'll seek them out!
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