Christian Living

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Have you noticed how much of “us” occurs in today’s songs of praise? The words “I” “We” and “Me” appear on the church screen regular as a chiming clock.

Christians sing to the Holy One, the Creator, the architect of the universe; God who is pure, righteous, holy. We in comparison have become the elephant instead of the ant. There should be much less of us and more of Him.

We need to stop focusing on ourselves. “I lift my hands up” we sing, but who cares. It is He to whom we lift our hands who is important.

The songs we sing today should be full of “You,” meaning Almighty God. We need to forget ourselves, not even mention ourselves in that singing. We must get back to describing the awesomeness of God in our songs, we need to realize His majesty; the immensity of God should envelop us like a fog as we praise Him, and the words we sing should reflect that. The song “Majesty, Worship His Majesty” is in line with the point made here, but there are few like that today.

There is also a time for musicians to be silent, when we can just ponder – yes, a full two minutes - of how mighty God is, without the tinkling piano, clanging cymbals, crashing drums and twanging electric guitars.

The songs we sing should also highlight the unsaved, and the task we have in doing something about it. When did you last hear a song on that topic? Today it’s all about how God is going to benefit me, bless me, make life better for me, me, me, what’s in it for me.

Following is an example of how a song can be written which has a “do something” message, and doesn’t contain the almost mandatory I, Me, Us, and We. The hymn is listed in “Great Hymns of the Faith,” titled “Throw Out the Lifeline.” The Lifeline is the Gospel, the people drowning are the unsaved. It was written by Edward S. Ufford probably early in the 20th century. Yes, the wording style is not what is in use today, but the message is powerful.

1. Throw out the Lifeline across the dark wave! There is a brother whom someone should save;
Somebody’s brother! Oh who then will dare, to throw out the Lifeline, his peril to share.

2. Throw out the Lifeline with hand quick and strong; Why do you tarry, why linger so long?
See he is sinking! O hasten today, and out with the lifeboat! Away, then, away.

3. Throw out the Lifeline to danger-fraught men; sinking in anguish where you’ve never been;
Winds of temptation and billows of woe, will soon hurl them out where the dark waters flow.

4. Soon will the season of rescue be o’er; soon will they drift to eternity’s shore;
Haste then my brother, no time for delay; but throw out the Lifeline and save them today.

The chorus goes:
Throw out the Lifeline! Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the Lifeline! Throw out the Lifeline! Someone is sinking today.

Oh, how we need such songs ringing out in our churches today!

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