What Songs Should We Sing In Light Of Haiti?
January 18, 2010
As I prepared for this past Sunday’s worship set I had a very heavy heart. The stories and images coming out of Haiti are truly heart breaking and challenging at many levels. This past week Dennis Miller was asking for Christians to call into his radio show and explain how God allows this to happen. I listened every day as people would call in and espouse 1 of 2 theories.
God had nothing to do with this, this was Satan. or…
- This is direct punishment for Haitians sin.
It was frustrating and painful to hear people either run away from God’s sovereignty and appoint the power to call creation into action to Satan, or to run from grace and appoint judgment onto Haiti that all nations deserve and are under. It pains me to hear Christians disavowing the sovereign rule and reign of God over all creation, but it also pains me to hear Christians claiming they know why this happened. What a disgusting measure of pride in both circumstances. If you haven’t read Albert Mohler’s post on “Does God Hate Haiti?” I implore you to go read it.
So all of this is happening in my mind as I pray about what my responsibility is as a worship leader in light of what’s happening. It was a very similar feeling I felt after 9/11 and I remember the feeling that the church had no songs to sing after 9/11 because we tend to overlook worshiping in lament. Though the Psalms are full of worship in lament, our churches are usually void of them.
I felt it important for our church to not run from the gospel and hide in either of the extremes I mentioned above. That in light of what’s happening in Haiti we should respond corporately in a few ways:
1. We should grieve and mourn with those in Haiti
Romans 12:15 spells it out clearly, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Starting out the service with big smiles and happy clappy, dance in the aisles music seemed ill-fitting at best when viewed in the shadow of 50,000 dead with another 100,000 yet to be found. Paul says we should rejoice in our suffering, but doesn’t say we should rejoice in others suffering. In fact he says quite the opposite in 1 Corinthians 12:26 when discussing church unity:
“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (ESV)
Before and during our worship set we had a lot of prayer, acknowledging the heartache and suffering. And we mourned with those in Haiti dealing with this devastation first hand.
2. Worship the all sovereign God
The church has to recognize God’s sovereignty in all things. That God’s ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts and he has plans and purposes that we don’t see. I don’t see the number of earthquakes God has held back, the hurricanes he’s calmed or the tsunamis he’s diverted. Matt Chandler said,
“The entire universe is built around communicating to you that you’re tiny and you’re fragile and you control nothing.”
We are tiny and God is great, all powerful, all sovereign and all good. This earthquake as well as all creation should point us to God and illuminate his divine attributes (sovereignty being one of them). Romans 1:20:
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
Our worship set was filled with these songs, every song had this at its core. Our God Reigns, The Solid Rock, Whole World In His Hands.
3. Worship the merciful, loving, good God
God loves Haiti, he loves the people of Haiti and his heart is grieved. At the cross we see God’s perfect justice meet his perfect mercy, grace and love. We live in the aftermath of that collision on the cross and our hearts should be eternally grateful. Ephesians 2:4-7
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved– and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
We opened with God of This City, a song I think does an amazing job of communicating God’s sovereign rule, but that things aren’t yet as they should be. That God is still at work.
4. Serve the broken and minister to the lost
If all you have is great context and point of view without your heart being impacted and propelled towards acts of kindness and mercy, then there’s a disconnect with the gospel. My heart is warmed by the tremendous outpouring from the Christian community towards Haiti. There are so many different avenues of service and help happening right now and they all are orchestrated under the mercy, grace and sovereignty of God.
I think it it incredibly important for our worship to not hide from any of these things in this time. Our view of the gospel in our worship needs to be enriched not diluted. We can’t hide from this and we shouldn’t try and cloak God or any of his divine attributes to make it more palatable to the world. I beg my fellow worship leaders to point their churches, their community to the gospel in this season. In devastation and loss their is great opportunity for God to be magnified, for the lost to be pointed to Christ and for the church to be mobilized to show Christ’s love.
One of the songs we did which I really felt God appointed for us in this time is a song by Tim Hughes called “Whole World In His Hands.” I’ll finish with the lyrics to that song.
Verse 1
When all around is fading
And nothing seems to last
When each day is filled with sorrow
Still I know with all my heartChorus
He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands
I fear no evil for You are with me
Strong to deliver, mighty to save
He’s got the whole world in His handsVerse 2
When I walk through fire
I will not be burned
When the waves come crashing round me
Still I know with all my heart
[via Our Rising Sound]
Related posts:
- Why Don’t You Sing More Hymns?
- What Makes a Great Worship Song?
- ReVue: Light in the Darkness with Freddy Rodriguez
- I Stand Before Your Throne
- Worship in our Giving – Support Haiti
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Our set for yesterday was already planned before the earthquake but went well. The sermon theme planned for yesterday was "Touching the Community" and included the songs God Is Moving and God of This City. It went really well.
For next week, the already planned sermon is "Reaching the World" and we are doing Tomlin's Holy Is the Lord, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, Hallelujah What a Savior and Tim Hughes' God of Justice.
We had talked about Charlie Hall's Micah 6:8 but decided that with our team for next week God of Justice would be a better fit.
One song that came to mind today in this area was "God of Justice" by Tim Hughes. It's a great call to action type song.
We sang "God Of Justice" during our offering for Haiti on Sunday, and will sing Lincoln Brewsters "The Power of Your Name" during the same offering this Sunday. Fewer than 400 people, many of them guests, gave over $2500 to Haiti relief at our church this past Sunday.
Nate
Good insight, Kyle. I've linked this post from our blog post "What Do We Sing Now."
I think it all depends upon what lessons you'd like to cull from this. AFAIK, there are two (but there are others).
1) we need to help the less-fortunate, the impoverished in our back yard (God of Justice)
-and-
2) songs about praising God during times of severe trial.
Not to make light of this, but it goes without saying songs that use earthquake imagery ought to be shelved for the time being. (Let the Walls Fall Down, Shaking the Heavens, etc.)
Well nick since you are the expert what's a fresh suggestion for number 2?
My time is limited, so I apologize for not answering this fully (with the charts that I do) just yet. Off the top of my head, "Yet I Will Praise" from Andy Park and "I've Got Questions" from Tim Hughes fit perfectly into this category. If these songs are not exactly new, I still think that they play very well. A much older (and vastly underplayed) Vineyard song that I always go back to is "Help Us Our God" by Cindy Reithmeier (I think).
Later today I'll produce some good lists. I'll also pay special attention to songs that were played during the survey periods that occurred during other worldwide catastrophes.
Nick
1) we need to help the less-fortunate, the impoverished in our back yard (God of Justice)
-and-
2) songs about praising God during times of severe trial.
Not to make light of this, but it goes without saying songs that use earthquake imagery ought to be shelved for the time being. (Let the Walls Fall Down, Shaking the Heavens, etc.)
I think those are 2 important points you made. But I don't think either address the important question of sovereignty. That's the big question the world is asking, what is God's role in this earthquake? I think the church looks silly to be honest when we try and do some sort of slight of hand by ignoring that question and just say "worship God in this trial" and not address if he's sovereign *in* the trial. 2 very different points.
How we view God's sovereignty will greatly impact *how* we worship God in this trial or if we worship him at all. And that's the larger point I was trying to make in the post.
Thanks for your thoughts.
-Kyle
I think those are 2 important points you made. But I don't think either address the important question of sovereignty. That's the big question the world is asking, what is God's role in this earthquake? I think the church looks silly to be honest when we try and do some sort of slight of hand by ignoring that question and just say "worship God in this trial" and not address if he's sovereign *in* the trial. 2 very different points.
How we view God's sovereignty will greatly impact *how* we worship God in this trial or if we worship him at all. And that's the larger point I was trying to make in the post.
Thanks for your thoughts.
-Kyle
But I would advise to be careful here. There's a slippery slope that can lead some people to go the route of placing blame on God. The two suggestions circumvent this. Further, I'm of the persuasion that the absolute worst thing one can say to a person who's suffering is "All things work together for good for those who love Him"--it's been said so many times that it comes across as trite, especially in light of the magnitude of the devastation that has occurred.
So my thoughts are: okay, God is sovereign. Okay, for reasons mysterious to all mankind, God allowed the earthquakes in Haiti to happen, even if He is not the root cause of them. Now what? Would that make praising God harder? Would debating the intricacies of the mysteries behind Job's struggle take away precious minutes that could instead be given towards acting upon this?
When I'm good and ready, I'll run a "sovereign" lyric-check thru CCLI.
Nick
No time to look at sovereignty songs. I did a search based on Theme: Trials. I immediately remembered Fernando Ortega's "I Will Praise Him Still" and discovered that he used this as a theme to that song.
There were 18 songs in the Top 2000 lists from the past ten years, that had this theme. They are, in descending order:
line
Trading My Sorrows (2574653) by Evans, Darrell [at #:27]
Refiner's Fire (426298) by Doerksen, Brian [at #:126]
I Will Serve Thee (14040) by Gaither, William J./Gaither, Gloria [at #:469]
Walk By Faith (3903041) by Camp, Jeremy [at #:844]
Faithful One (465840) by Doerksen, Brian [at #:923]
I Will Overcome (2060277) by Hall, Charlie [at #:1132]
I Will Praise Him Still (2287995) by Ortega, Fernando [at #:1207]
Thanks (239227) by McGruder, Carroll [at #:1291]
Whole World In His Hands (4410148) by Hughes, Tim [at #:1302]
Give Me Words To Speak (4992082) by Shust, Aaron [at #:1439]
I Will Sing (3166266) by Moen, Don [at #:1527]
The Motions (4780335) by West, Matthew/Mizell, Sam/Houser, Jason [at #:1571]
When Trials Come (4619523) by Getty, Keith/Getty, Kristyn [at #:1968]
--the rest not on current Top 2000--
Shine (3447435) by James, Marc\Sheppard, Tre
God Who Comes To Save (4455251) by Packiam, Glenn
Cast All Your Cares (629909) by Cymbala, Carol
Trust His Heart (178072) by Carswell, Eddie\Mason, Babbie
Yet I Will Praise (3033258) by Park, Andy
Some of these are a little too... shall I say, _cheerful_? but there's some great ones in there.
TAke a quick listen to the words of this one. Put them in context of any disaster.
"You give and take away, my heart will truly say. Blessed be your name."
I think I will use this one on Sunday. Just me and one acoustic guitar with lots of heart in it.
"You give and take away, my heart will truly say. Blessed be your name."
I think I will use this one on Sunday. Just me and one acoustic guitar with lots of heart in it.
Lyrically, it's spot on. Tonally, it's a little bit too strongly upbeat. Temper the tone with a stripped down version, it probably will work. (same prob w Trading My Sorrows).
Personally... and this just entered my mind... if you find another B-keyed 4/4 song with a similar medium slow tempo, one which has the same lyrical focus, you can medley directly into BBYN *ON THAT VERY LINE*. Find the right song, and it will be quite powerful.
Travis I am glad you pointed that out to me today.
And I agree with Nick, a slowed down more relaxed tempo would be great leading into another song in the same key.
Good thinkin Nick. So what song will that be? I guess I need to think more about this.
I ran the same CCLI query based on THEME = Trials, like yesterday. Only this time, I sorted the list by Key, to see if I can find any A, Bb or B songs that could possibly work, in conjunction with the bridge with BBYN.
Here's something to try: why not Jeremy Camp's "Walk By Faith"? I know that's in 6/8, but could the BBYN bridge be sung with 6/8? This forces the latter to slow down, and can work together.
Another song: It Is Well With My Soul.
There's also a new song from Paul Baloche (unheard by me) called "We Will Hold On."
Let me know if any of these work.
Nick
Here's something to try: why not Jeremy Camp's "Walk By Faith"? I know that's in 6/8, but could the BBYN bridge be sung with 6/8? This forces the latter to slow down, and can work together.
Another song: It Is Well With My Soul.
We really like the Todd Fields version of It Is Well, different chorus, modified chords. I had kind of forgotten about it until now.
This one is not your typical worship song, but I would recommend it nonetheless. I think it appropriate for the context...
Mike Crawford: Words To Build A Life On To Will One Thing
Also, I'm thinking about a reading of Psalm 88. It's pretty heavy, yet it's there, something in it resounds with the (unimaginable) suffering in Haiti right now...
Nate
Haven't sen it mentioned yet...
There are a number of songs from the CompassionArt project (CompassionArt | Home) that would work very well. The song 'You have Shown Us' has resonated with my congregation.
Somebody mentioned earlier about "Sovereign" songs. Songs in which we declare that God is all-sovereign, even in the midst of disaster. I've expressed reservations on such an approach, but since I'm pretty good at finding like-minded songs, I thought it be nice to research all "sovereign" songs throughout the CCLI universe that have somewhat resonated, at any point in time, within the last ten years.
The following is a list of songs that have "Sovereign" as a Title/Alternate-title, or sovereign in the lyrics, or "Sovereignty" as a theme.... all this, and have made the CCLI Top 2000 at any point within the last ten years. It is sorted with the most popular current entries first.
Let the buyer beware. I do not endorse nor not-endorse any of these songs, many of which are unfamiliar to me. If they work for you, mazeltoff.
There are 34 songs.
Lord Most High (2037688) by Harris, Don/Sadler, Gary [at #:141]
None But Jesus (4726186) by Fraser, Brooke [at #:221]
Your Name Is Holy (2650371) by Doerksen, Brian [at #:433]
Let Your Kingdom Come (4804046) by Kauflin, Bob [at #:468]
You Are Still Holy (2581983) by Springer, Rita [at #:640]
You Are In Control (2318826) by Underwood, Scott [at #:842]
Take Us To The River (2607692) by Mark, Robin [at #:871]
Sing To The Lord (5065949) by Crocker, Matt/Guglielmucci, Mike [at #:914]
God Moves (4662824) by Kauflin, Bob/Cowper, William [at #:1277]
There Is None Like You (4882264) by Abel, Jon/Cates, Chad/Pierce, Cary [at #:1423]
He Is Yahweh (3277849) by Salyn, Dean [at #:1496]
Everything That Has Breath (2163765) by Hira, Michelle [at #:1540]
Let Us Be (3550061) by Reider, Robbie [at #:1590]
Spirit Of The Sovereign Lord (1025959) by Park, Andy [at #:1617]
Sovereign Hands (4705231) by Fieldes, Mia [at #:1663]
Let The Weight Of Your Glory Fall (2790475) by Merkel, Steve [at #:1805]
Shine In Me (4888433) by Clements, Caleb [at #:1893]
He Is Lord (2293738) by Grotenhuis, Dale [at #:1901]
Alas And Did My Savior Bleed (2164908) by Kauflin, Bob \ Watts, Isaac [at #:1914]
Blessed Be Your Name (4010809) by Foote, Billy
Carry Me (3052569) by Lawson, Judie\Miner, Kate
For Your Gift Of God The Spirit (233924) by Clarkson, Margaret\Rowlands, William P.
God Of The Ages (27082) by Clarkson, Margaret/MacDonald, Mary
He's Gonna Reign Forever (923320) by Hendrickson, Joel Weldon\Mills, Steve
King Forever (2420202) by Rose, Alan
Lord God Of Abraham (4488644) by Merkel, Steve/Tuttle, Wes
Only You (3995705) by Phillips, Randy
Sovereign Lord (3548509) by Johnson, Lauren/Miller, Mark
Sovereign Lord (4073963) by Mehrens, Phil
Sovereign Lord (713231) by Fettke, Tom
You Alone (My Maker And My King) (4407450) by Smiley, Billy \ Brown, Ryan \ Shust, Aaron \ Wild, Joel
You Brought Me Here (4983008) by Conkle, Kenneth, Jr.
Your Name Is Great (2927231) by Thomas, Derick W./Houghton, Israel
Your Throne (2318819) by Corum, Casey
We are doing Casting Crowns "if we ever needed you" and pics during a special offering.
Thanks Nick. For some reason listening to None But Jesus - Brooke Fraser in light of Haiti just reall resonates with me.
Well, I did use Blessed Be Your Name on acoustic. No drums etc. Laid it back in tempo, threw in some pauses, led prayer after the bridge with soft guitar in the background then picked up after praying for Haiti, and mud slides picked up the first verse and chorus again.
It was awesome for me!!! While I was praying I took the opportunity to open my eyes and was looking out at the congregation and they had thier eyes closed and heads bowed in prayer and meditation,,,,Thanks be to God.