I don't like the "Boyfriend" genre at all, but I have to admit you do have a point. Unless of course SoS was never intended as allegory.
Either way, I don't recall much "Song of Solomon type" praise in the Bible. It seems to me that most of the psalmists actually praised God in more majestic terms. Of course, I could be wrong, but that is more of the type of praise that I am attracted to. To me it's almost like how parents need to be parents and not their childrens' "friends"...I'd rather my relationship with God not be romantic and sensual in those terms.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
Either way, I don't recall much "Song of Solomon type" praise in the Bible. It seems to me that most of the psalmists actually praised God in more majestic terms. Of course, I could be wrong, but that is more of the type of praise that I am attracted to. To me it's almost like how parents need to be parents and not their childrens' "friends"...I'd rather my relationship with God not be romantic and sensual in those terms.
An excellent point.
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
For the third point to make is a theological one. Jesus is not your boyfriend, not your fiance, and not your eventual husband.
By God's grace, Christians get to enjoy a wide range of relationships with Jesus. We are described in the New Testament variously as Jesus' slaves, Jesus' servants, Jesus co-workers, Jesus' friends, and even Jesus' brothers and sisters. Since the plural form of each of these is used, it is correct then for me to say, "I am Jesus' slave, servant, co-worker," etc.
But the New Testament never calls Christians Jesus' fiancees or his brides. Instead, it is the Church collectively, and only the Church as a whole, that relates to Jesus this way - just as individual Israelites did not relate to Yhwh as so many spouses, but only the nation of Israel as nation was his beloved bride.
So I'm not singing to Jesus that I'm in love with him, because I'm not. I love him, and I aspire to loving him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. But I do not aspire to being in love with him, and I'm sure he understands.
I wish our worship leaders and songwriters did, too.
Not sure if I agree completely with this article, but I found it to be an interesting perspective.
__________________ "We ask why there so many signs and miracles overseas but not in America. I’ll tell you why. Overseas, they preach to the lost. In America, we preach to the found." -Joel Stockstill
From where I'm standing, I am in love with Him. Certainly not like with my wife, but I have no problem stating that I am in love with Jesus. I know what I mean and I don't mean that He is my boyfriend. That's just weird! I don't recall any songs we sing that are "boyfriend" songs.
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"Those who go after the "Sauls" among us often slay the Davids among us." Gene Edwards
From where I'm standing, I am in love with Him. Certainly not like with my wife, but I have no problem stating that I am in love with Jesus. I know what I mean and I don't mean that He is my boyfriend. That's just weird! I don't recall any songs we sing that are "boyfriend" songs.
Me neither, but some of those he listed I don't see anything wrong with. It's just not a style we sing much.
Some songs are sappy. Some people are just sappy. LOL!!!! Sappy people like sappy songs. It's a personality thing!!!
Also, the whole superior "vertical worship" trend is partly to blame. Folks are trying so hard to sing TO God, that sometimes it does come across like a cheesy love letter, and forget that it's just fine to sing ABOUT Him, or sing testimony style!
There are some songs, though, that I LOVE to sing or listen to when I'm praying. I agree that some songs go too far, but that doesn't mean all worshipful songs are "boyfriend" songs. I don't agree that "in love with Jesus" is inappropriate, either.
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Some songs are sappy. Some people are just sappy. LOL!!!! Sappy people like sappy songs. It's a personality thing!!!
Also, the whole superior "vertical worship" trend is partly to blame. Folks are trying so hard to sing TO God, that sometimes it does come across like a cheesy love letter, and forget that it's just fine to sing ABOUT Him, or sing testimony style!
There are some songs, though, that I LOVE to sing or listen to when I'm praying. I agree that some songs go too far, but that doesn't mean all worshipful songs are "boyfriend" songs. I don't agree that "in love with Jesus" is inappropriate, either.
Me neither. Most of what I listen to is CCM and I enjoy it very much. The thread was sparked by the song that I posted first.
__________________ "We ask why there so many signs and miracles overseas but not in America. I’ll tell you why. Overseas, they preach to the lost. In America, we preach to the found." -Joel Stockstill
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