Never Alone
Things have been a little quiet on the blog recently. Sorry.
Here is something I've been working on. What do you think? Would you ever want to sing it in church?
I think it's got a few dodge lines. Any suggestions for improvements?
Never Alone
We’re not alone, for Christ is here
Immanuel our God come near
We’re not alone, for to our world
Jesus has come, eternal word.
And as he speaks, our souls laid bare
Naked, ashamed, our sin is clear
Yet mercy clothes us in his love
Never alone, Christ is with us.
The longest walk, earth’s darkest day
Noise from the crowd and mounting pain
His heavy load of grief and shame
Breathless that we should breathe again.
“Lord, it is finished,” comes his cry
Then silence fills the blackened sky.
A creeping dread in every heart
Lost in the world now God departs.
The dawn will come, the sun will rise
Out of the grave we’ll see hope’s light.
Tomb opened wide, stone rolled away
Morning has come, a brand new day.
“He isn’t here,” the angel said.
“He is alive no longer dead.”
Now Jesus lives we’re not alone
Christ is with us, Christ is our own.
Never alone is now our cry
In joy, in grief, in lonely sin.
Never alone for Christ is ours
He lives in us, we live in him.
And up until that final day
When all our fears are cast away
We live secure, trust in his love,
Never alone, Christ is with us.
SAR 2006
posted by Simone R. @ 9:13 am
5 comments
5 Comments:
I quite like the lyrics and could sing it at church. I love the description of Good Friday and the picture it creates.
However I reckon that it's a bit "light on" when it comes to the resurrection. (But this might just be my current hobby horse!) I reckon that you could not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus and still sing this song.
Whether that's a real issue or not though ...
Hmmm. But how to change it?
Is the issue "he lives in us" - in our minds, our memories, our imaginations - rather than living in reality?
Thanks. I'll give it some thought. Very open to all improvements.
"In a song you can't exactly have
"He is bodily (not spiritually in case anyone was wondering) alive no longer dead."....."
and there you are spot on.
The place where that is weakened is the following lines, which interperet the meaning of the "no longer dead" Christ.
However the interesting question this raises for me is whether this is a real issue or not. Is it a problem that a song could be understood in a non-orthodox way?
Andrew, honey, thanks for defending my little song, but...
Daniel, I think you've located its weakest point. You just haven't quite put your finger on exactly what the problem is.
I think the last two lines of the third verse are a huge anti-climax. Jesus' resurrection is something that is so un-normal, so supernatural that the stars should be shaking in the sky, the trees clapping their hands and all of us whooping in joy and amazement. It means that our sins are forgiven, we're right with God, death is not the end etc. etc.
As it is in my song, Jesus' resurrection is something that can make me feel a little bit better when I'm feeling lonely. Weak.
So it comes across as if I don't really belive in the bodily resurrection of Jesus at all. Because if I did, it would have to mean more than that.
Does that sound like what your concerned about?
Andrew, your comment is very helpful and is hopefully some wisdom I keep carrying around. The words of the song don't deny the resurrection (nor do they sound like Simone doesn't believe it) and you can't possibly guard against every single mis-interpretation of your words.
Simone, maybe it is anti-climactic however I think that Andrew's suggestion is really helpful. One of the great effects of the resurrection is that Christ gives us His Spirit (John 16v7).
Anyway, I look forward to seeing what might happen if you get with a muso to put this into song!
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