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Lost in Translation

We often say and sing in churches ‘Jesus is Lord’ but what do we actually mean by that phrase? What do other people think we mean when they hear us saying ‘Jesus is Lord’?

A lot has been said and written about the content of the songs we use in times of sung-worship, and I think the content is hugely important – we are, after all, called to worship in Spirit and in truth, and to love God with all our heart and mind – but it seems to me just as important to consider how we say what we say.

There are many Christian phrases and jargon that just seem absurd to anyone outside the church or people new to the church. These phrases may well be biblically based, but to someone with minimal bible knowledge or experience singing ‘worthy’ to a baby sheep sitting on a throne just seems plain weird!

But it’s not just the more obscure Jewish imagery that can hinder people expressing their love of God, to God with their fellow worshippers. What about ‘Lord, I’m lifting your name high’? What do we mean by ‘shouting out his praise’?

The book of Revelation is loaded with vivid montages of weird creatures and glorious throne rooms full of words and actions and rituals that express honour and passion for God. The Psalms are full of ancient everyday-Hebrew imagery we’ve stolen and put into modern songs. But I feel there is a ‘lost in translation’ aspect occurring.

The culture in which David wrote the Psalms is very different to the culture we write songs in today. The vision John had of heaven and the end times in Revelation was full of cultural references and symbolism for first century Palestine. The language they used was effective then for that audience, but may not be as effective for our contexts. I’m not for one minute suggesting that the Bible is irrelevant today. But I am proposing we delve a little deeper into the underlying meaning of what David and the other songwriters were trying to express rather than just nicking their lyrics.

Let’s not just consider what we’re saying. Let’s be creative in how we are saying it. Let’s be like the inventive God we love and worship and come up with more imaginative ways of saying ‘God, you’re brilliant. We love you’. Be poetic, be relevant, be fresh, be different, and be original. Avoid those warn-out clichés and predictable rhymes. Find the gaps in our repertoires and fill them with songs that express something in a new way.

That of course is harder work than pinching lines straight from the Bible and playing a chord progression behind them. Song writing is about craftsmanship. Song writing isn’t lazy or just doing enough to churn out another album. Song writing is about art and finesse and skill. But ultimately I believe our churches will benefit from the investment and effort in writing and singing songs that express today’s worship experience, in contemporary language and that make sense.

Love Gives.

How can we ‘Love without limits’?

How do we follow Jesus’ example in the way he loved his neighbours, his friends, his enemies? It’s such an attractive part of Jesus’ life that no matter what faith standpoint you’re coming from, the way Jesus related to people with compassion and respect and love is something to be admired.

And I want to pay particular attention to the theme and aspect of giving in the love-life of Jesus. What role does giving play in loving without limits, without conditions, without prejudice.

A Prayer.

In light of the earthquake and tsunami that have affected many people in Japan and other pacific regions countries, let us pray.

If you want to use this prayer, either personally, in churches or other groups, I hope you find it useful and helpful.

Jimmy

Lord Jesus, Prince of peace, we draw near to you and pray.
As you intercede for us before the throne, so we come on behalf of those in need.
You calmed the raging storm, and so we ask you to still the restless hearts of those in pain.
Bring your peace to troubled places.
Jesus Christ, who calmed the wind and storm,
Hear our prayer and bring your calm amidst chaos.

Holy Spirit, our helper and our comforter, we draw near to you and pray.
As you intercede for us with groans that words cannot explain, so we pray on behalf of those in need.
You are our support and comfort, bringing peace beyond our understanding and so we ask you to be the steadfast truth in the minds of those in shock
Bring your comfort in confusion and commotion.
Holy Spirit, our comforter and helper,
Hear our prayer and bring your calm amidst chaos.

Father God, creator of heaven and earth, we draw near to you and pray.
We intercede in Christ Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit and pray on behalf of those in need.
Your ways are higher than ours and your wisdom infinitely greater. And so we ask you to give wisdom to those in difficulty and mercy to those who hurt.
Let your hope emerge from the debris of tragedy.
Father God, maker of heaven and earth,
Hear our prayer and bring your calm amidst chaos.
Lord, have mercy.
Amen

Three

"You're a worship leader?" he said in a broad Northern Irish accent.
"Yeah, yeah, I have been for a while. Haven't led for a bit though." I replied, slightly hesistantly.
"That's fantastic, mate. Well, would you'ze fancy leading here one Sunday?"
"Yeah, that'd be great."
I swapped contact details with the Irishman, with his fair hair and funny little 'soul-patch' beard perched just below his bottom lip, and thought nothing more of it as he walked away. Within minutes he was back.
"Jimmy, mate, I've managed to double-book myself for next weekend. I don't suppose there's the slighest chance you might be free to lead the worship here would you?"

I was a vistor. My friend was drumming in the band. Now, I was being asked to lead worship at a church I barely knew but for some unkown reason I agreed to cover.
The following week, with a makeshift band I led the songs. After the service I was asked if I was going to the meeting on Tuesday. It turned out that the worship leaders were meeting the following Tuesday and, seeing as I was now one of the worship leaders, it made sense that I was there.

And I've been here ever since.

Previously, I'd been beaten up and cut deep by the last church I was involved in; a church where I didn't fit. It was arguably the most painful experience of my life. I was totally disillusioned with church. How could Christian's claim to follow Jesus and yet be so narrow minded, so cruel, so heartless? I was never angry at God because he hadn't done anything wrong. But I was pretty much done with Church... until that conversation with Andy Flan on the stage at Church.co.uk three years ago; triggering a chain of events that saw me go from visitor to part of the family within the space of a week . Old wounds were gradually healed here. Forgiveness was allowed to brew here. People here quickly became my friends and helped to pick me up, dust me down and help me get going again.

I've been part of CCU for three years now and as my role here has developed, from visitor, to worship leader, to student on placement, speaker, running a small group, helping co-ordinate the worship team, being invited onto the Church Leadership team, being employed to develop the music and arts work... all the way along I've never stopped being grateful for the way this church played such a part in my recovery. Being part of the leadership of this church is a real privilege for me and every day I try and give something back to the community that gave so much to me.

Thank you Church.co.uk. And here's to the next chapter...

New Songs

At the end of last year I posted lyrics to two new songs I had written. I now post what those lyrics should sound like. Enjoy.

 

 'You Say' - Jimmy Orr © 2010

'This is the Church' - Jimmy Orr © 2010

Worship Together?

We seem to be living in a church culture where most people's definition and understanding of what worship is all about would probably involve something to do with singing and music. Often in church settings when we use the word 'worship' we actually mean 'music'. The worship leader is actually the music leader. "Let's move into a time of worship" acutally means "let's start singing".

Now, I'm not for one second suggesting that music and singing has no place in worship. Firstly, I'm a musician; I love music and I love God and I love the church so the more I can combine the three the better. But we need to remember that worship is so much more than only singing or music. And I'm not talking about the whole "Worship-is-a-lifestyle" thing either. I mean within our corporate gatherings, when a bunch of Christians get together to worship God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for who he is and what he's done for us, worship means more than music. Worship and Singing are not words that are interchangeable.