11-year old writes new hymn

[spiritmech]

from http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/NEWS05/512020324/1001/NEWS via getreligion.org (http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1223)

What do you think of the words?


God the Trinity in one,
Sits among the stars and sun.
He doth rule with faithful hand,
Peace and love His valiant band.
High above the clouds He reigns,
Ne'er with Him you'll
feel sad stains.
Chains of sorrow He doth break,
None shall feel thy painful stake.
Angels high doth praise His love,
We sing to our God above.
With Him is our resting place,
There we'll meet
His wondrous grace.



What do you think? Good theology, but not so pretty? Nice words, but theologically askew? Good both aesthetically and theologically? Horrible on both counts?

sm

[AcousticJS]

I think it's a distinctly one-dimensional vision of God. Paul exhorts us in Romans to consider both the kindness and severity of God, and this hymn only considers the kindness. What's more, it seems to suggest that God will shield us from knowing pain in this life because He loves us too much for us to let us feel "sad stains" or "thy painful stake"

Part of me also really dislikes the fact that he felt like he had to use some religious language to make it "sound like it should". I'm not so sure it would have done, but I've not heard the melody so who knows.

In short, I probably wouldn't pick it as a song to lead my congregation in adoring God. It just seems like a set of nice thoughts about God, and may picture God as "nicer" than He really is through now acknowledging the fear of the Lord.

Sorry for my negativity...

[Minnesota]

Forgetting about who wrote it, it's not very good. Then there's the question of the score, which is a big question mark. But there's been a lot worse that has gotten air time, which would put this far above a lot of the dreck that poses as music.

[Amazing Rando]

Forgetting about who wrote it, it's not very good. Then there's the question of the score, which is a big question mark. But there's been a lot worse that has gotten air time, which would put this far above a lot of the dreck that poses as music.

You do realize what forum this is posted in, don't you? :poke:

[GreatWhiteHype2]

from http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/NEWS05/512020324/1001/NEWS via getreligion.org (http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1223)

What do you think of the words?


God the Trinity in one,
Sits among the stars and sun.
He doth rule with faithful hand,
Peace and love His valiant band.
High above the clouds He reigns,
Ne'er with Him you'll
feel sad stains.
Chains of sorrow He doth break,
None shall feel thy painful stake.
Angels high doth praise His love,
We sing to our God above.
With Him is our resting place,
There we'll meet
His wondrous grace.



What do you think? Good theology, but not so pretty? Nice words, but theologically askew? Good both aesthetically and theologically? Horrible on both counts?

sm


Honestly now, who still says "doth"? :smile: Last I checked, that language was used at a bare minimum in conversation a couple hundred years ago. I can understand the hymns penned in that time carrying that language...but today? Please...the church doesn't need to perpetuate the stereotype (often true) that it's stuck in the 1800s and needs to recognize reality.

As far as the song, I'd have to agree with some of the sentiments expressed above. I'm not as harsh on individual songs, because they usually each have a point, and aren't intended to be sweeping theological statements, but a sweeping statement such as "Ne'er with him you'll feel sad stains" is just. not. true. This song smacks more as a product of therapeutic society than urging us to faithfulness...but I gotta give props to this 11 year-old; even more if he uses "doth" in his everyday conversation. :smile: