Since I’m on the topic of Vineyard Worship songs, I’ll point out one example of a song that has troubled me for quite some time. I remember someone gave me a tape with David Ruis’ song, “True Love,� on it. After listening to it a few times, I was so troubled by the words, I couldn’t stand it any more. I really could understand how Chuck Colson could say what he said in that worship service. When you have heard something that has disturbed your soul that much, you almost want to run out of the room with your hands over your ears.

Well, “True Love� makes me feel this way. Here are the lyrics:

Jesus I need to know true love
Deeper than the love found on earth
Take me into the King’s chambers
Cause my love to mature

Let me know the kisses of Your mouth
Let me feel Your embrace
Let me smell the fragrance of Your touch
Let me see Your lovely face

Take me away with You
Even so, Lord, come
I love You Lord
I love You more than life

My heart, my flesh yearn for You, Lord
To love You is all I can do
You have become my sole passion
Cause my love to be true

Copyright © 1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing.

I understand that Jesus is the Bridegroom and the church is His Bride (Ephesians 5). But only with an allegorical reading of the Song of Songs does one come up with a picture of Jesus as the church’s lover. Biblical scholars continue to debate the issue of whether Song of Songs is meant to be an allegory in the first place (I personally hold to the position that it is not an allegory, but rather an exposition on marital love). But I would assume that no biblical scholar would ever take the position that Jesus as “lover� of the church, would lead us to think specifically about this relationship in a sexual manner.

Now, I know that this song isn’t necessarily doing that. But the implications are pretty clear, in particular the chorus. And I must say as a man, I could not sing this chorus without having a mental image of me kissing Jesus on the mouth, whatever that would look like! And yes, that would make me leave the room screaming.

The melody though is soothing and pleasing. And so, it is terribly too easy for a person to sing this song, without at all thinking about what they are singing. It really is a wolf in sheep’s skin. This is why we cannot sing songs on the basis of how a song sounds and neglect the intent of the lyrics.

I am also troubled when people tell me that hate a song or mimic a song in jest because they don’t like the “style� of the song. Even though the song can have the best of lyrics, because it does not match a person’s “taste,� the song is rejected as out-of-date or melodically not to a person’s liking. But a song that “sounds cool� with white-washed lyrics is somehow a good song. To me, this smacks of something that is quite similar to preaching. People would rather have a sermon with strong articulation, illustrations that are moving or funny, and short, and yet lack any solid exposition and exegesis of the Bible. But a sermon that is strong exegetically and exposits the Word faithfully without as many funny illustrations is outright rejected as boring and stale. Of course, the preacher must bridge the gap between the Word and the world we live in. But it is too often the case in our day, where people want the how-to’s rather than the Word of God unadulterated.

I’m sorry but Wordless, exposition-less preaching does not stir my heart and songs that melodically might sound good but have no depth move my heart less and less as well. But more than anything else, I hope I never am in a place where they sing:

Let me know the kisses of Your mouth
Let me feel Your embrace
Let me smell the fragrance of Your touch
Let me see Your lovely face

But instead, may I hear these words by Mark Altrogge in “Jesus, My Only Hope� over and over again!

I will not fear Your judgment.

For me, no wrath I dread.

For it was spent on Jesus,

Poured out upon His head

Jesus my only hope, my only plea.

My righteousness, My great High Priest,

Who intercedes for me before the throne.

Jesus, I trust in You alone.

All of Sovereign Grace’s songs are on their site and their songsheets are free!!! Check them out.