A while back I wrote about the intense imagery of song lyrics I heard in church one particular Sunday. I called the post, “A crimson flood, huh? A story of bad song lyrics.” The specific line in the song where I took notice was the phrase, “crimson flood,” as in, the blood of Jesus which covers our sin. While I love the reminder that none of us are worthy or able to save ourselves, it was that phrase that took me right out of worship. That happens to me sometimes when I don’t like the lyrics or, like many modern worship songs, we sing the same 5 words 27 times.
I’ll put my foot in my mouth on this one because the lyrics are actually not THAT bad. They’re somewhat poetic and vivid, like the songs in old baptist hymnals. Perhaps the melody is a bit bland but who am I to judge? But I’m the worst hypocrite because just the other day I had one of those old hymns repeating in my mind…
“There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins…” as the song goes. Welp, if crimson flood is a bit too graphic, where does that put a fountain of blood? Yeah, I’m a hypocrite. But I’ll keep on being a hypocrite because “There Is A Fountain,” just reading the lyrics again warms my heart so much. Most hymns blow modern worship songs out of the water! Or should I say, out of the crimson fountain?
Here’s one of the best versions of the hymn, performed by Selah.
See you tomorrow…
-Out of the Wilderness
Out of the Wilderness 