The Worship Review

"Keep Us All Close" by Eastlake Music assumes a universal search for God amidst diverse beliefs and struggles. The song petitions God to "let in" friends, enemies, the marginalized and people of all faiths. Tyler and Colin discuss whether this contemporary Christian song is, in fact, Christian.

God bless our friends, God bless our enemies
All of our children, all of our families
We've got no idea what we're doing
We've tried to find You throughout the centuries
Different religions in different countries
We've got no idea what we're doing
We'll never make it on our own
We've got too much dark inside of us
We'll never make it on our own
God bless the poor, God bless the broken-hearted
God bless the widow, God bless the long departed
We've got no idea what we're doing
God bless the christian, God bless the atheist
God bless the muslim, God bless the rest of us
We've got no idea what we're doing
Keep us all close, every one of us close
Don't let anyone go
Let all our friends in, and all our enemies
All of our children, all of our families
We've got no idea what we're doing
We've tried to find You throughout the centuries
Different religions in different countries
We've got no idea what we're doing

This song encourages us to see all our feasting, mourning, love, work, and play as opportunities to worship God. Join Colin & Tyler as we examine the poetic language and Biblical references in this modern hymn.

Verse 1

If creation is longing for freedom and glory

Every winter that passes each forest that burns

There’s a cry from its heart come Lord Jesus return

Every season a temple of praise

Verse 2

If all history is marked by the sign of the cross

Then each year that I give You is gain and not loss

For in time all our empires just melt like the frost

May our days be a temple of praise

Chorus 1

Oh Ancient of Days You have chosen Your moments

All our feasting and mourning our love work and play

So when time is rolled up on that great Judgment Day

May my days be a temple of praise

Verse 3

I can rise to Your song on the wings of the morning

Walk with your Spirit in the cool of the day

I can pray with a child as the sun bows his head

May my days be a temple of praise

Chorus 2

O Lord now I see that my days are all numbered

All the feasting and mourning the love work & play

So when I lay down my life at Your feet for a crown

May eternity ring with Your praise

May eternity ring with Your praise

May my days be a temple of praise

Part two. Can the doctrine of God's sovereignty serve as the basis for an emotional and powerful contemporary Christian worship song? CityAlight's "Your Glory & My Good" grapples with some of the most weighty and challenging issues in the Christian faith. As a result, Colin and Tyler end up in a wide ranging discussion about trusting God in the midst of suffering, the beauty and power of the Psalms, Christian deconstruction and even some social psychology. Enjoy!

Can the doctrine of God's sovereignty serve as the basis for an emotional and powerful contemporary Christian worship song? CityAlight's "Your Glory & My Good" grapples with some of the most weighty and challenging issues in the Christian faith. As a result, Colin and Tyler end up in a wide ranging discussion about trusting God in the midst of suffering, the beauty and power of the Psalms, Christian deconstruction and even some social psychology. Enjoy!

This week's episode analyzes a song by Dustin Kensrue called "Grace Alone." The song addresses several core elements of the gospel: that we have no right to approach God, that we have redemption and salvation through Jesus, that the Holy Spirit makes the light of Christ shine on our darkened hearts, and more.

Lyrics:

I was an orphan lost at the Fall, Running away when I'd hear Your call, But Father, You worked Your will

I had no righteousness of my own, I had no right to draw near Your throne, But Father, You loved me still

And in love before You laid the world's foundation You predestined to adopt me as Your own

You have raised me so high up above my station I'm a child of God by grace and grace alone

You left Your home to seek out the lost; You knew the great and terrible cost, But Jesus, Your face was set

I worked my fingers down to the bone; Nothing I did could ever atone, But Jesus, You paid my debt

By Your blood, I have redemption and salvation; Lord, You died that I might reap what You have sown

And You rose that I might be a new creation; I am born again by grace and grace alone

I was in darkness all of my life; I never knew the day from the night, But Spirit, You made me see

I swore I knew the way on my own; Head full of rocks, a heart made of stone, But Spirit, You moved in me

At your touch my sleeping spirit was awakened; On my darkened heart the light of Christ has shone

Called into a kingdom that cannot be shaken; Heaven's citizen by grace and grace alone

So I'll stand in faith by grace and grace alone; I will run the race by grace and grace alone

I will slay my sin by grace and grace alone; I will reach the end by grace and grace alone

If you saw the phrase "Free to Love" on a bumper sticker in California, what would you think it meant? What about in a worship song? Colin and Tyler talk about "It was Finished upon that Cross" by CityAlight.

Colin and Tyler yuk it up on this episode of The Worship Review. Brandon Lake's very popular song 'Gratitude' provides an opportunity to discuss thankfulness and how we express it to God.

This worship song reminds us that all our praise ultimately belongs to King Jesus. As we dive into the lyrics of this modern praise tune, we take a closer look at the creation declaring God's glory, the implications of God existing outside of time, and the eternity of praise Christians have to look forward to. "1,000 Hallelujahs and 1,000 more" equals 2,000, but how many points out of five will Colin and Tyler give this song? Tune in to find out.

[Verse 1]

Who else would rocks cry out to worship?

Whose glory taught the stars to shine?

Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing

But this joy is mine

[Chorus]

With a thousand hallelujahs

We magnify Your name

You alone deserve the glory

The honor and the praise

Lord Jesus

This song is forever Yours

A thousand hallelujahs

And a thousand more

[Verse 2]

Who else would die for our redemption?

Whose resurrection means I’ll rise?

There isn’t time enough to sing of all You’ve done

But I have eternity to try

[Bridge]

Praise to the Lord

To the lamb

To the King of Heaven

Praise for He rose

Now He reigns

We will sing forever

Praise to the Lord

To the lamb

To the King of Heaven

Praise for He rose

Now He reigns

We will sing forever

This classic song has been sung at Advent time for generations. How well does it present the gospel? Is it easy to understand? Should churches sing it? We discuss on this episode of The Worship Review.

Lyrics:

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim

This easy-going and elegant song appeared on both the Rain For Roots Waiting Songs album as well as Sandra McCracken's God's Highway. Should an advent song like this one-a song which relies on metaphor and seasonal context--be treated differently than songs which use similar elements, but without the context? Colin and Tyler discuss.

Lyrics:

For you, O Lord, our souls in stillness wait
For you, O Lord, our souls in stillness wait
Truly our hope is in You
Truly our hope is in You
O Lord of life, our only hope
Your radiance shines
On all who look -- to You in the dark
Emmanuel come, come light our hearts
For you, O Lord, our souls in stillness wait
For you, O Lord, our souls in stillness wait
Truly our hope is in You
Truly our hope is in You
O Joy above all other loves
In you we find more than enough
We come as we are, O heal and restore
Come light our hearts