In today’s song review I’m going to be digging into one of the sacred cows of modern evangelical culture.  It’s not going to be pretty either.  Also, be advised that this will be just as painful for me as it is for you, I’m ashamed to confess that this song used to be one of my favorites.

Verse 1

You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown, where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery, in oceans deep, my faith will stand

Who exactly is “you” in this verse?  Are we supposed to assume it’s about Jesus?  Why?  Shouldn’t it be up to the author to make it clear who we are worshiping in a worship song?  If I assume this is addressing Jesus, are you saying that you’re Peter walking out on the water?  That’s the best construction I can think of, and that would mean that you’re teaching people to read themselves into the Biblical narrative.

Best case scenario is this verse is teaching you to eisegete your life into the Biblical narrative.  Worst case they are singing to Satan.

Chorus 1

And I will call upon Your Name, and keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace, for I am Yours and You are mine

Verse 2

Your grace abounds in deepest waters, Your sov’reign hand will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

I’m going to be fair and assume that the section above is generally being sung in a Christian context.  There is hopefully a Cross in the background, and the pastor has hopefully preached the gospel at least the christmas or easter prior.  So, best case scenario when the song says “your grace” the singer means it in a sense of the grace of the Triune God.

So, that granted, the problem is that the focus is you not Jesus.  This passage centers around the human struggling with fear, and how a therapeutic deity is comforting them.  We are not really getting a concept of a sinner who deserves the wrath of God being saved by Jesus, who died for them.

The focus isn’t Christ in this song, it’s the sinner.  But  the “sin” part isn’t really addressed either.  To me it just looks like a ballad of  therapeutic deism.  The only passage that this song is bringing to my mind is the following:

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NASB

I’m not saying that this song is quoting that verse or anything.  I’m just saying it comes to mind when I read the lyrics.

Bridge 1

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters, where ever You would call me

take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior

Bridge 2

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters, where ever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior

Bridge 3

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters, where ever You would call me

take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior

Tag

I will call upon Your Name, keep my eyes above the waves

My soul will rest in Your embrace, I am Yours and You are mine

IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!!

THUMBS DOWN

What you’re left here with is a song that’s really about yourself.  You are essentially praising yourself in how you got through your struggles in life with a little help from your friend, whoever that might be.  If sung in a Trinitarian context it is fair to assume the singer is addressing it to Jesus.  That doesn’t help though as it can be fairly argued that the writer likely kept it ambiguous to appeal to a wider audience and increase sales.  Which shouldn’t be the goal of Christian doxology and hymnody.

Even if we assume it’s about Jesus, we have no concept of sin or his atonement for it.  There is no law, no Gospel, and no Christ.  The song is very pretty but that’s it.