If you haven't read the article, it is a good read and proposes that people need to stop singing a song about reaching new levels of faith in the Lord if singing about them is all we're going to do.
It says (regarding the bridge),
"NOTHING in those two lines of lyrics is going to feel good when you are going through it. You are singing, with your hands raised high, for God to make you uncomfortable… and then you feel the nudge- the nudge to buy a coffee for a homeless man or confess a sin to your small group or share about something that happened in your past, AND YOU DON’T DO IT.
I don’t either.
And every time I hear that song, I feel convicted for the way I sing it but refuse to live it."
And on one hand, I don't entirely disagree. It is no secret that hypocrisy, whether intentional or not, is present in the Church, and many of the points in the article are pointedly true. So what should we do with this information? Stop singing a powerful song? Ignore the issue and keep going as if we were none the wiser?
As someone who is passionate about musical worship, I think it's vital to address this issue.
Reading about walking on water naturally reminds me of Peter's story in Matthew 14:22-33.
As Christians, we laud Peter's faith that he was able to walk on the water, yet we rarely discuss the ramifications of the fact that it was only for a brief moment. Perhaps even a split second.
When it comes to the faith and actions of the church today, I think it is especially important that we ruminate for a moment on verses 30 and 31:
"But when he [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of liuttle faith, why did you doubt?'" (ESV)
So yes, I sing "Oceans" and continuously fail to live up to the bold claims I've been singing. Just like Peter. God demands perfection, yet that perfection will never EVER come from me. (CAN I GET AN AMEN HALLELUJAH??) That's kind of the whole point. I am so unbelievably imperfect that I will fail God until I am fully sanctified through His love and power (as in, not on this earth. Read more about that new earth in Revelation 21).
We definitely need to examine our hearts closely when we partake in musical worship, and not just for this song. Yet, blatant hypocrisy aside, I don't think we should discourage people from singing "Oceans" or any other biblically-based song. We all have a little bit of Peter within us -- we are quick to feel, yet collapse almost immediately upon acting ::ahem, Peter ALL THE TIME:: (Luke 22:31-34; 54-62). We may truly desire for God to lead us away from our borders, no matter how uncomfortable that may be in the moment, but at some point we will undoubtedly fail. I can actually guarantee it.
This need not keep us from worshiping and seeking deeper relationship with our God, for Christ has bridged the gap. He has achieved perfection in order that we may be counted righteous (Romans 3:22-24)! I love that upon rising from the grave, Jesus gives Peter the chance to affirm His Lordship three times, as if to say, "See, how I am wiping the slate clean," (John 21:15-19).
Musical worship can be a powerful time of communion with God. Let us not limit that because of our inability to perfectly live out everything we sing. Instead, let us strive in God's power while remembering to walk in His GRACE.
