"then sings my soul"

"How Great Thou Art" is one of the most sung songs in recent history. It makes people feel so good down deep inside. Even those reluctant to raise hands in praise will find their hands go up. Singing this song, especially the chorus, seems to make all our troubles go away. Yet, how often do we ponder the song? What do we think we are really saying when we sing?

This popular chorus starts with a astounding statement, "then sings my soul." Interesting claim. How does a soul, which is non-physical, produce a song that is experienced through the physical sense of sound? Generally, when I ask such pondering questions, most people go, "I don't know and don't really care." Fair enough. Your life won't stop in its tracks if you don't explore what you are really singing. BUT, your life could be enriched beyond a feel-good song if you found life's treasures in the song you sing.

The soul is essentially your "self." It is who you really are, the center of thought, emotion, and will. When your soul sings, it is your deepest expression. This may be why the Bible references the soul over 100 times in the New Testament. In this song that ministers to so many in such a deep way, what is the soul expressing? Obviously, the soul is absorbing the greatness of God. But, what about God does the soul consider to be "Great"?

I have found there are basically two possibilities. The soul is relishing in God's greatness based on the basic bias of the soul. The natural bias is for the soul to identify with the body and outcomes in this physical world. In this case the stress, anxiety, frustration and pain of the human condition trouble the soul. Finding hope in a day when I am free from the bondage of the body is a therapy that transforms me.  "How great Thou art" is the soul's recognition God is in control and one day after I die I will be in Heaven and have no more pain. That's one way to approach our anxiety.

Another possibility is a bias where the soul identifies with the Spirit. Here the soul relishes in a reality where it is no longer subject to physical senses for satisfaction, motivation and acceptance, even while still in the body. The freedom comes as the soul is transformed and becomes a "new creation," or as Jesus says, "born again" of the Spirit. While the body is still subject to futility of this world, the soul experiences not one of suffering but blessings found in a passionate relationship with Jesus. God is "Great" because He has willfully and generously invited me into His Kingdom. His provisions and privileges of Grace transcend the human condition as it relates to my soul.

This may be what Paul means when he calls upon God's people to walk according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh. Understanding this difference may make all the difference in how the soul is nourished when it sings, "How Great Thou Art." This is a complete change of bias, not just thinking. This is what is called walking not by sight but by faith.

A song worth pondering in addition to singing....

the "narrow gate"

We are told in the summary of the Sermon on the Mount, "for narrow is the gate that leads to life and few will find it." This is quite familiar to Christians and provides for sound theology. BUT, in what ways does this truth infiltrate and influence lives of Christians in our culture today? In what ways do we try to widen the gate or maybe even go around it?


Here is what I have learned as my life's work these days focuses on how flawed human nature wars against the life that God desires for us. It is built into our very human nature to avoid the exercises and diets necessary to slim down for the narrow gate of the Kingdom. It's not natural and quite uncomfortable to shed excess baggage we carry around that feeds a soul comfortable with "walking according to the flesh."

This is true not only of us pedestrian Christians but of those who lead us, those who head Christian universities, churches, and ministries. As I have been a part of marketing b4Worldview to such institutions, what have I found that suggests this may be the case?

While most legitimate Christians and their leaders can readily profess sound theology about the Gospel of Grace and a life lived under God's sovereign love, virtue ethics seems to be the end game of Christianity that manifests itself to those "looking in." Maybe this is the way it is because many Christians and their leaders also emphasize right behavior and that the Gospel is a palliative remedy to human pain in their teaching, prayer and worship activities. Foremost, Christians are led to change the culture to an ethic they view as Biblical. Yet, in doing so they are no different than the rest of humanity, seeking a better way not a new way. Many young people brought up in these contexts abandon what they are taught only to seek an alternative virtue ethics.

Why are Christian leaders so protective of their message of virtue ethics and reluctant to explore ways to help their flock "be transformed by the renewing of their minds"? Why is "good" more about fitting into a prescription of what a person does to positively affect others rather than the intrinsic quality within them that comes only from intimacy with Christ? Why is purpose about what we can produce and not about faithfulness in our pursuit? Why is God's favor a righteousness of exchange with the Father rather than receiving a generous, willful action from the Father?

Here is a perspective I have found by working with Christians and their leaders for the past several years. The "market" for Christian products and services responds more to an Aristotelian view of life's goal where happiness is a personal pursuit and production of virtues such as justice, courage, kindness and such. This ideal is universal in the human condition and has BROAD appeal to people. Why? Because Aristotle captured the essence of human nature, the idea built-in each of us that humans have the power to produce the right life, and what we experience via physical senses is what determines reality. BUT, wasn't this the error of Adam and Eve? Isn't Aristotle's philosophy about the natural power within each person just an excellent account of our fallen nature? Might this be what makes an appeal attractive to many people, or a BROAD gate?

NARROW is the market comprised of those who are motivated to receive and reflect te light of God and trust only the power provided by the One they have a passionate love affair with, Jesus. This is a pure form of trust, not a trust underwritten by "our own understanding," not a trust dependent on outcomes but trust based on a relationship.

So, I have found that Christians and their leaders generally know the truth in their head, but worldly success depends on attracting customers with a market appeal which is BROAD and not one that is NARROW.

Might this be what Jesus wants us to know as He sums up His profound message to us?

Something worth pondering ......