1 What Writers of Modern Worship Songs Can Learn from Wesley Lester Ruth Asbury Theological Seminary.

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What Writers of What Writers of Modern Worship Modern Worship

SongsSongsCan Learn from Can Learn from

Wesley Wesley Lester RuthLester Ruth

Asbury Theological SeminaryAsbury Theological Seminary

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Motivating QuestionsMotivating Questions

Do we love God for theological Do we love God for theological reasons?reasons?

Do we know that God loves us in Do we know that God loves us in theological ways?theological ways?

Do we separate theology from piety, Do we separate theology from piety, especially in our songwriting and especially in our songwriting and song selection?song selection?

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Charles WesleyCharles Wesley

A Positive Example of Integration of A Positive Example of Integration of Head and Heart, Theology and Piety, Head and Heart, Theology and Piety, Theology and LoveTheology and Love

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Lessons from WesleyLessons from Wesley

Be taken up with a fundamental Be taken up with a fundamental paradox of the Christian faith: the paradox of the Christian faith: the IncarnationIncarnation

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The Paradox in Christ’s The Paradox in Christ’s BirthBirth

The appearance of the invisibleThe appearance of the invisible

God, the invisible appears.God, the invisible appears.

God, the blest, the great I AMGod, the blest, the great I AM

Sojourns in this veil of tears,Sojourns in this veil of tears,

And Jesus is his name. And Jesus is his name.

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The Paradox in Christ’s The Paradox in Christ’s BirthBirth

The “start” of the source of all The “start” of the source of all existenceexistence

Emptied of his majestyEmptied of his majesty

Of his dazzling glories shorn,Of his dazzling glories shorn,

Being’s source begins to be,Being’s source begins to be,

And God himself is born!And God himself is born!

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The Paradox in Christ’s The Paradox in Christ’s BirthBirth

The containment of the The containment of the uncontainableuncontainable

See the eternal Son of God,See the eternal Son of God,

A mortal son of manA mortal son of man

Dwelling in an earthly clod,Dwelling in an earthly clod,

Whom heaven cannot contain!Whom heaven cannot contain!

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The Paradox in Christ’s The Paradox in Christ’s BirthBirth

The juxtaposition of heavenly The juxtaposition of heavenly glory and earthly humblenessglory and earthly humbleness

Go see the King of glory,Go see the King of glory,

Discern the heavenly stranger,Discern the heavenly stranger,

So poor and mean,So poor and mean,

His course an inn,His course an inn,

His cradle is a manger.His cradle is a manger.

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Contemplation of the Contemplation of the Paradoxical GodParadoxical God

Lo! He lays his glory by,Lo! He lays his glory by,

Emptied of his majesty!Emptied of his majesty!

See the God who all things See the God who all things made,made,

Humbly in a manger laid.Humbly in a manger laid.

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Contemplation of the Contemplation of the Paradoxical God as a Basis Paradoxical God as a Basis

for Worshipfor WorshipSee in that infant’s faceSee in that infant’s face

The depths of Deity,The depths of Deity,

And labor while ye gazeAnd labor while ye gaze

To sound the mystery;To sound the mystery;

In vain: ye angels gaze no more,In vain: ye angels gaze no more,

But fall and silently adore.But fall and silently adore.

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The Paradoxical God The Paradoxical God SavesSaves

Gaze on that helpless ObjectGaze on that helpless ObjectOf endless adoration!Of endless adoration!Those infant hands,Those infant hands,Shall burst our bands,Shall burst our bands,And work out our salvation.And work out our salvation.

Strangle the crooked serpent,Strangle the crooked serpent,Destroy his works for ever,Destroy his works for ever,And open setAnd open setThe heavenly gate,The heavenly gate,To every true believer.To every true believer.

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The Paradox & The The Paradox & The CrucifixionCrucifixion

‘‘Tis done! My God hath died,Tis done! My God hath died,

My Love is crucified!My Love is crucified!

Break, this stony heart of mine,Break, this stony heart of mine,

Pour, mine eyes, a ceaseless Pour, mine eyes, a ceaseless flood;flood;

Feel, my soul, the pangs divine,Feel, my soul, the pangs divine,

Catch, my heart, the issuing Catch, my heart, the issuing blood.blood.

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The Paradox & The The Paradox & The CrucifixionCrucifixion

O Love divine! What has thou O Love divine! What has thou done!done!

Th’immortal God hath died for Th’immortal God hath died for me!me!

The Father’s co-eternal SonThe Father’s co-eternal Son

Bore all my sings upon the tree:Bore all my sings upon the tree:

Th’immortal God for me hath died,Th’immortal God for me hath died,

My Lord, my Love is crucified.My Lord, my Love is crucified.

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The Power of Blood The Power of Blood DivineDivine

Bind up my wounds by opening Bind up my wounds by opening thine,thine,

Apply the balm of blood DivineApply the balm of blood Divine

To save a sinner poor.To save a sinner poor.

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Lessons from WesleyLessons from Wesley

Be taken up with a fundamental Be taken up with a fundamental paradox of the Christian faith: the paradox of the Christian faith: the IncarnationIncarnation

Juxtapose our personal story against Juxtapose our personal story against a larger, more cosmic Storya larger, more cosmic Story

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Salvation as Personal Salvation as Personal StoryStory

And can it be that I should gainAnd can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood?An interest in the Savior’s blood?

Died he for me, who caused his Died he for me, who caused his pain?pain?

For me? Who him to death For me? Who him to death pursued?pursued?

Amazing love! How can it beAmazing love! How can it be

That though, my God, shouldst die That though, my God, shouldst die for me? for me?

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Salvation as Cosmic Salvation as Cosmic StoryStory

‘‘Tis myst’ry all: th’Immortal dies!Tis myst’ry all: th’Immortal dies!Who can explore his strange design?Who can explore his strange design?In vain the first-born seraph triesIn vain the first-born seraph triesTo sound the depths of love divine.To sound the depths of love divine.‘‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore!Tis mercy all! Let earth adore!Let angel minds inquire no more.Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father’s throne aboveHe left his Father’s throne above(So free, so infinite his grace!),(So free, so infinite his grace!),Emptied himself of all but love,Emptied himself of all but love,And bled for Adam’s helpless race.And bled for Adam’s helpless race.

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The Cosmic Brought The Cosmic Brought “Home”“Home”

Emptied himself of all but love,Emptied himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless And bled for Adam’s helpless race.race.

‘‘Tis mercy all, immense and Tis mercy all, immense and free,free,

For, O my God, it found out me!For, O my God, it found out me!

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Lessons from WesleyLessons from Wesley

Be taken up with a fundamental Be taken up with a fundamental paradox of the Christian faith: the paradox of the Christian faith: the Incarnation.Incarnation.

Juxtapose our personal story against Juxtapose our personal story against a larger, more cosmic Story.a larger, more cosmic Story.

Incorporate a dynamic sense of time Incorporate a dynamic sense of time and remembrance.and remembrance.

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The Resurrection The Resurrection TodayToday

Christ the Lord is risen today,Christ the Lord is risen today,

Sons of men and angels say!Sons of men and angels say!

Raise your joys and triumphs Raise your joys and triumphs high,high,

Sing ye heavens, and earth Sing ye heavens, and earth reply.reply.

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Look Look NowNow

See in that infant’s faceSee in that infant’s face

The depths of Deity,The depths of Deity,

And labor while ye gazeAnd labor while ye gaze

To sound the mystery;To sound the mystery;

In vain: ye angels gaze no more,In vain: ye angels gaze no more,

But fall and silently adore.But fall and silently adore.

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Seeing the Crucified Seeing the Crucified SaviorSavior

See the slaughter’d Sacrifice,See the slaughter’d Sacrifice,

See the altar stain’d with blood!See the altar stain’d with blood!

Crucified before our eyesCrucified before our eyes

Faith discerns the dying God,Faith discerns the dying God,

Dying that our souls might live,Dying that our souls might live,

Gasping at His death, Forgive! Gasping at His death, Forgive!

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Open Wounds & Warm Open Wounds & Warm BloodBlood

Still the wounds are open wideStill the wounds are open wideThe blood doth freely flowThe blood doth freely flowAs when first His sacred sideAs when first His sacred sideReceived the deadly blow:Received the deadly blow:Still, O God, the blood is warm,Still, O God, the blood is warm,Cover’d with the blood we are;Cover’d with the blood we are;Find a part it doth not arm,Find a part it doth not arm,And strike the sinner there! And strike the sinner there!

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Evocative TheologyEvocative Theology

Beneath my load he faints and Beneath my load he faints and dies.dies.

I filled his soul with pangs I filled his soul with pangs unknown;unknown;

I caused those mortal groans I caused those mortal groans and and cries;cries;

I killed the Father’s only Son!I killed the Father’s only Son!

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Lessons from WesleyLessons from Wesley

Be taken up with a fundamental Be taken up with a fundamental paradox of the Christian faith: the paradox of the Christian faith: the Incarnation.Incarnation.

Juxtapose our personal story against a Juxtapose our personal story against a larger, more cosmic Story.larger, more cosmic Story.

Incorporate a dynamic sense of time Incorporate a dynamic sense of time and remembrance.and remembrance.

Sing a biblical story from the inside Sing a biblical story from the inside out.out.

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Peter’s Imprisonment & Peter’s Imprisonment & ReleaseRelease

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray;Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray;

I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

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Jacob’s (The Christian’s) Wrestling Jacob’s (The Christian’s) Wrestling MatchMatch

Come, O thou Traveller unknown,Come, O thou Traveller unknown,

Whom still I hold, but cannot see!Whom still I hold, but cannot see!

My company before is gone,My company before is gone,

And I am left alone with thee;And I am left alone with thee;

With thee all night I mean to stay,With thee all night I mean to stay,

And wrestle till the break of day.And wrestle till the break of day.

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In vain thou strugglest to get In vain thou strugglest to get free,free,

I never will unloose my hold;I never will unloose my hold;

Art thou the Man that died for Art thou the Man that died for me?me?

The secret of thy love unfold:The secret of thy love unfold:

Wrestling, I will not let thee goWrestling, I will not let thee go

Till I thy name, thy nature know.Till I thy name, thy nature know.

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‘‘Tis Love! ‘Tis Love! Thou diedst Tis Love! ‘Tis Love! Thou diedst for for me;me;

I hear thy whisper in my heart.I hear thy whisper in my heart.

The morning breaks, the shadows The morning breaks, the shadows flee,flee,

Pure Universal Love thou art:Pure Universal Love thou art:

To my, to all, thy bowels move—To my, to all, thy bowels move—

Thy nature, and thy name, is Love.Thy nature, and thy name, is Love.

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The Really Good The Really Good SamaritanSamaritan

……The thieves have rob’d, and stript, The thieves have rob’d, and stript, and and bound…bound…

My putrid wounds stand open wide,My putrid wounds stand open wide,My head is faint, and sick of pride,My head is faint, and sick of pride,And all corrupt my heart…And all corrupt my heart…But Life I see in death appear!But Life I see in death appear!The good Samaritan is near…The good Samaritan is near…Bind up my wounds by opening Bind up my wounds by opening

thine,thine,Apply the balm of blood Divine Apply the balm of blood Divine

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Lessons from WesleyLessons from Wesley Be taken up with a fundamental paradox Be taken up with a fundamental paradox

of the Christian faith: the Incarnation.of the Christian faith: the Incarnation. Juxtapose our personal story against a Juxtapose our personal story against a

larger, more cosmic Story.larger, more cosmic Story. Incorporate a dynamic sense of time and Incorporate a dynamic sense of time and

remembrance.remembrance. Sing a biblical story from the inside out.Sing a biblical story from the inside out. Put the emphasis upon divine activity Put the emphasis upon divine activity

(Let God have good, strong verbs).(Let God have good, strong verbs).

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Piling Up Verbs for JesusPiling Up Verbs for Jesus

Did not his word the fiends expel?Did not his word the fiends expel?

The lepers cleanse, and raise the The lepers cleanse, and raise the dead?dead?

Did he not all their sickness heal?Did he not all their sickness heal?

And satisfy their every need?And satisfy their every need?

Did he reject his helpless clay?Did he reject his helpless clay?

Or send them sorrowful away?Or send them sorrowful away?

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O For a Thousand VerbsO For a Thousand Verbs

He breaks the power of He breaks the power of cancelled sin,cancelled sin,

He sets the prisoner free;He sets the prisoner free;

His blood can make the foulest His blood can make the foulest cleanclean

His blood availed for me.His blood availed for me.

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Lessons from WesleyLessons from Wesley Be taken up with a fundamental paradox of Be taken up with a fundamental paradox of

the Christian faith: the Incarnation.the Christian faith: the Incarnation. Juxtapose our personal story against a Juxtapose our personal story against a

larger, more cosmic Story.larger, more cosmic Story. Incorporate a dynamic sense of time and Incorporate a dynamic sense of time and

remembrance.remembrance. Sing a biblical story from the inside out.Sing a biblical story from the inside out. Put the emphasis upon divine activity (Let Put the emphasis upon divine activity (Let

God have good, strong verbs).God have good, strong verbs). Be mesmerized by the Trinity.Be mesmerized by the Trinity.

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Sinners, turn, why will you die?Sinners, turn, why will you die?God, your Maker, asks you why?God, your Maker, asks you why?God, who did your being give,God, who did your being give,Made you with himself to live;Made you with himself to live;He the fatal cause demands,He the fatal cause demands,Asks the work of his own hands,Asks the work of his own hands,Why, ye thankless creatures, whyWhy, ye thankless creatures, whyWill you cross his love, and die?Will you cross his love, and die?

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Sinners, turn, why will you die?Sinners, turn, why will you die?God, your Savior, asks you why.God, your Savior, asks you why.God, who did your souls retrieve,God, who did your souls retrieve,Died himself that you might live.Died himself that you might live.Will you let him die in vain?Will you let him die in vain?Crucify your Lord again?Crucify your Lord again?Why, ye ransomed sinners, whyWhy, ye ransomed sinners, whyWill you slight his grace, and Will you slight his grace, and

die?die?

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Sinners, turn, why will you die?Sinners, turn, why will you die?God the Spirit asks you why.God the Spirit asks you why.He, who all your lives hath strove,He, who all your lives hath strove,Wooed you to embrace his love.Wooed you to embrace his love.Will you not the grace receive?Will you not the grace receive?Will you still refuse to live?Will you still refuse to live?Why, ye long-sought sinners, whyWhy, ye long-sought sinners, whyWill you grieve your God, and die?Will you grieve your God, and die?

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The Holy Spirit & The Son The Holy Spirit & The Son In The Economy of In The Economy of

SalvationSalvationSpirit of faith, come down,Spirit of faith, come down,Reveal the things of God,Reveal the things of God,And make to us the Godhead And make to us the Godhead

known,known,And witness with the blood:And witness with the blood:‘‘Tis thine the blood to apply,Tis thine the blood to apply,And give us eyes to seeAnd give us eyes to seeWho did for every sinner dieWho did for every sinner dieHath surely died for me.Hath surely died for me.

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No man can truly sayNo man can truly sayThat Jesus is the LordThat Jesus is the LordUnless thou take the veil away,Unless thou take the veil away,And breathe the living word;And breathe the living word;Then, only then we feelThen, only then we feelOur interest in his blood,Our interest in his blood,And cry with joy unspeakable,And cry with joy unspeakable,Thou art my Lord, my God!Thou art my Lord, my God!

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The Father & The Son In The Father & The Son In The Economy of SalvationThe Economy of Salvation

Arise, my soul, arise,Arise, my soul, arise,

Shake off thy guilty fears;Shake off thy guilty fears;

The bleeding SacrificeThe bleeding Sacrifice

In my behalf appears;In my behalf appears;

Before the throne my surety Before the throne my surety stands;stands;

My name is written on his My name is written on his hands.hands.

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Five bleeding wounds he bears,Five bleeding wounds he bears,

Received on Calvary;Received on Calvary;

They pour effectual prayers,They pour effectual prayers,

They strongly speak for me:They strongly speak for me:

Forgive him, Oh! Forgive, they Forgive him, Oh! Forgive, they cry,cry,

Nor let that ransomed sinner Nor let that ransomed sinner die.die.

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The Father hears him pray,The Father hears him pray,

His dear anointed One;His dear anointed One;

He cannot turn awayHe cannot turn away

The presence of his Son:The presence of his Son:

His Spirit answers to the blood,His Spirit answers to the blood,

And tells me I am born of God.And tells me I am born of God.

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Put Oil on the Fire, Put Oil on the Fire, PleasePlease

A danger of losing the Gospel as the A danger of losing the Gospel as the root content of Christian worship?root content of Christian worship?

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Sources of HymnsSources of Hymns

Hymns on the Nativity of our LordHymns on the Nativity of our Lord (1745)(1745)

A Collection of Hymns, for the Use of A Collection of Hymns, for the Use of the People Called Methodistthe People Called Methodist..

Hymns on the Lord’s SupperHymns on the Lord’s Supper S. T. Kimbrough, ed., S. T. Kimbrough, ed., Charles Charles

Wesley: Poet and TheologianWesley: Poet and Theologian