March 09, 2008

the theology of Hillsong

I did the below at our Grow service tonight. We've started a series looking for the real Jesus. As part of it, I am leading into worship by taking a song and asking "what are we thinking when we sing this." Here is the Hillsong number "for all you've done."

The song has 3 parts. The opening is fascinating;
My savior
Redeemer
Lifted me from the miry clay

I hear echoes of the Old Testament. For example Psalm 40:1 -3; I patiently waited, LORD, for you to hear my prayer. You listened and pulled me from a lonely pit, full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you.

Such echoes of Jesus are present in a number of places in the Old Testament. The most well known is Proverbs 8, with what I call a "Cosmic or Wisdom Jesus," Jesus present at the birth of creation, giving wisdom to life. So "for all you've" done starts with a creation Jesus present redemptively within creation.

The middle of the song keeps the Old Testament theme going:
Almighty
Forever, I will never be the same

At this point, I become a bit uneasy, as there is the potential of Jesus being mushed into Almighty God. But then the song gets very specific.
Cos You came here
From the everlasting
To the world we live
The Father's only Son

This is a good Incarnational theology. This Cosmic Jesus is God before time, that came to live. The life of Christ is essential. "For all you've done" includes every day of every one of those 33 years.

The good theology continues as the song moves to end:
And You lived
You died
You rose again on high
You opened the way for the world to live again

I find fascinating the echoes of ascension. Jesus fully human and fully divine "opened the way." The human body of Jesus ascends into God. In the Ascension, the way for humans is opened to God. What is more, God is changed as God embraces humanity.

In summary, "for all you've done" is a surprisingly broad song theologically. Christians often limit what Jesus does to the cross. Yet this song names Jesus, for all you've done as including creation, incarnation, life, resurrection and ascension. So salvation in Christ is not limited to the work of the cross. It starts with God making the world, involves the sending of Jesus, God with skin on, moves through thirty three years of healing to the embrace of the cross, the surprise of Easter Sunday and the ascension, as Jesus opens the way. That's the Jesus being worshipped in "for all you've done."

PS:

Being a U2 fan, I must note the echoes of both an old hit, "40" and a new hit, "Windows in the Sky."

Posted by steve at March 9, 2008 08:40 PM
Comments

Hillsong United's "United We Stand" is my favourite album at the moment. What amazes me about their music is, not only the great theology such as you have pointed out here, but the way they integrate what they're singing with the music they are playing, so that the music so closely reflects the emotions and affections provoked by the theology.

I've seen people give Hillsong a lot of stick over the last few years. And they do have a lot of songs which are a bit inaccessible as far as the music is concerned (i.e. too high, sophisticated), and there are some songs which are theologically dodgy. But there are many, particularly among their latest stuf, which are a breath of fresh air. Because there are definitely a lot of songs sung in "contemporary" services these day wich really lack meaningful theology.

The Lord be praised for Hillsong.

Posted by: A.J.Chesswas at March 10, 2008 01:30 PM

Hillsong? Theology? I must have woken up this morning in a parallel universe.

Posted by: Bill Kinnon at March 12, 2008 01:14 AM

yeah well, easy for missional/emerging to take cheap and continous shots at hillsong. and i must admit, i was preparing to do the same as i sat down to my task "to explore theology of Jesus songs." they include hymns like "power in the blood."

and so i read the words.

and was quite surprised. so Bill, join me. put down your preconcieved judgements and tell me what you make of the content of the song?

steve

Posted by: steve at March 12, 2008 07:08 AM

One thing most people don't realise is that Hillsong does change, albeit slowly, as many people have made comments about the "dodgy theology" and other qualities of their music.

I know I have been caught out by potentially having preconceived ideas. My PhD research looked at their songs for a period up to about 4 years ago and shows concerns. Their more recent good songs, which not all their songs are, address my concerns. So, for example, they now do talk about (social) justice.

Posted by: David Morgan at March 12, 2008 10:05 AM

Yep, you've got to give credit where credit is due. One to Hillsong! The thing that I like is that this song is hinting towards a subversive God centred narrative all through it that I wonder if the writer even fully understood as it was written.

Bill, have you bought any more underpants recently?

Posted by: Andrew at March 12, 2008 03:57 PM

Steve,
What you forget is that I worked inside a Hillsong affiliated clone megachurch for a period of time in the last five years. I am a little too aware of the theology of this aberrant, prosperity-focused movement in Christianity. (And it's Kiwi cousin, Parachute Music/Life Church.)

That there is actual orthodox theology appearing in some Hillsong music is to be commended. Would that it begin to appear in the pulpit @ Hillsong, its clones and affiliates.

Or perhaps I'm just taking a missional/emergent shot.

Posted by: Bill Kinnon at March 13, 2008 05:51 AM

Andrew,
As I remember it, 'twas a certain baggage-losing pastor from Australia who was in need of "men's furnishings" replacement. My undergarments were in order, as it were.

Though I do recognize that Hillsongs does tend to get my knickers in a knot.

Posted by: Bill Kinnon at March 13, 2008 05:56 AM

I understand Bill's "cheap shot" having previously worked within that kind of environment. Although the comment is a "shot" Steve I think it is a fair critique of the Hillsong enterprise. In my opinion if Hillsong have good lyrics then they have stumbled upon them not thought them through theologically. Pentecostalism is based primarily on experience andthese songs are written out of the song writers experience of God. Which is fine as long as people are allowing those songs to be critiqued theologically (which is what you are doing). However, try challenging Hillsong if one of their songs is dubious; what happens then? Also, I think it is important to read and understand their lyrics in context with their whole church, business etc. For when I do this my gut begins to churn! Hillsong are the biggest influence over Christian music in Aus and probably through their conference the biggest influence in mainstream Charismatic/Pentecostal leadership and I for one do not think it is a healthy one!

Just my reflections Steve. Please understand just because my critique of Hillsong is negative; it doesn't mean it is done in bitterness:-)

Posted by: mark at March 13, 2008 09:37 AM

Mark and Bill,

i simply wrote a post saying "in this 1 song, I am surprised by how theological it is."

surely we can give credit where credit is due? surely we want people who look at our missional conversation to be affirm the good as well as the bad? surely we want to be allowed to grow and change and develop over time?

if that's a courtesy we expect, why aren't we extending it to others?

steve


Posted by: steve at March 13, 2008 11:59 AM

Steve,
You know I love you, but I fear you are being disingenuous. The title of your post is the Theology of Hillsong, is it not? Perhaps the title should have been, the Theology of One Hillsong writer. The theology in the song is hardly the theology of Hillsong. And. Quite frankly. Anger is an appropriate response to the actual theology of Hillsongs. Whether one purports to be missional or otherwise.

Posted by: Bill Kinnon at March 13, 2008 12:38 PM
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