Before we dive straight into Bethel’s song: Come Out of that Grave, let’s review the 4 points brought up in my last article (if you didn’t see it, check it out here):
Songs for worship that are congregational friendly should be... 1. Examined through the lens of God’s Word: Just because it feels right, doesn’t mean it is right. 2. Does the song stand on its own, proclaiming the truth of God’s Word without explanation? 3. Is it possible to separate the truth being sung from the error of its associations? 4. Would using the song cause us to actively support an errant ministry? Every worship leader and pastor must wrestle with each of the criteria above and decide for themselves. Bethel Music, I feel lots of their songs are great and beneficial for the body of Christ to sing, others I am wary of, and some I will flat out reject. Will I still plan to use their music in my church? Yes, selectively I will, because many songs I feel follow guideline #2. However, regarding #4, I don’t support their church’s teaching, but I pray people will do as I and separate the songs from the ministry. Here We Go! VERSE 1 There’s a sling in my voice And a stone in my praise Pushing back when the darkest weapons form There’s a power on my lips Even death can’t defy When the name of our God is lifted high Right away we get highly metaphorical language, in itself is not wrong, but for the new believer singing, is it clear what we are referring to and does it need explained? Maybe? Praise can be a powerful weapon against the enemy, and it is a clear reference to David’s defeat of Goliath, God is magnified when we lift his name high as the last line aludes. Notice how much focus is on the first person aspect of the singer... my voice, my praise, my lips and finally the last line directs it to God... that last line is ties it all together luckily. But look at line 4: “There’s a power on my lips, even death can’t defy,” As former Word of Faith believer, drawn out by the grace of God (see story), this line in itself is note wrong, Jesus’ name has power of all the works of the enemy no doubt, but remember this is Bethel, what was the spirit behind writing these words? Well from their word of faith camp, it is our inherent power given by Christ to use his name to speak things into existence, bring about God’s will, and crush the Devil. That is what Word-Faith theology teaches. So nothing is wrong with these lyrics so far standing alone, but when sung through the eyes of a Word of Faith adherent or “former” we pick up that nuance much quicker. I can sing this, but it brings up troubling past convictions. VERSE 2 There are days I have seen Filled with heartache and loss That have buried my heart beneath the weight But every time His praise breaks out Dead things rise up from the ground I won’t leave my song inside that empty grave This verse starts very clear! We all have those days that are hard and God is the only one who can turn our darkness to light! Again the verse, nothing inherently wrong with it, but again the 4th line introduces us to: “But EVERY time His praise breaks out, dead things rise up from the ground...” What is the dead things to which the song refers? Is it our praise that’s dead being resurrected —talking about our song not being left in an empty grave? Or is it a reference to the second coming when the dead in Christ will arise? What are these dead things? This is vague poetic language for the average Christian to wonder on an make assumptions, but how many are really pondering these words? Many congregants just sing mindlessly and focus on the parts that make sense and ignore the vague stuff like this, so as worship leaders, are we sure we want to place these word in the mouths of the saints to be singing... to GOD??? This verse may work if the worship leader takes time to make sense of this and make a scriptural connection or teach on this lyric either or, as long as we are sure to follow guideline #1 listed above. CHORUS ‘Cause there is resurrection power When we sing the name of Jesus Resurrection power When we raise a mighty sound So come on let the praise get loud Make that empty grave resound ‘Cause there is resurrection power In His name. Yes there is definitely resurrection power in the name of Jesus to raise sinners to newness of life in Christ when they call on him. This lyric is good and celebratory of the miracle of salvation, dead men from sin being made alive again to righteousness in Christ! That’s how I would sing this, with that in mind. There’s always a BUT coming, I know you feel it... If you haven’t stopped reading yet, I guess I will just keep on going... Buuuuuuuuut!!!!! Let’s look at where this lyric and song originated... Brian Johnson of Bethel on January 12, 2020 tweeted: “Here’s a new song we tracked tonight at church... ‘come out of that grave’” He linked the video from instagram of Brandon Lake leading this song with the subheading: “This will be sung for decades & decades! I remember so well, when Olive’s dad bagan to declare “Olive, come out of the grave in Jesus’ name! That was a marking night!” Who is Olive? In December 2019, one of Bethel’s worship leader’s daughter, Olive Heiligenthal died in her sleep at 2 years old. She just stopped breathing. Now is it scriptural to pray for the dead to rise? YES! We see it in the new and old testaments not by only Jesus either. It was a tragedy that this girl passed away so young, we can’t say to know God’s perfect will whether he willed her to go to heaven early or this was the work of the enemy, but God’s miracles throughout the scriptures and in cases heard in the mission field around the world, are always to attest to the greatness of God and affirm the prophet, minister, or missionary that he indeed serves the true God. Do we see miracles today? Yes! Are they frequent? Depends where you are in the word and what the will of God is for each situation. We only know the will of God as far as his Word tells us. Bethel took this girls death and for around a week afterwards, started a social media tag #wakeupolive. They believed that they could resurrect her by speaking the name of Jesus over her and declaring in faith for her to rise! They asked people around the world to declare it with them that she would rise! Could God have resurrected her? Yes. Did he? No. Why not? We won’t know this side of heaven, but it is possible, that if she did, that would be an endorsement by God of all that Bethel teaches and they are not a scripturally sound church, so it would not be in God’s character to do so. It does us no good to speculate, but we do need to pray for her family that they find peace and that they are lead into the truth of God’s word. This chorus, in Bethel’s theology, is referring to literal resurrection power in Jesus name that we have “on our lips” to declare the dead to rise up from the ground. Now this chorus is great when we look at it on its own, but with the background story, some churches might stay clear, some of us who are charismatic, still agree with the verse and chorus messages to an extent, but are still wary of Bethel’s teaching and views on this particular subject of resurrection of the dead today. This leads us to the most problematic part of the song that if it was not for it, I could handle singing this song in church possibly, though I wouldn’t choose it myself. When Olive died, they held a church service in which the bridge of this song was sang and chanted over and over, repetitiously but instead of “dead man,” it was “Olive” BRIDGE: Dead man come out of that grave Come out of that grave when we sing Captives let go of those chains Let go of those chains when we praise This bridge, is the high point of the song. These lines repeat 8 times, for a total of 16 “Come Out of That Grave”s. This reminds me of the scripture: “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7, KJV) This song treats that bridge like a prayer, or at least a declaration trying to get God to act on the behalf of the singer. Honestly the chanter, because this is a chant when it comes down to it. Besides to blatant imperative language use (commanding “dead man” to come out of that grave, and “captives” to let go of those chains), let’s look at what this look like in a worship context. When we worship, to whom are we singing? God! So, who is this dead man we would be chanting to? Sinners? Well, we are the body of Christ that are worshiping together (Also, if any lost folks are there, they might even be running, feeling singled out, after listening to this bridge if they’re not mindlessly nodding their head along to the music like half the church member), the corporate worship gathering is for the edification of the saints... Christians! So if we are worshiping God and are a body of believers, why are we chanting to a dead man sinner thinking that will give them life? It is God that saves the sinner, not anything we can do of ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9. And if we are singing to God, that doesn’t make any sense at all and shouldn’t be sung at all. If to lost family member... once again... who does the saving? We can’t command salvation, only pray they come the knowledge of Christ. If we are commanding real dead people to come alive again... I don’t thing we are worshiping God anymore if this is to be used as regular weekend worship song. Now, for me, with my history in the word of faith movement/camp/whatever you want to call it, I understand fully what Bethel believes, and know from where they are coming. They mean well, and are not trying to be deceiving by no means, and they believe this music is honoring to God. However, I take worship just as serious a preaching, we need to be doctrinally sound, no matter what the role is, worship leader, pastor, teacher, evangelist, missionary, etc.! I hope this was helpful for whomever read this, and please leave a comment. If you agree, disagree, like or dislike my take. I’d love to hear your response anyways! We all share the same Lord, and I tried to be conscientious of various theological persuasions when writing this, focusing on the core orthodox beliefs we all share as one body in Christ!
2 Comments
Lisa
11/27/2022 10:28:04 am
Thanks for writing this...the first time my church sang.this the hairs.on the back of my neck stood up. I got the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach. Every time we sing it now I just can't say the words. Pray with me that our worship leader will see the truth.
Reply
4/5/2024 04:55:23 pm
Thank you very much for this information!! I was just singing this song and was looking up to add to my Spotify instead I found you. God is good..
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
About the Writer:
Devin is a professional pianist, music teacher, and founder of The Layman’s Apologist— a new online ministry focused on providing easy to read and comprehensible material to equip Christian believers to defend their faith. Devin has a passion for studying apologetics, theology and philosophy, and he uses his skills as an interpreter and evangelist on missions and wherever he feels lead. He is currently an active member of a local non-denominational church and assists as a worship leader for an all Spanish speaking congregation throughout the year. In addition to serving, his number one goal is to assist and see Christians become bible literate, understand the foundational doctrines of our faith—walking in righteousness, and think biblical about everything! He is also the father of 2 beautiful children and a faithful husband. |