I am among those who believe that the majority of Christian music written by authors still living is garbage. I am not opposed to new music; I just see precious little of it that qualifies as either good art or good theology. Conversely, when I look at older music of the church, from medieval times through the 19th century, I see that most of it is of good quality artistically and theologically. Therefore, old = good, and new = bad, correct? If you said “No,” put a gold star on your chart.

There is a lot of music that is entrenched in traditional churches that is far from excellent. Let’s face it, some of the old favorites are junk, every bit as bad as the worst new songs; yet they are loved by many as representative of that “old-time religion.” Consequently, I have decided to look at some of the “great Hymns” (some are not hymns, but Gospel Songs) and criticize them as I do contemporary Christian music. My intention is to encourage you to think about the words you sing, whether they are old or new. Traditional Tripe will be a semi-regular feature here until I run out of songs to critique or I get bored with it.

I have an old hymnal of unknown denominational origin that is a mix of Hymns and Gospel Songs of varying quality which will be my source at first. Also, I will accept suggestions of Hymns and Gospel Songs to examine. You can email those suggestions here. For this first installment, I have chosen one that is not too bad, but still raises questions: Breathe on Me, Breath of God.

Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Edwin Hatch, 1878

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Blend all my soul with Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

Is this a good Hymn? My initial answer is “Yes.” It is a prayer for fellowship with God, sanctification, and eternal life in Heaven, all worthy desires.

My question is, what is this “breath of God?” If 2Timothy 3:16 is in mind, if we are thinking of Scripture as theopneustos (God-breathed), then this is a wonderful prayer in the spirit of Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”

If not, and this is where I offend any charismatic readers, this is a load of mystical nonsense. If this is hands-in-the-air, eyes-closed, waiting-for-a-gust-of-Holy-Ghost-wind, then it is nothing more than baptized sentimentality.

I have always liked this hymn, but lacking a clear interpretation from the author, I have to give it a D for vagueness. I think it is a good enough hymn, but I would not want to sing it without defining the “breath of God” according to 2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Updated (scroll down)

Some time ago I began a series (if one post can be called a series) called Traditional Tripe. I intended to call attention to some old songs, mostly of the “Gospel Song” variety, that are among “old favorites” but are lacking in theological depth and accuracy. I was reminded of that “series” by yesterday’s post, and again today when I heard my daughter playing the following song on the piano:

He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain:
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

There is nothing wrong with the content of this song. However, something very important is missing. Can you see what it is?

The song is correct to say that God leads us “by his hand.” By his hand he directs our circumstances and guides us. But when we face the circumstances and situations that he puts in our way, how do we know what he wants us to do? Are we waiting for impressions and dreams and visions, or has he given us something more concrete to show us the way?

God's Word, people! God's Word is missing! In a song about God’s leading, there is not one word about his Word! Without his Word, we are left to our own best guess in any situation. Without knowledge of Scripture, we end up doing whatever seems right to us.

What makes this omission even more grievous is that the author, Jo­seph H. Gil­more, wrote it while meditating on Psalm Twenty-three. Matthew Henry, commenting on verse three, writes,

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, in the way of my duty; in that he instructs me by his word and directs me by conscience and providence.

And further, on verse four,

His word and Spirit shall comfort them - his rod and staff, alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Leviticus 27:32), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep. It is a comfort to the saints, when they come to die, that God takes cognizance of them (he knows those that are his), that he will rebuke the enemy, that he will guide them with his rod and sustain them with his staff. The gospel is called the rod of Christ's strength (Psalm 110:2), and there is enough in that to comfort the saints when they come to die, and underneath them are the everlasting arms.

To write of God’s leading without pointing to his Word is to write of taking a trip to a strange place with no map. It is useless!

Everything we need to follow God’s leading is in his Word. Where do we learn that we are lost? In his Word! Where do we learn how we can be saved? In his Word! Where do we learn his will for our behavior? In his Word! Where do we learn how we are to react to the struggles we face? In his Word!

What is missing from this song? Any reference at all to God's Word!