Love for Lyrics
Yesterday we sang “Amazing Grace” and I was struck by the beautiful paradox of the first line of the second verse:
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.
If you hang around Christian theology discussions very long you’ll know the grace vs. works debate is HUGE! Where do you stand – once saved always saved or progressive sanctification? I know a guy who said the best advice is to live like you are saved by your works but to believe like you are saved by faith alone. I realize it does matter; what we believe affects the way we live our lives, but I also think the entire discussion is bigger than any one of us can pin down in a three-point sermon.
That is the awesomeness of God, really. Rob Bell has an sweet demonstration of God’s otherness in his video “Everything is Spiritual“. He explains that God lives in an entirely different dimension than we do – one not limited by time and space. He uses the analogy of a human interacting with a family who lives only in 2-D, on paper. Like Flat Stanley. Imagine how many things would seem strange to the 2-D family if we tried to enter their world in our 3-D forms. Bell used a white board marker to illustrate the way the truth of God can be hard for us to pin down. As he holds up the marker and asks what shape it is in 2-D. We realize it looks like a rectangle from that perspective. But we know in 3-D it is a cylinder. Bell says, Yeah, God is like that.
So, back to grace and works and the lyrics to the old hymn:
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.
Yeah, grace is like that.
I love that line. Indeed, grace is like that.
And these days I’m highly works-oriented, though I believe in different types of works than I used to, and I am failing miserably at every one of them. Thank God I actually believe I’m saved by grace.
My favorite line is the last verse: When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, then when we first begun.
Every congregation I’ve ever been in seems to sing that line more joyously and loudly than any of the others, and it’s fitting I think. How amazing it is indeed…
I agree, Carol. I LOVE the last verse – such a great reminder of the fleeting life we live now and the wonder of FOREVER.
One of my favorite Children’s books is “Do You Love Me?”. I can’t remember the author off the top of my head, but the book is about a father taking a walk with his son. The son asks “Do you love me when I’m fast?” Do you love me when I’m slow?”… all the way through the book, the father assures the son that he loves him no matter what. At the end he asks, “Do you love me when I’m naughty?” The father, of course, says yes. “As much as when I’m good?” he asks. “Yes, just as much,” says the father.
“Why should I try to be good then?” the boy asks.
The father pauses and says, “I don’t know… you tell me.” The boy thinks about it, looks up at his father and says, “Because I love you, too.”
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that book!!! It illustrates what I believe about God’s love and grace perfectly. I do believe we are saved by His grace. But how could there possibly be a life without works if we love him too?
Love that line, and the metaphor about the dimensions. Grace is like that. And I’m so glad.
I love Everything is Spiritual. Well, I love most things by Rob Bell. But that is such a good DVD.
Woot! Rob Bell! Anne pointed me in his direction and I really became a fan.
And I have to say, Amazing Grace is one of those songs you learn something new from year and year, new challenge after new challenge.
I loved this post.