Paul Baloche's "You Have Saved Us" and Spiritual Adoption

It has often been said that when people leave the church on Sunday mornings, they'll remember the songs more than the sermon. What this says about our attention span and wiring I'm not sure, but I do believe there is some truth to this. Something you can hum to yourself will tend to stick in your collective consciousness longer than a bullet point, because music resonates with our emotions and senses in a way that often eclipses the spoken word.

NT scholar Gordon Fee puts it this way: "Show me a church's songs and I'll show you their theology". Bob Kauflin has also blogged about the importance of the songs we sing.

Since the songs we sing do leave a mark on the hearts and minds of those we are leading, it's important that the content of our songs are theologically sound and robust. One of the great yet often overlooked themes of the NT is adoption - the idea that God the Father has made us His spiritual sons and daughters through Christ.

J.I. Packer dedicates a whole chapter of Knowing God to this theme of adoption. When I read through this section last year it renewed my love and awe for the way in which God relates to us:

Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship, and establishes us as His children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the relationship. To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the father is a greater.

Packer's contention is that adoption is more exalted than justification, for it implies intimacy and fellowship. Yes, God forgave us - incredible and amazing. But on top of that, He welcomes us into His family and invites us to call upon Him as "Abba." Packer argues that the whole Christian life should be understood through the lens of adoption.

The new worship song we've been singing hits upon this theme of adoption. The first verse of Paul Baloche's "You Have Saved Us" says

Who am I that You would know me
Who are we to You Lord
You have shown
Your love and mercy
We are strangers no more
We are daughters, we are sons
All because of what You've done

I love how the verse begins with the sentiments of the Psalm 8:3-4 and then hits upon the truths found in Gal. 4:4-7. It's really sweet when a song combines great theology with a fresh groove and memorable hooks. As we sing and play this song may we enjoy the presence of God our Father and rest in the assurance that we are His sons and daughters.

Check out Paul's band playing the song live below.

Playing Piano in a Band - Good Example

This post is for the keyboard players...

As you know, playing piano/keys in a contemporary band setting can be - to put it mildly - a sticky proposition (and I'm not referring to how some keys can stick on a grand). Some of us come from backgrounds where we are used to carrying the load of the song - the rhythm, melody, bass, harmonic structure, etc. When it's just one instrument (a piano or organ) leading the song than that's appropriate. However, when you are joined by an acoustic rhythm player, a bass player, an electric guitar player, some harmonists - then the whole equation changes. It's not that the piano/keyboard doesn't have a role to play - it definitely does - but the role takes on a new look and approach.

I came across the video below that basically shows a keyboardist how to play a particular song ("A Mighty Fortress" by Christy Nockels). We actually performed this song last year. I wanted to share the video with you, not so that you would learn how to play the song, but more because it demonstrates principles that apply to playing keys in a contemporary band setting. I appreciate how Nathan Nockels talks about keys and the challenge of "fitting into" the modern band.



If you want to play along with the video the score for the song can be downloaded here. NOTE that he is playing it a half-step higher (in the key of Db).