Language in Worship Music: Modern, Traditional, Metaphor, and Literal - a podcast by Jonathan Michael Jones

A recent popular worship song has caused great controversy
among worship leaders and churches. Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love” has sparked
debate far and wide. Arguments made both for the use of the word, reckless,
are:

1)    
it is a metaphor;

2)    
from a human perspective, God’s love is reckless
because it does not make sense;

3)    
the song does not speak of God himself but
rather his love;

4)    
and many more.

I do not intend to delve into discussion of this song itself
or the use of the word, reckless, but I would like to discuss the broader topic
of language in worship music. I would like to examine the pros and cons of
modern vs. traditional and metaphorical vs. literal language. I do not mean to
sway one way or another but merely to have us think about these issues as it
relates to the message of the gospel as well as the context we minister in, which
is disparate across the spectrum. To sum, I will discuss how to approach
language in worship music, which, by the way, is nothing to be taken lightly.

Further episodes of Act of Worship

Further podcasts by Jonathan Michael Jones

Website of Jonathan Michael Jones