Before we sing a "gospel" song sitting at the top of the charts, written either by a Muslim, a self-proclaimed gnostic like Lady Gaga, AI, or even a self-proclaimed Christian, we've got to get better at examining the lyrics before we sing it.
Here are the lyrics from the current No. 5 gospel song, written by Vivian Nouri. Setting aside the deity to which she might have written the lyrics and the different deity to which we, as Christians, might sing them, let's examine each one to see if a Christian can/should agree with them and if they are aligned with the gospel:
You give me purpose -
You make it all worth it
When I give up
You lift me up
It's always enough
Our God, the God of Israel says he has given us purpose, so this is fine. I presume this is the purpose that is "enough," since that is the topic above, which isn't what a Christian believes. It's Christ who is enough. But this might be nitpicking.
You are the reason
That I'm still breathing
No matter the season
Burnt or I'm bleeding
I'm always enough
So I wanna change
Change in Your name
There's debate about saying the words, "I'm enough," because some people take it to mean they can do it on their own. Quite frankly, I've never been enough to do things on my own, but I know that I am "enough" to warrant the God of the universe giving his life for me. And the sacrifice of my life in obedience to him is enough for him to notice and care.
But here's where things get dicey..."So I wanna change. Change in Your name." As Christians, we don't change in his name, we change into Christ's image by his Spirit.
Oh, I wanna change
Through all my mistakes
You love me the same way
No, I don't deserve You
I'll never desert You
Indeed, we don't deserve what Christ did on the cross. But since it was done, we are embraced as sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ, and as such, are entitled to a full inheritance in the Kingdom of God. It's certainly okay to know we don't deserve God's grace, but it should be stated within that context.
You are the one
To You, I surrender
I'll be Your defender
'Cause You gave me life
So I give You mine
It's Yours to define
So I wanna change
Change in Your name
No problem with surrender, but we're not God's defenders. He is ours.
Fill me up with Your fire
Take me higher and higher
Anything You require
Give me all of Your glory
The first three lines are fine, but the last is a problem. God's glory is his alone. This lyric comes close to what Moses said: "Show me your glory." But any sharing of glory is for the Trinity alone.
I am here at Your mercy
I will never be worthy
Fill me up with Your fire (I wanna change)
Take me higher and higher (I wanna change)
Anything You require (change in Your name)
Give me all of Your glory (I wanna change)
Here's another opportunity to use discernment: In one sense, we are here at his mercy, but in another, Christ's death on the cross was not a tragedy (which is a Muslim thought). He gladly did so to make us his own. As his "own," he makes us worthy to be his vessels. And, again, that last line is a real problem for Christians.
I am here at Your mercy (I wanna change)
I will never be worthy (change in Your name)
So I wanna change
Change in Your name
I wanna change
Change in Your name
Never be worthy of what? This level of self-abnegation isn't a Christian understanding of our position in Christ. We take our positions as sons and daughters, purchased for us by Christ.
I encourage readers to evaluate the lyrics they sing to develop discernment. If something feels off—about the lyrics or the author, avoid them. There are plenty of other songs written by God-fearing, Jesus-loving Christians.
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