I am NOT a Hillsong basher but Ugh, I hate Hillsong videos… and some of their lyrics. I have no idea what they’re trying to market in videos such as the one below. Ok, actually its pretty obvious: the people in the band and all their fans are gorgeous and hip! They spend time in airports and travel the world looking cool, wearing shades and sporting The Clash t-shirts. Image is the name of the game.

(click here to view if the video does not appear in your browser) As lyrics go this is one of those songs that could just as easily be sung to a girlfriend/boyfriend as to Jesus, existing in the ever-expanding “Jesus Is My Girlfriend” genre. This genre is defined as song or songs that “mean to appeal to an audience outside of typical listeners of CCM by replacing “Jesus” with “You” in hopes of making the Christian content of the song less obvious to non-Christian listeners.” (def’n found here)

Take out the line “I’ve got a Saviour and He’s living in me” and “What The World Will Never Take” is one of those songs:

Check this out. Read it without assuming its about Jesus:

With all I’m holding inside
With all my hopes and desires
And all the dreams that I’ve dreamt

With all I’m hoping to be
And all that the world will bring
And all that fails to compare

You say you want all of me
I wouldn’t have it any other way

I wanna know
I wanna know you today

And You’re the best thing that has happened to me
And the world will never take
The world will never take you away

No-one could ever take you away

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nGvqjzzzaOs/SEDw7RC-jDI/AAAAAAAAAt8/_NNyp9z_k24/s400/hillsongunited.jpg

The “live” version above strays from the recorded version and makes the message a bit clearer – lyrically at least. And don’t get me wrong, as a song and a rock video it succeeds admirably. It’s catchy, well-played, and professionally edited. I’m just not sure I want to play it as part of a worship service at church.

Draw Me Close (seen below) is even worse. Take a look:

(click here to view if the video does not appear in your browser)Again, read it without assuming its about Jesus:

Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I’m your friend

Help me find a way to bring me back to you

Chorus:

You’re all I want, You’re all I’ve ever needed
You’re all I want,
Help me know you are near

You are my desire
No one else will do
Cause no one else
Can take your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find a way to bring me back to you

Chorus:
You’re all I want, You’re all I’ve ever needed
You’re all I want,
Help me know you are near

What do you think? Do I have a point or am I just getting old?

http://bamboosong.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/brooke.jpg

(As a side note, and in the “even more obvious” department, what do you think this shot of Brooke Fraser, Hillsong United’s female member, is selling? Discussion needed? I think not… and we used to think Amy Grant in a leopard-print blazer was racy.)

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Michael Krahn (michael.krahn@gmail.com) is a husband, father, Pastor, writer, and recording artist who enjoys books, theology, technology and the Ottawa Senators.
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