Trading My Sorrows Worshiping God in the Darkness—The Expression of Pain and Suffering In Contemporary Worship Music c B. Walrath/ R. Woods All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Introduction Lament is missing on our worshiping communities today Job’s “unfair deal” Jesus says “Take up your cross and follow me” Our churches must have a place for lament!

Method of Analysis Pain and suffering go together Three levels of analysis Lyrics Agony, despised, forsaken, suffering, crown of thorns, etc… (22 songs) Lyrical-musical interchange The music itself, how it fits with lyrics Context Is the song meaningful in my context?

Results “Above All” “Like a rose trampled on the ground/ You took the fall” and additional imagery “Here I Am to Worship” “Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness” “and I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross” “Trading My Sorrows” “…my shame” Describes different types of pain—both physical and emotional “Blessed Be Your Name” “When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say/ blessed be the name of the Lord “When I’m found in the desert place/ though I walk through the wilderness”

Stats 9 songs referred to Jesus’ pain and suffering The rest (13) were more about OUR pain and suffering “Because He Lives”: physical pain and suff. “The Heart of Worship”: emotional pain and suff. The 13 had meaningful expression through the language crying out to God

Criticisms “Above All” is bad theology “You thought of me above all” is narcissistic “Breathe” is bad theology as well “I’m desperate for you…I’m lost without you” God is not mentioned Girlish lovesickness

Lyrical-Musical Interchange “Draw Me Close” Music: a good, sing-able melody Lyrics: Not about pain and suffering “Blessed Be Your Name” Music: not easy for congregation to sing, syncopated Lyrics: are about pain and suffering “Amazing Love” Music: syncopated “Our God Reigns” Sound doesn’t match the words of pain and suffering Music should not take away or hinder the lyrics

Context “The Wonderful Cross” Lyrics and music match well Added chorus goes well with the original melody Context: How the worship songs about pain and suffering match your congregation If the song on CCLI doesn’t fit her congregation, they are of no value to her church. Asks “Does the song give voice to the people in my congregation?” Consider “us” and “our” not “I” and “me” “Blessed Be Your Name” echoes her congregation, even though she doesn’t like the song

Conclusion Only 10 out of the 77 contribute to meaningful expression of pain and suffering “Honest worship will teach us how to worship God through our pain, in the middle of our suffering, in those lonely places of isolation and in the ambiguity of all the questions that begin with ‘why.’” 1 Peter 2:24 “By his wounds you have been healed.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Do you see a need for lament to be expressed in worship today? How would you like to see lament expressed in corporate services? Have you seen pain and suffering expressed well in a church service? What would be your criteria for a good song of lament?