Rattled by Lyrics

This isn't going to be some deeply introspective blog post. Well, maybe it will be, but not because I had some deep inspiration and wrote something amazing. Instead I hope that I'll be able to share just a thought or two that I had and a greater thought that someone else did.

I'm a really big doctrine nerd. Not that I enjoy sitting in a room by myself and reading old dead guys...I prefer to actually do things and have a social life. Besides, if we just sit there and read books by old dead guys and never do anything, chances are we didn't understand what the old dead guys had to say anyway (I'm going to have a take a Tylenol to relieve the pain that the conviction over that statement caused me). But doctrine and theology are important. I believe that's why if you look at the structure of the book of Ephesians, Paul starts with what we should believe, and what we should do flows out of that. What we believe affects what we do. What we believe IS what we do. So for that reason, doctrine is important.

Doctrine is what we know to be true of God and who He is.

"I don't need doctrine! I don't need theology! I have a relationship." *insert smug grin*

Yeah. Because that's how it works in real life. If you "know somebody really well" but you know nothing about them...how does that even make sense? Oh well. I digress.

All that to say that I think doctrine is important.

Something else that is really important to me is music. To put it in the words of a powerful worship leader I saw recently (even though I have no clue who he was), we can all agree that there is something magical about music. Our God is a God of order, and music is one of the chief expressions of order and harmony. I affects me on a deep level. It's my favorite way to express what I'm feeling.

So doctrine is important. Music is great. What's REALLY great is when good music relates good doctrine. Almost brings me to tears.

This song actually did/does bring me to tears. I've heard it before, but it's recently become new to me again. Enjoy the Gospel in song, courtesy of Charitie Lees Smith.

Before the Throne of God Above 

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea.

A great high Priest whose Name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is written on His heart.

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because my sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free.

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,

My perfect spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I AM,

King of glory and of grace.

One in Himself I cannot die. 

My soul is purchased by His blood.

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ my Savior and my God.