Recently, we have been singing a wonderful modern praise song at church that I’d like to share with you. Before I do, let me add a disclaimer. I love hymns. And our church often sings hymns. I would agree with many who would say the evangelical church today is in jeopardy of losing its rich musical tradition, as evidenced by the widespread neglect of hymns. But my blog is directed more towards people within fundamentalism and those familiar with it.
Many fundamentalists ignore or disdain modern church music in favor of hymns. So my music posts aim to highlight doctrinally rich, excellently crafted, modern church music. I have previously posted the lyrics to numerous songs of the modern hymn variety. And I have just started posting lyrics to praise songs. I think fundamentalists hurt themselves by not using modern music, which often can be utilized in more traditional settings. And worse, they misrepresent CCM and modern praise music as shallow and carnal, across the board.
Now to the song recommendation. “Marvelous Light” by Charlie Hall, has become a favorite of mine. We have been singing it at our church (which sings both modern and traditional music, by the way) for several months now. It takes gospel truths and intermingles them with our response and appreciation of them. It trumpets the wonder of the gospel as it calls for us all to hope, and continue to hope as we grow and live out the gospel. May you be blessed with the message of this song.
Marvelous Light
By Charlie Hall
Verse 1
I once was fatherless,
a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep
Verse 2
Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come
And take this life, take your life.
Pre-chorus
Sin has lost it’s power,
death has lost it’s sting.
From the grave you’ve risen
VICTORIOUSLY!
Chorus
Into marvelous light I’m running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way
Verse 3
My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I’m free. now I’m free!
Bridge
Lift my hands and spin around,
See the light that i have found.
Oh the marvelous light
Marvelous light
Lift my hands and spin
See the light within…
Words and Music by Charlie Hall. © 2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing);
Sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing). CCLI song# 4491002.
- Listen to the song (for free):
- Go to Charlie Hall’s myspace (where you can also listen to the song, for free).
- View chord chart of the song and lyrics.
- Purchase CDs which contain the song:
Thanks for recommendation of this song, I have never heard it before. I just downloaded it on iTunes and love the song. I would also recommend “Hold Fast” by mercy me.
Bill
Thanks Bill. Yes “Hold Fast” is good. I like a lot of Mercy Me’s stuff. “I Can Only Imagine” and “Homesick” (I think that’s the name) are favorites.
This song, though, is remarkably suited to coorporate worship.
Blessings from the Light,
Bob Hayton
Does it sound the same as the recording when you sing it corporately at your church?
Pastor Jeff,
The recording in the post is more of a performance by the artist. It shows the melody of the song well.
This link: Marvelous Light by Passion Worship Band, actually is a recording more similar to how it sounds at our church. The background noise of the crowd in this recording is more in line with a concert not how it would be at our church, though. Plus our worship leader (Pastor Dan Holst) doesn’t do a lot of the showy or performance-oriented extras to the song.
Yes there are drums and guitars. But it doesn’t have a concert or showy rock artist feel to it. We actually sang it on Easter, and the lyrics (and the song) are well suited for that. However in the same service we probably sang 4 hymns some of which had almost no contemporary accompaniment. We prize doctrinally rich songs, use hymns and praise music, and utilize styles that reach across generations and cultures. It is not a show, it is serious, and passionate. We do have Scripture readings or doctrinal statement affirmations, often. And we have genuine heartfelt prayers, 2 or 3 of them. Then we have preaching. We worship in the music, but music isn’t thought of as synonymous to worship.
I probably said more than you wanted, but am trying to represent what goes on at my church.
Blessings in Christ,
Bob