I was given an assignment and failed miserably. Worship Leader Magazine’s newest offspring The Worshiper asked me to compile a list of songs that are more about service as worship, that have more of a “go and do” component to them. Songs about the poor, homeless, hungry, sad, etc and how we Christians are to love them by, you know, helping them and stuff. Songs that are horizontal and others focussed – not so me me me centered.
Turns out that’s hard to find these days…at least where I looked. I went first to artists that speak for Compassion International or World Vision. Surely they’ve sung these sorts of songs. Not much there. Then I went to leading Christian artists. Surely these guys have sung about this stuff. Apparently not. Then I went to acquaintances in the music business – relationships forged over a common lack of record sales and radio play. Yep. Guys I like a whole bunch in the music business – Jars of Clay, Jason Morant, Charlie Hall – are writing this kind of music.
Here’s my list, written after visits to a few dozen artist and lyric sites. Geez.
Jesus (by me – they put this on the list, not me)
Oh My God (by Jars of Clay)
Open (by Jason Morant)
Micah 6:8 (by Charlie Hall)
Tears Of The Saints (by Leeland)
What would you add to this list?
The new cd from Caedmon’s has a song called “Two weeks in Africa”. Which deals with being hands and feet close to home.
From Johannesburg to Cape Town, the plane had barely touched down
She was taking photos for the friends back home
This was where she had always felt her heart belonged
She was finally here, the sky was bright and clear
Two weeks
And we all can feel the calling
Two weeks
To make the world a little smaller
So a girl got on a plane for two weeks in Africa
Johannesburg to Houston she came home on a mountain
But school was starting, things kept moving on
Before you knew it seven years had gone
She found a picture of her standing smiling,
Arms around the starving kids she swore to not forget
She swore to not forget
Two weeks
And we all can feel the calling
Two weeks
To make the world a little smaller
So a girl got on a plane for two weeks in Africa
And if we follow our dear sun to where the shores are not familiar…
Faces turn to numbers, numbers fall like manna from the sky
Why, oh why, oh Father, why?
One village in Malawi now has water running pure and clean
One church alive in Kenya’s full of truth and love and medicine
We put the walls up but Jesus keeps ‘em standin’
He doesn’t need us, but He lets us put our hands in
So we can see His love is bigger than you and me
Two weeks
And we all can feel the calling
Two weeks
To make the world a little smaller
So a girl got on a plane for two weeks in Africa
OK I’ll take a stab. . .with the disclaimer that I’m all hopped up on cold medicine!
How about Third Day’s Cry out to Jesus?
Please no mocking if that’s not a techinical “Worship” song.
How about Mission’s Flame by Matt Redman? It does have a “go and do” component but doesn’t specifically speak about the poor.
How about “Least of These” by Decemberadio?
God of Justice, Tim Hughes?
or “share the well” caedmon’s call. let me keep thinking.
twenty first time: Monk and Neagle. . .
Multiply your love – Andy Park
God of Justice – Tim Hughes.
Let my life be like a love song – Brenton Brown
You are the Light by Steve Fee
Now Is The Time- Delirious
Here I Am Send Me- Delirious
Hearts of Servants- Shane Barnard
Pour Out Your Spirit- Evan Wickham
You definitely have to include God of Justice by Hughes!
Anyone Round Here Heard About A Thing Called Love? – Taylor Sorenson (second cd)
Bulletproof – Taylor Sorenson (second cd)
We Can’t Wait Any Longer – MWS(sorry, I couldn’t resist)
Beth
I realize I’m new around here. . .BUT what is the MWS non tolerance? He has several songs about going and doing and because we were at the STAND concert we now sponsor a little girl through Compassion.
Or do we only approve of those who agree with our point of view even as Christians. . .if so I’m probably in the wrong place.
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong spot. . did I mention the sickness and drugs before
“God of Justice” – Tim Hughes
the new David Crowder CD coming out this month has some…
“Surely We Can Change”
Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Let us bring them relief
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something.
“What Are You Waiting For” – Natalie Grant
Great ones! I should have asked you guys sooner.
It’s a little subtle….
Hillsong United: The United We Stand Album.
Song: From the Inside Out.
Line “let justice and praise become my embrace, to love you from the inside out”
lyrics here: http://pwarchive.com/song.aspx?SongID=2688&v=1
Are you talking more recent songs and artisst, or including the older stuff? From the older camp, there’s “Asleep in the Light” by Keith Green; “Do you Feel Their Pain” and “Don’t Tell Them Jesus Loves Them” by Steve Camp. Just a couple off the top of my head.
Casting crowns…Let His people pray; (If we are) The Body.
Oh, no, Tiffany. No songs involving Oprah. No can do.
“Safe” by Justin McRoberts
Derek Webb:
“Rich Young Ruler”
“My Enemies Are Men Like Me” -kind of
“Love is Not Against the Law”
Brave Saint Saturn:
“Under Bridge”
That’s all I got.
If I dup any, my apologies:
God of Justice (We Must Go) – Tim Hughes
Take It To The Streets – Matt Redman
Mission’s Flame – Matt Redman
Let Us Be – Vineyard
Solution – Hillsong
I know there’s more but that’s all I can think of off the top of my melon.
I can vaguely think of a couple of Casting Crowns songs???
From the Zoe Group: “Let Us Be You,” written by Clarissa Cox and Michael Lusk.
Billy Crockett’s Simple Plans has a few, I think … I’m not sure if you’re limiting songs to congregational “worship” songs. (IIRC, some of the proceeds from that album went to Habitat for Humanity):
- “Simple Plans”
- “What You Got”
- “Love the World”
- “Tap On Your Shoulder”
- “The Last In Line”
Even if they don’t fit your list – it’s a great album! Check it out.
I want to say he’s got many other tunes from other albums but I’m out of time to keep looking right now.
I wasn’t seriously “dissing” MWS. He’s actually one of my favorite artists and I have everything available publicly that he’s recorded. I was just referring to the “tribute” that Shaun did of Smitty on the Music Boat cruise earlier this year. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Beth
“Go Light Your World” by Chris Rice (Kathy Troccoli, too!)
What about reviving some older hymns?
“Onward, Christian Soldiers” comes to mind.
<a href=”https://secure.thegoads.com/<The Goads</a< have a bit of an older song that’s called “God, Help Us Help The Children”, I think. Can’t find it anywhere online–I think you’d probably have to e-mail them about it. It’s awesome, though.
Dude I’m all about “Oh My God” by Jars Of Clay. Very awesome song. (Your song is alright too)
Shaun, you’ve gotten good suggestions.
I also like “Stir” by downhere. Lyrics:
http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/lyrics/new/track.asp?track_id=4718
Last stanza of “The Face of Love” by Sanctus Real is also very convicting. Lyrics: http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/lyrics/new/track.asp?track_id=4539
I love the song “Light Gives Heat” by Jars of Clay as well. Lyrics:
http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/lyrics/new/track.asp?track_id=5145
God Bless!
Kevin
What about looking closer to your sphere:
How about Robbie Seay Band’s – Go Outside or Rescued ones or Breathing Air Again
I didn’t see “Hands & Feet” by Audio Adrenaline (sorry if I missed it).
Two songs that I and my church are totally digging right now and are all about “go and do”:
“The Blessing” by John Waller – What an incredible song, and super fun to play and sing to boot!
“Changed” by Aaron Niequist (Bill Hybels son-in-law) – Another killer song that’s all about actually doing something with the salvation we’ve been given.
We sang both of these songs this past week as we talked about The Urgency of Caring from the story of the Good Samaritan.
Nate
Sorry Beth, that wasn’t for you it was for Shaun and his seemingly non tolarance of MWS (but maybe my gift wasn’t working correctly when I heard him).
How about Audio A hands and feet, they not only wrote a song they began a children’s village in Hati.
“Take to the World” by Derek Webb is a good one.
My two cents:
Casting Crowns: Does anybody hear her
Delirious?: Our God Reigns (in a kind of strange way, maybe…)
And here in the Netherlands we have an artist called Kees Kraayenoord, and he wrote this very intense song “God of the moon and stars”…
Have a great day!
Band: The Damnwells
Song: Graceless
“Albertine” by Brooke Fraser
Are these supposed to be singable tunes for a congregation?
“Unto the Least of These” by Bob Bennett
Sorry, forgot the link to the lyrics. It’s a great song that lacks heavyhandedness and mawkishness:
http://home.hiwaay.net/~jrinkel/bob/lyrics/songe08.html
“Unto the least of these
What you do for them
You also do for Me
You must give of what you have
To become what you must be
You must give your love
Unto the least of these”
Reading “Billy Crockett” and “Africa” sparked a flashback, Scott Wesley Brown: http://www.songquery.com/html/song/p/please_don_t_send_me_to_africa.html
Dude…apparently, the way to get a whole bumch of comments on your post is to ask for song suggestions!
I have seen this oldy but goody mentioned.
“Faithful Men” – Twila Paris
Angie, I didn’t mention MWS.
Everybody else, wow. Your encyclopedic knowledge of Christian music both frightens and impresses me beyond words.
Oh I wasn’t saying you did this time, just a vibe I got. . .but you know I enjoy both of your music and while I know (again the vibe) I’m more conservative than you I know we agree on more than we disagree. And I wouldn’t ask you to sign a petition
The cataloge of music knowledge here was impressive! Sorry if I posted my ? in the wrong spot. . .again can I plead cold medicine.
Have a great day!
Solution—HIllsong United
Point of Difference—Hillsong United
oooh another brooke fraser fan? i love brooke fraser!
Just remembered Bob Fitts’ “To Honor You.” It’s not overtly about justice, but has some pretty good lines in it.
Nobody’s smoother than Bob Fitts, gang.
Hands and Feet – Audio Adrenaline
maybe:
The Heart of Worship – Matt Redman
Take It To The Streets – Matt Redman
I know these aren’t all classified under worship, but they do the same job.
“Stir” and “Little is Much” – Downhere
“Shine” – Newsboys
“Peace on Earth” – Todd Agnew
“Heal Our Land” – Michael Card
that’s all I have for now… I’ll post again if I think of more.
Foy Vance
Gabriel and teh Vegabond
2 that come readily to mind are:
“Love them Like Jesus” by Casting Crowns
“In Jesus Name” Hope’s Call – they use this in their Compassion International presentation
I think there’s a few more on the new Todd Agnew CD, but tiles escape me right now
Jim
I know this has been said, but my favorite on this whole list is “Hearts of Servants” by Shane
Don’t worry, Shaun. Everyone knows that CCM artists don’t actually listen to CCM!
Most of these are not congegational singing songs, so I don’t know how much help they’d be to “Worship Leader” magazine. And most of them are 20 years old. But how about:
Distressing Disguise- Michael Card
Seed to Sow- Michael W Smith
We Are His Hands- White Heart
A Billion Starving People- Keith Green
Homeless Few- Petra
Who Will Save the Children- Keaggy and Stonehill
Starlings- Randy Stonehill
Helping Hand- Amy Grant
I agree with whoever brought up Keith Green and Steve Camp. Any discussion of this topic that doesn’t lean heavily on them is missing out.
I think you’re still short a couple of suggestions, so I’ll recommend a song that hasn’t even been released yet,
“Remedy” by David Crowder (out 9/25). I heard a preview on the Passion podcast and it totally fits the theme.
“Praying a Prayer” by Kyle Matthews
hold on to Jesus by OC Supertones