Christian music often gets a bad rap – but it is not as though there isn't just as much bad, superficial, and corny music around just generally. Indeed, the tribalism that segregates “Christian music” from the rest of music (which by most definitions includes some “Christian music”) involves some artificial segregation, and this was the subject of a recent post by Fred Clark. Be that as it may, however much a particular style typically seems trite or at odds with your experience, occasionally there is a song which is a powerful exception. Matthew Ward's song “Forgiveness” may or may not fit into that category for you, but if nothing else, it seems to have a message that progressive Christians can appreciate as much as conservative Christians, and so I thought I'd share it, since such songs are admittedly rare. Lyrics follow after the video (and are also in the video itself).
It's the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don't deserve
It's the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just too real
It takes everything you have just to say the word…
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It's always anger's own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you got a right to hold a grudge
It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free'
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
It'll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it's power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In