A Facebook friend shared a song idea on Facebook, I expressed appreciation and shared something of my own from a while back, and before I knew it an idea that I floated a decade ago<\/a> was now a topic of serious discussion again all of a sudden. I\u2019m talking about a Panentheist and Progressive Praise Project<\/a>, an effort to create songs for a worship setting that are theologically and socially progressive. In many churches, due to the relative dearth of songs reflecting this kind of outlook, the preaching and other things may be progressive in character, but the songs sung are not. With this post I\u2019m inviting others who are interested in contributing to assembling a collection of materials, most certainly an album but probably also sheet music or at least lyric and chord sheets as well, to express that interest. I think there is room for songwriters, vocalists, and other musicians to participate. If you don\u2019t write songs but could add electric guitar parts, or if you write songs but don\u2019t feel you can sing and share them yourself, together we can combine our abilities and make this happen. Who\u2019s in?<\/p>\n In connection with this, let me share a rough recording of a new song that I\u2019ve just finished writing. I\u2019m calling it \u201cGod Has Told You.\u201d The words are all adapted from the Bible:\u00a0Amos <\/span>5:23<\/span>-24; Micah 6:8; Luke <\/span>2:52-53; <\/span>6:20<\/span>-26; and Revelation 21:5. It started from a number of impetuses and sources of inspiration. One was that I always make a point of trying to write a song when I teach my class on the Bible and music, and I\u2019ll be doing so again this spring semester that is about to begin. If I ask students to create despite many of them not having any kind of prior training, then I feel like I should put myself in the same situation. Another prompt was discussing the Magnificat in my Sunday school class and talking about the possibility of a \u201cpunk\u201d or at least contemporary one, perhaps using the translation in\u00a0The Message<\/em><\/a>. Some of the wording of that is strikingly contemporary: \u201c<\/span>He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts.\u00a0<\/span>He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud.\u201d In the end, I didn\u2019t do so. But I had also been thinking about a song based on words from the 8th century prophets in ancient Israel, whose emphasis on social and economic justice is as relevant to our times as ever. In the end, all these came together into this song.\u00a0<\/span>Here immediately below are the lyrics, followed by a quick recording of it, just me at the piano:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n God Has Told You<\/strong><\/p>\n Chorus <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n God has told you O mortal what is good <\/span><\/p>\n And what does the Lord require of you? <\/span><\/p>\n But to act justly and love mercy <\/span><\/p>\n And walk humbly before your God <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Verse 1 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Cast down the mighty from their thrones <\/span><\/p>\n Lift up the lowly and meek <\/span><\/p>\n Drive out the wealthy and haughty <\/span><\/p>\n Bring in the hungry and weak <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Verse 2 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Just stop the music you\u2019re making <\/span><\/p>\n Can\u2019t stand the sound of your songs <\/span><\/p>\n Unleash a torrent of justice <\/span><\/p>\n A flood to wash away wrong <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Verse 3 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Blessed are the poor and the hungry <\/span><\/p>\n Woe to the prosperous few <\/span><\/p>\n Blessed are the downcast and mourners <\/span><\/p>\n Behold God makes all things new <\/span><\/p>\n (c) James McGrath 2021<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n