Thursday 12 March 2009

Worship songs that changed my life: NUMBER FOUR

Having done a similar series on sermons, I have decided to do a similar one for songs.

Here we go with number 4. Matt Redman, "Dancing Generation"

Your mercy taught us how to dance
To celebrate with all we have
And we'll dance to thank You for mercy

Your glory taught us how to shout
To lift Your name in all the earth
And we'll shout to the praise of Your glory

It's the overflow
Of a forgiven soul
And now we've seen You, God
Our hearts cannot stay silent

And we'll be a dancing generation
Dancing because of Your great mercy, Lord
Your great mercy, Lord
And we'll be a shouting generation
Shouting because of Your great glory, Lord
Your great glory, Lord


This song does not really work in a normal Church service. This song is not really for personal worship. In fact this song is so specific to a moment, a situation, that it is practically impossible to describe what that moment or situation was like to someone not there.

This is a song of unbridled praise. A song of togetherness. A song of solidarity. This is us, this is our generation, and we are going to worship, the one worthy of worshipping.

The situation for me was Newday, Notts County Football Stadium, several thousand christian young people and literally, for the only time in my christian experience, the worship was as energetic and engaging an atmosphere as a decent football match. This is not quiet reflection. This is not meditative introspection. This is giving all, heart, mind and body into expression of worship and expression of the excitement of knowing Jesus, the overflow of a forgiven soul, of hearts that just cannot, and will not, stay silent.

The video below is from the states, and shows the song sung in a large worship gathering setting.

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