I copped plenty of flak last month in Southern Cross when I suggested we should dump hymns. I must say, some of the responses seemed driven more by nostalgia than anything else. And some of my critics did not read my article too carefully - I plainly said I believe we need to move on from hymns as traditionally sung. I’m more than happy with contemporary hymn re-writes, especially those from Sovereign Grace and Chris Tomlin.
I’m also quite a fan of what are sometimes called “modern hymns” - that is, contemporary songs written using a hymn-like structure. Townend and Getty are the masters of this form. Over the weekend, we introduced to church another of their songs, The Power of the Cross. The lyrics are inspiring and profound -
Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
CHORUS:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath"”
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought,
Ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.
Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.
FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God"”slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.
The tune is lovely too - you can listen to it here on YouTube, and CCLI members can download the music from the CCLI website. I was surprised by how easily church picked this song up - it was like they’d been singing it for years (we did it in “C”). Just wonderful! I’d like to see many more churches add this to their play list.
