CCM Song Alert: “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman, Genre: Christian Pop

---------- Blessed Be Your Name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name - Blessed Be Your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed Be Your name - Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say - Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name - Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's 'all as it should be' Blessed be Your name - Blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name - Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say - Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name - Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name - You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name ----------

Question 1: The title of this song is “Blessed Be Your Name,” BUT WHERE is the NAME of the LORD in this song? Answer 1: NOWHERE to be found! - Question 2: WHO is this SONG honoring? Answer 2: “The Lord,” but WHO is this “Lord?” there is NO theological or scriptural basis to know who this “Lord” is. - Question 3: Does this song present truth or is it more on feeling good with the beat and the repetition of words without truth? Answer 3: Since theology and doctrine are absent, it must be more on feeling good, especially when you consider the rhythm or beat of this song. - Question 4: How do I know this song exalts the GOD of the Bible and CHRIST His Son? Answer 4: I don’t know WHO it is exalting. It is unclear. The “exaltee” can be any “Lord” that I IMAGINE it to be. - FEEDBACK: As believers, we must understand that we are to praise the NAME of the LORD: - 2Thessalonians 1:12, That the NAME of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. - 1Corinthians 1:2, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the NAME of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours -

We are to PRAISE Him according to His WORKS and praise HIS GLORIES: - Psalm 40:5, Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. - Psalm 107:22, And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. We are to PRAISE Him in TRUTH, praise HIM with SPECIFIC words, BIBLE words, according to HIS revealed truth: - John 4:23, … the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in TRUTH: for the Father SEEKETH such to worship him. - 1Corinthians 14:8, 15 (8) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? … (15) I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. - The title (only) of this CCM song is reminiscent of an old Hymn: “Blessed Be the Name,” by William H. Clark. Look at the Scriptural basis for this song and the words that follow, and determine for yourself which of these two songs is more Scriptural (truth). - Scriptural basis for this hymn: -

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. ---------- All praise to Him who reigns above In majesty supreme, Who gave His Son for man to die, That He might man redeem! - Refrain: Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name of the Lord! - His name above all names shall stand, Exalted more and more, At God the Father’s own right hand, Where angel hosts adore. - Redeemer, Savior, friend of man Once ruined by the fall, Thou hast devised salvation’s plan, For Thou hast died for all. - His name shall be the Counselor, The mighty Prince of Peace, Of all earth’s kingdoms conqueror, Whose reign shall never cease. - As you can see from this contrast, the THEOLOGY of “Blessed Be Your Name” is weak and cause for every believer to be alert

(sober [1Peter 5:8], vigilant [1Peter 5:8], watch [1Peter 4:7], stand fast [2Thessalonians 2:15]): - Romans 13:11, And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to AWAKE out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. - While the theology and doctrine of the old hymn is right on target. It therefore EDIFIES the believer AND at the same time EXALTS the LORD. This is how it is supposed to be! - I BESEECH you DEAR READER take the time to READ the SCRIPTURES quoted above, LEARN to WALK in TRUTH before GOD, “prove all things” (1Thessalonians 5:21), “test the spirits whether they be of God” (1John 4:1), and “study to show yourself approved unto God” (2Timothy 2:15). PROTECT yourself from fallacy! - -

Pastor Jerry http://ptrjerrysblog.blogspot.com/