Today is “Discernment in Music” (DiM) day here at Faithful Stewardship (2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (ESV)).

January 27, 2015. Today we are going to take a look at the #10 spot on the 20theCountdownMagazine top 20 songs list, “Lord I’m Ready Now” by Plumb. This is the first time we are reviewing a song by Plumb and, sadly, this one isn’t going to go well. I am a fan of her sound, and a lot of her music is remixed by DJs into some very cool techno/dance music, a genre of which I’m personally a fan. However, we aren’t here to review musical stylings, we are here to review the messaging. This song echos a very emotionally driven mystical view of God that has infiltrated the visible church. It is a confused view of repentance and forgiveness and Salvation. It’s extremely vague and emotive, which will lead many to feel like the song “resonates with them”, but the message is confused and unclear. Let’s watch the lyric video (which was very well done) and then examine its lyrics.

Official Lyric Music Video

 

Lyrics (via K-Love)

Lord I’m Ready Now by Plumb

I just let go
And I feel exposed
But its so beautiful
Cuz this is who I am
I’ve been such a mess
But now I can’t care less
I could bleed to death

Oh Lord I’m ready now
All the walls are down
Time is running out
And I wanna make this count
I ran away from you
And did what I wanted to
But I don’t wanna let you down
Oh Lord I’m ready now
Lord I’m ready now

You called my name *
I turned away
But now I
Am listening
I was so caught up
In who I’m not
Can you please forgive me?

I’ve nothing left to hide
No reason’s left to lie
Give me another chance

Writer(s): Tiffany Arbuckle Lee and Luke Sheets

* These lines, though listed on a coupe of lyrics sites, are not sung in the Lyric video

Positive Elements

The need for forgiveness is acknowledged at the end of the mini-second verse (or first bridge?), “Can you please forgive me?” But it comes in the form of a question, and lacks the assurance we would expect of a Christian song.

Concerns

The song is confused. Artistically, I get the whole “this is a song about the ‘real’ emotions people go through in life”… but people’s emotions are sinful. We are sinful. Our flesh is sinful. Christians have the answers in Christ and in His Word. If you are going to posit a fleshly question in a song, provide the spiritual Truth as its answer. So let’s grab some Truth:

1 John 1 (ESV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Another line that punched me in the face (figuratively) is the “Can you give me another chance?” What is this “chance” of which you speak? That you are still breathing is evidence of the Grace of God at work in your life so that you might hear the Word, be granted Faith, repent and believe in Him. You don’t need “another chance” you simply need to believe in Him. Your “chance” goes away on the last day.

John 6:35-40 (ESV)35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Okay, so let’s work through the song from the beginning. Please forgive the tone (a bit snarky and frustrated) of these questions.

I just let go …of what, your sin? your unbelief? your pride?
And I feel exposed
But its so beautiful …what is? being exposed is beautiful? in what way? Adam and Eve didn’t consider their new-found nakedness a thing of beauty, they worked to cover their sin. Sin and unbelief are not beautiful, they are ugly.
Cuz this is who I am …I suppose being artistically vague allows for the listener to fill in their own narrative, but this is getting frustrating. I want to think this is admitting that we are born dead in our sins and trespasses, but we just finished talking about how whatever this current state of the singer is being beautiful. huh?
I’ve been such a mess …okay…
But now I can’t care less …[sigh]. Really? Confession is to agree with God about our sin and how it has earned us death and punishment… and you can’t care less?
I could bleed to death …and if you do as an unbeliever you face an eternal judgement outside of Christ. If you do as a believer in Christ Jesus, you will be raised again in the Last Day.

The chorus suggests the singer’s theology is along the lines of “the Believer’s prayer”, as if to say “okay, Lord, I’m ready to recite that prayer that saves me now that I’ve torn down my own walls and I am really, really, serious about wanting to say that prayer now that I know that my time is running short. I’m ready, so let’s do this thing!” How did Peter present the Gospel after preaching Law?

Acts 2:37-41(ESV)37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The truth of the Gospel is that its focus is on Christ and what He did on the cross. Stop turning it into some ritual WE do in hopes of gaining another chance or convincing God to forgive us. We can wax eloquent and sing/talk/lecture about “surrendering to God” without ever actually doing it, because we’ve spent so much time focusing on our hearts, our emotions, and our experience. If your eyes are on you, they aren’t on Christ. Repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

I cannot recommend this song to anyone for any purpose. The song reflects a genuine misunderstanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt Plumb is singing about real emotions… the problem is that no real answers are provided in this song, and as Christians we’ve been given the real answers in God’s Word. It’s like providing a very real and graphic depiction of drowning… knowing all of the signs and stages of drowning won’t teach someone how to swim. One might argue that it will motivate someone to learn to swim, but the details of drowning do not teach a person to swim. Again, I believe she’s sharing real emotions… but our flesh is corrupt and there is no Truth in our emotions. We find Truth and rest only in God’s Word, for it is by hearing the Word of God that we might receive Faith.

To God be the glory, Amen.
In Christ Jesus,
Jorge