Is the song Healer made any less powerful by the fact that its writer lived a bunch of scandalous lies in connection with the song (i.e. not actually having cancer . . . not really requiring the oxygen tank he dragged out on the stage for his performance?)
For a while I thought - yes. I also thought - poor Hillsong church, being tainted by such a scandal. We played this song at youth camp. The story broke part way through the week about the deception . . . and I think we all felt scandalized. For quite a while I didn't want to hear the song, I didn't even really want to think about the whole situation.
Last week Kristy got the CD. Today we went on a Thanksgiving Day drive; touring the amazing colours offered up by Autumn 2008. Such a drive required a soundtrack - so we played it (Hillsong - This is Our God). Healer is track 8. When it started playing, my heart sank a little bit - and I wasn't sure what to feel. But we didn't skip it. We kept listening and went through the CD once and then . . . let it play again.
Track 8 the second time through: I noticed how tortured Mike's voice sounds as he lives out a lie that's gotten out of his grasp in a big way. He's being tortured by what he's done (it's being recorded and filmed to be sold . . . think what's going through his mind . . . probably not a very healthy place). He sounds: tortured, fearful, scared.
I think this makes the song more powerful, and adds a whole other dimension to it.
The lyrics are about physical healing - - - but the scandal, the backstory to the song, and the actual performance of the song, make it about something bigger: sin. Many have reservations about the lyrics "you heal all my disease" because experience, and history tells us . . . God doesn't always heal all our disease. We may receive healing from God (even multiple times) but we still all experience physical death eventually.
God has provided healing for all our disease in an ultimate way through Christ. Christ has power over all sickness and death - although that still doesn't mean we won't and don't get sick (topic for another post). The greater joy is forgiveness for sin, and our future hope is resurrection. When you sing (or listen to) "you heal all my disease" think - "you forgive all my sin."
As I listen to the song now, this is what I'm hearing. I hear a desperate man caught in horrible trap he made for himself - - crying out to God for mercy. And I see God giving it: "Mike, nothing IS impossible for me - I forgive you. Let me restore you."
When you look at the world, what is it that you see? I see all kinds of evil that brings people to their knees and I think - - - God's grace and love is mind-blowing because he's made forgiveness and healing available for all of it.
Worship Curator
10 years ago
2 comments:
I haven't ever heard the song, and I haven't heard of the whole hoax either. So I started researching the scandal, and I came across a lot of dissapointment and pointed fingers. However, I did come across this scripture from Philippians 1:15-18
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, …
Although I don't believe Mike's motives were envy or rivalry, it is good to know that whatever comes of this is still the promotion of the Gospel.
A scandal can't stop God. He's bigger than all that, and He can use a broken man for His glory.
yeah man!
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