Comments on: Entering the “Draw Me Close” Conversation

By: Bob Kauflin

Bob Kauflin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:41:51 +0000

Thanks all for the comments. I think it’s time to close the comment section. As I said in my post, “May we all proclaim the beauty, authority, and truth of Jesus Christ with our lives, remembering that neither passion nor propositional truth is out of place when we worship God. They were meant to go together.”

By: Mary Ann

Mary Ann — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:15:03 +0000

This past Sunday was my 24th birthday as a child of God. Draw me close to you was our last worship song. I had heard it before and had been able to worship our Lord, but this past Sunday it was special and there was an added verse that I cannot seem to find, that went I remember when, I was lost from you. Anyway I wrote that line down and have yet to be able to find that added verse. I’ll have to check with our worship leader. I could not get the song out of my mind since Sunday. As the week went on I have had my normal struggles, one of them being how I allow poeple to affect me, I am a supervisor for vocation, and also very active in helping many people. I love to love other’s, it is my greatest joy in serving God, yet my greatest joy brings with it my greatest pain.(kindness and love are often repaid with envy) God has taught me to serve Him for His smile alone. I have come to know that Jesus never hurts me and because of that I can move forward and not be stuck. Songs of praise such as draw me close touch our hearts when we are hurting and they really do draw us closer to God. My husband disagrees with me, I just listen but I do feel that he’s missing something. I love the hymn’s and I love the songs of worship, I don’t quite understand the struggle he has. Thank the Lord that our worship is thought out so well and the leaders do both. Anyway I love these lyrics and they do draw me closer in worship.

By: Keith Morris

Keith Morris — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:29:18 +0000

I see the thread is still going after several years!

3 words–Song of Solomon!

I was at a gas station recently and heard a love song. When the song turned out to be secular, I was surprised and disappointed. It was a spontaneous moment and I was surprised at my surprise.

Doesn’t my reaction (rare, I admit it was a flash of light) demonstrate a better attitude then saying, “Boy, that song in church, I could have sung to my wife?” Which is the more God-filled way of approaching life?

Love for God should be the norm, not the exception.

It is possible that Mr. Colson has some spiritual issues and deficiencies.

By: Ginger

Ginger — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:36:51 +0000

Although “Draw me Close” is not the best song, and I would not use it to present to gospel message for the first time, any song is used along with other songs and words.
It is a good point to make that this song expresses uncertainty. However, sometimes we ARE uncertain, sometimes we feel far from God. It is helpful to honestly admit it, as long as we say it in God’s presence with a plea for renewal.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:19:10 +0000

Since we can agree that the lyrics of “Draw Me Close” are not a summary of all theological doctrine, what other worship is? Songs are not meant to teach all doctrine in a few verses, a chorus, and a bridge. They are meant to unite the hearts of the worshippers and focus them on God. While the song could be used for other things (jokes mentioned above), it does accomplish its goal.

By: Peggy Farrow

Peggy Farrow — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:55:10 +0000

Today is the first time I have seen this site, and am truly blessed by it.

In reading all the comments about this song, there seems to be a common thread among the writers - they already know and love the Lord. So, while the lyrics to this song emphasizes a worshippers true feelings, it does not indicate anywhere that it is a love song to God.

If a person in the congregation who has not committed his/her life to Christ and is not aware of the love of Christ, they would most definitely think of this song as a love song to someone other than God - possibly even to someone that they would like to rekindle an adulterous relationship.

As a songwriter and worship leader, I am a firm believer that our songs need to leave no doubt that it is God, Jesus, and/or the Holy Spirit we are singing to and about. I remember hearing a Christian artist say, “It is nothing wrong with doing a song that crosses over to the secular side - as long as you take the cross over with you”. In other words, leave no room for the enemy to even suggest to a person that the song is about anyone except the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. As Gregg put it, “…this song is also an outreach to the un-churched and those new in the faith”

So, do we omit this song from our list? Definitely not, it is a beautiful song to the Lord. When I lead Christian songs that could go either way, I add “fillers” which are sung right before the congregation comes in:

“Oh Lord”, Draw me close to you, never let me go.
I lay it all down again “Oh, God”, to hear you say that I’m your friend.
“Lord”, You are my desire, no one else will do.
No one else can take your place, to feel the warmth of your embrace.
Help me find the way, bring me back to you.
You’re all I want “Jesus”. You’re all I’ve ever needed.
You’re all I want “Jesus”. Help me know you are near.

You can fill in Jesus, Lord, God, Father… wherever you wish.

As far as some of the other comments:
1). Just4Jesus - “If the song doesn’t appeal to YOU, then so what? Continue on with YOUR own worship.”

Please understand that the church is suppose to be a place to draw people to God, and not a “bless me - my 4 - and no more club”. Jesus meets people wherever they are, and if we continue to have an attitude of “this is the way we do it -like it or lump it” we will become stagnant with the same old program and will run people away before they find their way to Christ.

2). As far as Mr. Colson being out of line, and the illustration you gave: There is a big difference between asking for a fee that is required, and asking whether you would like to pay that fee. If you were given that choice…?

3). Barbara - I do not see Chuck Colson rebuking the worship leader in the middle of a time of worship. What I see is the worship leader asking a loaded question in the middle of a time of worship.

Also, if there was any blatant disrespect, I would have to say it was from the worship leader for having the people in the throne-room, singing to God and to then interrupt that worship between the people and God to ask a question. It is the worship leaders’ responsibility to lead the people to the throne-room. After that, it is the people’s reponsibility to worship God, and God’s responsibility to minister to them while in the throne-room.

I never understand why a worship leader would ask the congregation as to whether they are “ready to worship”, or “shall we sing that again”. If the Holy Spirit is directing the worship leader, why would you ask the congregation for direction? He should have just continued with the song. I feel that if a worship leader asks a loaded yes or no question while leading worship, they deserve whatever response s/he gets.

4). MacKenzie - while I agree with you that contemporary Christian music is not wrong, I have to add that a lot of
contemporary Christian is soulish - using a lot of rhythm,
and some contemporary Christian songs could just as easily be played in a nightclub.

Here’s a couple of challenges.
- Look at the lyrics at a couple of songs like “Draw Me Closer”. Ask someone who is not a Christian or doesn’t go to church much if at all. Show them the lyrics (not the title) and ask them what they think about the song. For yourself, when reading lyrics, can you see any reference to God the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit?

- Get an accompaniment CD to some of the faster songs and play only the music - not the demo side. What type of dancing would you do to the beat? How long did it take your hips to start moving.

- Get a video of a Contemporary Christian artist/band and watch the track of a fast song with the volume completely down. Can you tell whether they are Christian or secular by the moves they make during the song without hearing the words?

Last, but certainly not least, Bob, you’ve said it all when you said, “… if all we ever do is have great meetings without any impact on the world, we’re simply deceived.”

Thanks so much for allowing me to share.

Peggy Farrow

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:41:32 +0000

Jan — first let me say how sorry I am for the loss of your son. I pray that you are healing from this.

Thank you for your explanation of “Draw Me Close.” You were able to express how I understand the lyrics.

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:23:40 +0000

I was scheduled to sing the beginning of this song (and then the congregation would join in) back on March 21, 1999. I remember that date very well because on March 13, 1999 I lost my 20 year old son to pneumonia. Imagine yourself in my place as I sang, and think about the words to “Draw Me Close”. It was not a “feel good” song to me; it was a cry from the depths of my being.

Draw me close to you, never let me go. - OH, YES!
I lay it all down again, to hear you say that I’m your friend. BECAUSE, GOD, I CAN’T UNDERSTAND. DON’T YOU LOVE ME?
You are my desire, no one else will do. YES, GOD, YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN REALLY SATISFY.
No one else can take your place, to feel the warmth of your embrace. YES, I KNOW MORE AT THIS MOMENT THAN EVER BEFORE THAT I CAN’T PLACE ANY ONE OF MY LOVED ONES ABOVE YOU. AND HOW I NEED TO FEEL YOUR PRESENCE RIGHT NOW.
Help me find the way, bring me back to you. I AM LOST, I AM CONFUSED. I AM TOTALLY BEWILDERED. I NEED HELP.
You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. I REALIZE YOU, ONLY YOU, GOD, ARE WHAT I REALLY WANT AND NEED. PEOPLE CAN ONLY GIVE ME SO MUCH, BUT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING.
You’re all I want. Help me know you are near. I WANT TO WANT YOU ABOVE ANYTHING OR ANYONE ELSE IN MY LIFE, AND RIGHT HERE AND NOW, PLEASE HELP ME FEEL YOUR PRESENCE. MY TRUST IS IN YOU, GOD. I KNOW YOU WILL CARRY ME.

A “meaningless ditty”? I beg to differ. The impact of that song on the congregation, most of whom had attended my son’s memorial service just days before, was powerful. It focused our eyes where they should be.
The impact of that song was beyond powerful to the congregation, most of whom had attended my son’s memorial service just days before.

By: joel

joel — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:56:35 +0000

I know that many of the er hymns were not instantly accepted because of rhythm or a chord that was way different from I IV or V7 or whatever but I don’t think they were confused with being a nightclub song. I really believe that God wants our best praises and what we say in or own private worship might not work in corporate worship. Not all things are interpreted the same way and I certainly would not want someoneto visit our worship services and not understand what we were saying or singing. It must be clear who we are singing to.

By: mackenzie =]

mackenzie =] — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 23:45:57 +0000

contemporary Christian is definitely not wrong I’m so glad that many people have accepted it but I’m saddened that many people still haven’t accepted it. it brings praises to the Lord just as well as hymns do. if you think about how people say some contemporary Christian songs could just as easily be sung in a nightclub think about in older days when hymns first came out… it was the same situation; not many people accepted it… God wants us to celebrate and glorify Him and contemporary Christian can do just as well as any hymn can

to God be the glory,
Mackenzie