Because He Lives

[davy39]

Out of all the Communion songs that would be appropriate for Easter Vigil, our choir director chose “Because He Lives” by Bill Gaither. Now don’t get me wrong. I like Bill Gaither, but was this song appropriate? I don’t think so, but what do you think?

 

[jbuck919]

Bad taste is never appropriate. In my last church job (and every time I own up to this I have to say it was not a Catholic parish, so sorry), I commented to the extremely erudite pastor, who did not disagree with me, that among other things it is horrid theology, forget about Catholic or Protestant. “Because he lives, I will see the future” is simply wrong. There is no guarantee in Christian theology, going back to St. Paul, that eternal life implies knowledge of future earthly events.

 

[kage_ar]

Not to be picky, but the lyrics to the song are:

“Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just, because He lives.”

There is a verse about dying and seeing heaven, however, is that not the hope of all Catholics?

While it would not have been MY first choice, it is not quite the lyric that was described above…

 

[jbuck919]

Not to be picky, but the lyrics to the song are:

“Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just, because He lives.”

There is a verse about dying and seeing heaven, however, is that not the hope of all Catholics?

While it would not have been MY first choice, it is not quite the lyric that was described above…

I was not aware that the lyrics had been so altered. In the original, it is literally, “Because he lives, I will see the future.”

None of this changes the fact that the entire hymn is in the worst taste. I mean, people actually come to church only on Easter Sunday and this is what they get? No wonder they never come back.

 

[kage_ar]

Maybe the lyrics changed - I’ve sung that song since I was a kid - since the 70’s. Maybe there were earlier lyrics from the first publication? I’ll get ahold of some contacts in the gospel music world, and find out!

 

[jbuck919]

Maybe the lyrics changed - I’ve sung that song since I was a kid - since the 70’s. Maybe there were earlier lyrics from the first publication? I’ll get ahold of some contacts in the gospel music world, and find out!

By all means do that investigation. However, I am shocked to find that I cannot find the “original” version with Google. Apparently someone noticed a long time ago how egregious those words were. However, if you go to even the most modern version of the United Methodist hymnal, you will find that I am correct. If you have any doubt, look at how clumsy the substitute words sound…

 

[m134e5]

Out of all the Communion songs that would be appropriate for Easter Vigil, our choir director chose “Because He Lives” by Bill Gaither. Now don’t get me wrong. I like Bill Gaither, but was this song appropriate? I don’t think so, but what do you think?

I don’t think that song is appropriate at any time other than a funeral- and it better not be at mine. The Gaither songs remind me of country music songs about men who are drunk and depressed because their wife left them. There are some southern gospel songs that I like- but only if they are sung by women, and not in church.

 

[DaveBj]

I’ve done Gaither music since the 1970s, and “Because He lives I can see the future” is NOT the original lyric of that song. It’s “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”

I’ve even seen the original lyric, written on a legal pad; there was a closeup in a TV program about the Gaithers.

DaveBj

 

[BENDERFV]

I am so glad that I am not the only that cannot stand hearing Bill Gaither music at Mass. In my parish, we have an all-male quintet that does Southern Gospel music at Mass once a month. They have great harmonies, but their choice of songs is dreadful. I am someone who likes a lot of the contemporary Catholic hymns (like Marty Haugen, David Haas, Michael Joncas), Taize, and the good old Gregorian Chants.

Well this group sang at the Mass I attended today, and one of the songs they sang was “Because He Lives.”

It seems everytime this group sings at Mass, they sacrifice the good hymns for Gaither all of these “fundamentalist hymns”. In addtion to going to Mass at my parish, on Saturday evenings, I attend Masses at other parishes in my Diocese, and the music program at those parishes seem to be a heck of a lot better than my prish music program.

I would like to talk to the music director about this, and try to convince to please add some newer music at Mass. It seems that with the abundance of the many comtemporary Catholic and Christian music that’s out there, as well as Gregorian Chants, there is REALLY no need for “sappy” Bill Gaither or other fundamentalist Christian music at Mass.

To me, Mass is supposed to be beautiful. It should an Icon, but when you bring in Bill Gaither, it turns Mass into a velvet Elvis painting (I would like to say that to our parish music director).

Any advice?

Francis

 

[benedictgal]

I am so glad that I am not the only that cannot stand hearing Bill Gaither music at Mass. In my parish, we have an all-male quintet that does Southern Gospel music at Mass once a month. They have great harmonies, but their choice of songs is dreadful. I am someone who likes a lot of the contemporary Catholic hymns (like Marty Haugen, David Haas, Michael Joncas), Taize, and the good old Gregorian Chants.

Well this group sang at the Mass I attended today, and one of the songs they sang was “Because He Lives.”

It seems everytime this group sings at Mass, they sacrifice the good hymns for Gaither all of these “fundamentalist hymns”. In addtion to going to Mass at my parish, on Saturday evenings, I attend Masses at other parishes in my Diocese, and the music program at those parishes seem to be a heck of a lot better than my prish music program.

I would like to talk to the music director about this, and try to convince to please add some newer music at Mass. It seems that with the abundance of the many comtemporary Catholic and Christian music that’s out there, as well as Gregorian Chants, there is REALLY no need for “sappy” Bill Gaither or other fundamentalist Christian music at Mass.

To me, Mass is supposed to be beautiful. It should an Icon, but when you bring in Bill Gaither, it turns Mass into a velvet Elvis painting (I would like to say that to our parish music director).

Any advice?

Francis

I cringe whenever I hear this kind of stuff. This also includes Haugen, the St. Louis Jesuits, a bit of David Haas, Bob Hurd and other contemporary music during Mass.

Perhaps music directors should read Sacramentum Caritatis 42:

Liturgical song

1. In the ars celebrandi, liturgical song has a pre-eminent place. (126) Saint Augustine rightly says in a famous sermon that “the new man sings a new song. Singing is an expression of joy and, if we consider the matter, an expression of love” (127). The People of God assembled for the liturgy sings the praises of God. In the course of her two-thousand-year history, the Church has created, and still creates, music and songs which represent a rich patrimony of faith and love. This heritage must not be lost. Certainly as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another. Generic improvisation or the introduction of musical genres which fail to respect the meaning of the liturgy should be avoided. As an element of the liturgy, song should be well integrated into the overall celebration (128). Consequently everything – texts, music, execution – ought to correspond to the meaning of the mystery being celebrated, the structure of the rite and the liturgical seasons (129). Finally, while respecting various styles and different and highly praiseworthy traditions, I desire, in accordance with the request advanced by the Synod Fathers, that Gregorian chant be suitably esteemed and employed (130) as the chant proper to the Roman liturgy (131).

I cringed this morning when I heard “Sing a New Song Unto the Lord”. God certainly deserves way better than that.

 

[pnewton]

I’ve done Gaither music since the 1970s, and “Because He lives I can see the future” is NOT the original lyric of that song. It’s “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”

Ditto and agreed. I have sang this since the seventies and heard it twice in concert.

Now if I was going to bring any music back from my past it would be* The Easter Song*. (Hear the bells ringing their singin, etc.) At least that has “Alleluia” in it.

 

[pnewton]

I would also add that Low in the Grave He Lay has the most Catholic feel of any Protestant hymn I know. It captures the essence of Easter. If I really wanted to go nuts, I could include Sunday’s On the Way (Carmen).

 

[TrueLight]

Please help me understand what is wrong with that song. Why is it not appropriate for Easter?

Is it because you all are allergic to anything that has a Protestant origin? What a limited world.

Certainly as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another. Generic improvisation or the introduction of musical genres which fail to respect the meaning of the liturgy should be avoided.

If one is going to sing other modern Catholic songs, why can’t one sing this song?

 

[heathernoel]

I am also not opposed to Gaither music (that genre). I think it has its place and time. My mother listened to Gaither and Friends while she was dying, and because she did, I came back to Him. She would have converted had the cancer not taken her…all because of Gaither.

Classic hymns like “It is Well”, “Farther Along”, and “In the Garden” have value.

I went to a Gaither concert while pregnant with our second son. There was a great mix of protestants AND Catholics in attendance. I cried, laughed, prayed, and praised!

Just because I say I like the music doesn’t mean that I want to sing it during Communion…it just means that I see its value.

 

[pnewton]

Please help me understand what is wrong with that song. Why is it not appropriate for Easter?

“Wrong” is not the question. “Appropriate” is better. This is seldom a question of what is right or wrong, as much as it is what is appropriate, or what is more prudent. Obviously at least one music director thought it was okay, although I do not know if the person who chose that has taken the time and effort to understand what the Church teaches on the role of music in liturgy.

I would say that the answer to your question lies in the duty of any one who makes decisions in liturgy to try and learn all they can that the Church teaches on the subject. In charity, we have to realize that this may take time and it is possible that ignorance of liturgy results in some bad decisions.

 

[Cat]

I was not aware that the lyrics had been so altered. In the original, it is literally, “Because he lives, I will see the future.”

None of this changes the fact that the entire hymn is in the worst taste. I mean, people actually come to church only on Easter Sunday and this is what they get? No wonder they never come back.

No, no, no.

I’ve been around Gaither music since Gaither started writing songs, and I remember when this song first came out and I played for various soloists who sang it.

What you quote above has never, ever EVER been the lyrics to “Because He Lives.” Ever.

Protestants do NOT believe that anyone can “see the future.” They believe that such a practice is “occult” and forbidden by God in the Bible. No Protestant would ever have written such lyrics for a Christian song. Never. Any Protestant who tried singing these lyrics would not sing again in the church, and any Protestant who tried writing such lyrics would be shunned.

Perhaps you attended a “cantata” in a “liberal” Protestant church where a local music pastor or director changed the words for their specific program. (New Agey type “feel good” program?) This would be wrong and illegal, of course. But it happens.

It’s a beautiful song, and had I heard it at a Catholic Easter vigil Mass, I would have been in tears of sorrow for the Lord’s sacrifice and tears of joy for His resurrection and the hope that He gives me of an eternity with Him.

I suppose I should apologize for getting so warm towards this poster. But honestly, folks, I was evangelical Protestant for 47 years, and even though I walked away from it to convert to Catholicism, the True Church of Jesus Christ, I will NOT put up with hearing anyone, including a Catholic brother or sister, make false claims about my Protestant brothers and sisters.

Besides, this kind of thing really hurts the witness of the Catholic Church to Protestants. If we can’t even quote their songs correctly, how can we be trusted to get ANYTHING right? If we want respect, we must earn it.