Where you go I'll go: Brian and Jenn Johnson. It has been a while since I saw my friend post on Facebook that she thought it was a good song to pray to....reminding me of an even longer time ago when I heard it for the first time.
Consistent with her statement, it was played as background music for a prayer service for our assembly-the very first song we started out with, for that matter. I remember feeling a little confused about the words, most of which I couldn't understand except "Where you go I'll go" and "what you pray I'll pray". I wondered at the time who they were talking to because I had yet to realize that they were saying, "What you say I'll say, GOD." The song is to God. I can only guess that means, "what you TELL me to pray I'll pray" or praying what the Spirit prays in the context of intercession.
Cause Jesus only did what He saw You do
And He would only say what He heard You speak
And He would only move when He felt You lead
Following Your heart following Your spirit
Well, that is true-I believe it is based on John 5:19. Jesus set the example here on earth of bending the will of the flesh to the will of the spirit. Similarly our flesh has to submit to the spirit. Matthew 26:41
So what about it sounds-? I don't want to use the word weird-I tend to GO for the unconventional. Well, it is basically praying, "God, I'll go where you tell me to because Jesus didn't do anything unless he felt you lead him." Talking about Jesus in third person-to God, when Jesus IS God-boggles my mind!
And so does this angle: "Following your heart, following your spirit." They didn't say he was following his spirit; Jesus was following God's spirit! In other words, this song sings to God about Jesus and "the spirit" as two separate persons from God. In fact, it sounds like God and his spirit both tell Jesus what to do.
Kind of reminds me of when my little sister says, "Stop talking about me like I'm not here!"
3 main things about this video:
1. Note the tranquility-inducing blue light. Personally I like spotlights, especially for concerts. In times of worship, however, manufacturing your own preferable mood or atmosphere crosses the line of letting the Spirit move at his own will.
2. The next thing you'll note is the way Jenn worships. It's difficult for me to tell whether it is any more strange or forced than anything I have seen in Apostolic churches. Everyone can have their own opinions but I don't want to be judgmental.
3. The third thing you notice is-what IS it exactly? I've seen interpretive movement, scarf dances, choreography, but what is THAT? Again, I'm not a judge. I come with an open mind. But my OPINION is: that wasn't worship but it was (or was an attempt to be) sensuality and empty emotion.
In light of the song, I was curious to know what Jenn believes about the nature of God. In this next video, she has some interesting things to say.
Notice she lists the many roles of God, like helper, friend, and teacher. Of course, God has an endless number of roles in our lives. But who separated them into three special categories and called them the three holy persons? It was actually the interpretation of very human theologians.
I thought it was interesting that she mentioned Aslan the Lion as an example of the "Father section" of God. I, too, have seen the symbolism...it's hard not to if you read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan dies in the place of Edmund, who had sinned, and then comes back to life.
But what I love about the character of Aslan is that he works in mysterious ways; sometimes he appears in visions or as a supernatural figure, other times he is invisible and uses other people or creatures to carry out his will-yet he still appears physically to the Narnians and they can touch his mane or even ride on his back. He accomplishes all those things and he is still one lion. That makes sense to Jenn but when it comes to the real thing, the true God...she is confused.
Overall, I am wary of the song and what kind of people are behind it. I think it is catchy and emanates an aura of peace and deep meditation...which is why one should be very, very certain that it is truth before using it as background music for prayer time.
