Jesus, You Are My King

Eine Analyse vorherrschender Glaubensnarrative in modernen Anbetungsliedern

Abstract

After a short introduction into the origins of modern worship music, from the Methodist revival to the charismatic renewal, the texts of the fifty most popular worship songs in the USA in 2012, according to the CCLI, are subjected to a textual analysis. The investigation treats the texts as “fragments of narratives”. Frequently occurring derived narratives are the individual encounter with God, particularly in the person of Jesus Christ, and reflections on God. Often the person of the worshipper is in focus, so that the praxis of worship becomes a theme. Root metaphors with special significance are Kingdom, light / darkness, and three metaphorical interpretations of the cross: salvation, ransom and sacrifice. In all this, the author recognizes theological unilateral tendencies which should be corrected through a balanced choice of worships songs by the churches.