The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Value of Old Sunday-School Songs?

pilgrim,

when we fall into the traps where our little eyes and little feet can take us, we are like the prodigal son. Imagine the prodigal son singing the song, heeding its warning, and sparing the grieving of his father’s heart. Does that help?

Somewhat off topic but related, I was thinking today about a song (not a SS song though, one that is on the radio and sung in church) that I used to think was “dangerous” because it teaches universalism.

See how it says EVERYONE gets treasure?

Yes - that helps thanks.

We sing that in our church too! I’ve often wondered if the song’s lyricist is implying universalism. It reminds me of the text “The Saviour of all the world, especially those who believe.”

I grew up in the Catholic church, so we didn’t have SS songs, but my husband and I have 8 children and we taught children’s church in a baptist church down south once upon a time for a little while. Some of the songs I remember using follow. Most of them have actions with them. And in thinking through them, I have no discomfort with the messages our children took away:

“This Little Light of Mine” I’m gonna let it shine. Shine all over (name of town). Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m gonna let it shine. Don’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine. Let is shine let it shine all the time.

“Deep and Wide” (Deep and Wide, Deep and Wide, there’s a fountain flowing deep and wide)

“Father Abraham” had many sons, many sons had father Abraham, and I am one of them, and so are you, so let’s just praise the Lord (with the right hand, next round add the left, then add rt foot, then rt hand, then turn around)

“Read your Bible, pray every day and you’ll grow grow grow” (repeat and grow bigger each round)
Neglect your Bible forget to pray and you’ll shrink shrink shrink (repeat and grow smaller till you are in a heap on the floor)

This one, we changed the words slightly to what we felt was more accurate terminology (From My God is so BIG, there’s nothing my God cannot do):

“My God is so GREAT” so strong and so mighty, He’s able to do everything. The mountains are His. The Rivers are His. The stars are His handiwork too. Repeat refrain.

This one is to the tune is an old TV commercial. “Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner” :laughing:

“Oh I wish I were like Jesus Christ my Savior. Like Jesus I would truly like to beeeeee. Cause if I were like Jesus Christ my savior, then all the world would see His love in me”

Hey, everyone! I know this should technically be my introductory post, but I found this thread to be all too interesting to pass up. I’m Liliana, by the way. Hope to meet everyone on here soon. :wink:

I also grew up attending a Catholic church, so some of these songs a bit foreign to me. I never went to sunday school (just Sunday mass), but my mom would play Christian music (for kids) in the car while driving from church and to Sunday brunch. Now, I’ll admit, some of the songs played were a little “pointless” – and by pointless, I mean not teaching Christian values as much as providing nice clean entertainment for the kiddies.

But you gotta wonder. . . “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” As heartwarming as that song is, does it really convey a message further than “Jesus Loves You?” I mean, like I said, it was one of my favorite songs growing up, but what sort of values is it teaching children? I suppose it’s teaching kids to love one another (as Jesus loves everyone this Earth), but I like Christian songs that outwardly teach kids to love one another. What does everyone else think? =)

O.K. I’m rambling. Glad to be here!!! =D

Hi Lily,

Welcome :slight_smile:

That song says that Jesus loves “all the little children of the world”.

What does that mean to you?

Welcome Liliana! Check out this song by the David Crowder Band about God’s love for us called “How He Loves”:
youtube.com/watch?v=TCunuL58 … detailpage

Welcome, Lily!

Do you mean you’d rather have the songs teach practical ways of loving?

Sonia

Welcome Lily :slight_smile:

In addition to Jesus Loves Me, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, and Jesus Loves the Little Children- there are many choruses and hymns that I grew up with that still stick with me today including but not limited to:

He Knows my Name (the earliest affirmation of my divine belovedness)
I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He’ll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

This Little Light of Mine (a passionate response to Jesus’ call to be witnesses)
This little light of mine- I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine- I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine- I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, O Lord, let it shine!

Jesus gave it to me- I’m gonna let it shine
Jesus gave it to me- I’m gonna let it shine
Jesus gave it to me- I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, O Lord, let it shine!

Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, O Lord, let it shine!

This is the Day (A reminder to rejoice in the Lord in dark nights of the soul and in times of rejoicing)
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made that the Lord has made
I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.