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Monthly column on hymns and songs

The song end of the great hymn spectrum produces two opposite sights. To see both you have to turn through a full 180 degrees.

Christopher Idle

A whole range of text and tunes, when you ask their writers and composers (who are usually the same anyway), turn out to be provided by direct divine gifting. If there ever was a typewriter theory of inspiration it seems to be not so much the prophets but the songwriters who are the beneficiaries, or at least the agents. 'The Lord gave me this song.' 'I just received the music as we were in prayer together.' This, of course, instantly removes the work from the crude paws of the critic; if the Lord wishes to produce bad grammar and worse doctrine, who are we to complain?