Reveling in Jesus or Reviling Jesus?
Posted 14/10/2013
I have been sitting on this article, and a sister in the Lord reminded me about Darlene Zschech, and how she has been running her own church with her husband Mark for 2 -3 years now.
In this fast paced world where achieving success is always in the frame, Darlene has just released another new album, “You are love” barely a few months since her last; “Revealing Jesus” which was co-produced with song leader Israel Houghton from Lakewood Church in Houston where Joel Osteen is pastor.
Darlene Zschech, is the darling of the modern worship movement, and has been one of the key producers of worship music through her many years of association with Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Zschech has just produced another new album for the Christian world released before Easter 2013 called – Revealing Jesus. What would you expect from an album of such a title?
Revealing Jesus features a variety of tempos and styles to engage listeners, including explosive anthems such as “Best for Me” and “All That We Are,” and more intimate ballads such as “Magnificent” and “Your Presence Is Heaven.” Having listened to these titles, they seem nothing more than Christian self indulgence. Most will dispute my critique because we have had no one to close down this cacophony of shallow ‘psalms’, mesmerizing melodies, and hypnotic “Hymnary”, so we deride anyone who will take away our freedom for ‘Jesus Jive’, ‘Holy Hip Hop’, and Gospel gratuitousness.
“In Jesus’ Name” is supposedly among the project’s highlights according to one review, spotlighting the freedom and healing of Christ through a chorus that proclaims, “I will live, I will not die,” and which confronts sickness and cancer while declaring “the finished work of Christ in this place.” “Victor’s Crown,” a resurrection-centred praise track, builds into a triumphant chorus, much like “Worthy Is the Lamb.” Kari Jobe guests on the soft-rock ballad “Yours Forever.” Unfortunately the songs are saturated with the usual bless me Jesus, and prosperity doctrine thrown to a musician to roll out more feel good music mantras, and best life now beatitudes.
The tone of this music may be enough for a Dove award or something similar, but let us not deceive ourselves, that this latest release it’s not much more than a commercial music album, with a few catchy tunes.
The song ” In Jesus name” is questionable to its purpose. Why even give it such a title? It’s another song about what Jesus has done for us. Lets resound the benefits of God instead of who Christ is for HIMSELF!
View the track here;
The opening sounds more like the beginning of a famous single of the rock band Cheap Trick, with the intro, having the groove and feel of country singer and idol judge Keith Urban, than a worship song. I’m sorry, but Darlene Zschech is revealing nothing new here. Great to have your name in lights again, but there’s nothing of substance for the serious worshipper. The release also includes a reworking of the hymn “My Jesus I Love Thee”. Finally we get something that would be worthy of a track with this album title.
However apart from ‘Jesus I love thee’, the rest of this album is music we’ve heard all before. Stuff that probably didn’t get to appear on Hillsong’s other recent release Zion, or anyone of their previous praise performances. Besides Darlene has got to have her own new album, but doesn’t stray from the standard formula.
The opening verses of ” In Jesus Name”, are – God is fighting for us, God is on our side, pushing back the darkness. …He has overcome, yes, he has overcome ….. We will not be shaken, we will not be moved, Jesus you are here.
I know a song with a similar title is; Jesus at your name. It goes something like this – Jesus at your name we bow the knee, Jesus at your name we bow the knee, Jesus at your name bow the knee, and acknowledge you as Lord.
After all,with such an album title you would expect worship? If my wife always thanked me for the rings I buy her or the clothes she wears, then how is that giving honour to me? Sure it’s showing appreciation for what I done, but it fails to appreciate just who am in her life.
Zschech, with Israel Houghton’s direction, has crafted another live worship album, which will fill our CD racks, or these days our iphones or tablets, and will be soon forgotten. And at $2.19 per song download on itunes if you please?! Houghton by the way is a worship leader at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.
This album leaves me numb, disappointed, and even slightly disheartened. The hymn ‘Jesus I love thee’ did move me to tears. But don’t waste your money.Another review says it’s a stellar album, that’s full of conviction? The songs are the opposite, a cheap blend of bland Christianeze, and Charismania cliche, and carry nothing of the presence of God.
When it comes to worship the woman with the spikenard knew what true worship was, she knew her place, and she knew the ONE she was in the presence of, and so it should be ours, at the feet of our beautiful Lord in brokenness and humility [Luke 7:36 – 50] Christians these days wouldn’t have a clue? The music diet of these would be followers of the Messiah, has never altered, or been laid at the cross.
Oh…as for the new album “You are love”, the following lyrics from the single “face to face” gives you some idea of the simple message these commercial ‘worship songs’ have. There are pleasant songs on this new album, but none are particularly noteworthy.
Face To Face
by Darlene Zschech
Till I see You face to face this remains my hiding place
Where I listen as You gently speak to me
In this safety I will dwell, every season I will tell
Of the beauty and the glory of Your presence
Lord I know You’re here
Lord I know You’re here
As I seek You, You will find me
As I seek You, You will find me
As You draw me to yourself
As You draw me to yourself
For this peace I had the bounce in this joy, it fills my soul
There is nothing that compares to You my God
And I know You’re here, yes, I know You’re here
As I seek You, You will find me
As I seek You, You will find me
As You draw me to yourself
As You draw me to yourself
You’re my friend here, Holy Spirit
Speak to me dear, Holy Spirit
Tenderness that makes me hold every breath
And to need You more
My searching heart was seeking for a place to find the home
And though the baddest toils I ask You in
You Love me in to life and more this fullness now I know
That I am Yours forever and You are mine
You are mine, You are mine, You are mine
Lord I know that You are here
In Your presence I will dwell
Love will hold me till I see You face to face
—
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
written by BURR, GARY SCOTT / MALLOY, DAVID
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Why have I highlighted the above lyrics? Because the Lord says to us seek HIM with all our heart, and HE will be found of us! [see 2Chron 15:2]
Instead Darlene wants God to find her, as she seeks him? Now I’m not going to read too much into this, except to say this part of the song is unbiblical, and turns the word of God on it’s head, not something I expect from Darlene.
Darlene Zschech is rather than revealing Jesus is close to reviling the Lord Jesus.
So many “saints” are happy reveling in the Lord Jesus, rather than revering the Lord Jesus.
She is clearly reducing Jesus to a a religious icon , and veiling the true God from the vision of this current generation, by smoke, darkness, and flashing lights, atypical of the Christian worship experience these days.
I plant my face in the dust and cry out with Isaiah, I am a man of unclean lips, and dwell among a people of unclean lips. May God have mercy on us all!
Source Reference:
http://www.charismanews.com/culture/38616-darlene-zschech-reveals-jesus-in-latest-album
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/darlene.zschechs.revealing.jesus.a.stellar.album.of.conviction.and.gratitude/31895.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton
http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/65/18988
http://www.darlenezschech.com/store/you-are-love/
Coercion Code - "Dark Times are upon us" 
I once knew a man who, while listening to a youth worship team in church, said to himself “God, I really don’t care for this music. It’s just not worship to me.” He stood up and told the congregation this, as well as God’s reply to him: “I’m sorry you don’t like it son, for I am the One who wrote that music”. Never judge another’s worship, however you may personally feel about it. You never know what deep place that worship came from. We are all quick to judge, but we must realize we truly have no idea what another person’s journey has been, or is about. Do you see fruit? I see Darlene feeding the poor and reaching out. That is true fruit, and true worship walked out in everyday life. (Romans 12).
Lizzy,
Thanks for your comment and feedback.I have a lot of respect for Darlene and what she stands for.
My article was more about critiquing the lack of ‘real worship’ on alot of albums produced these days, and my concern was the seeming commercialisation of Christian Worship at every turn.
The most obvious point is that one of the songs on her new album (and there may be more) – face to face has a lyric that doesn’t stand up to the simple test of lining up with scripture.
Both the Gospels and the Epistles caution and warn of those who would distort God’s Word, the Christian Faith, and/or cause someone to stumble or walk away from God as a result of false words and false teachers, or otherwise misrepresent God.
And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! Matthew 18:5-7 (NAU)[1]
I have never seen anyone critique such a good album to such an extent before. The fact that you only liked My Jesus I Loved Thee reveals that you only wax sentimental for the “good ole days of traditional hymns.” Some of the music is a little fluffy maybe, but I feel like it is her best. Did you even read the except inside the cd cover? Darlene has been disturbed by the banalities of worship leading for quite a while. She left Hillsong in 2011 (which I’m sure was like getting out of the mafia) and had resigned never to do a live recording ever again, and it took a lot for Israel Houston to even get her to do this. Worship leading has gone to the back burner for her it seems but there are some really good songs on here “Victor’s Crown” and “I am Yours,” being my favorites.
Jack,
Nice to hear from you. Although the years are catching me off guard, this does not put me in the category of those pining for the ‘ole hymns’. It just that the old hymns happen to be quite biblical and place you in the heart of God, and not on the periphery which is the case of this modern and sloppy sentimentality. I have listened to Darlene’s previous material and can’t agree that this new album is a stand out?
Take one simple Hymn
BE THOU MY VISION
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
The words aren’t difficult to comprehend and they convey a message.
VICTORS CROWN
You are always fighting for us
Heaven’s angels all around
My delight is found in knowing
That You wear the Victor’s crown
You’re my help and my defender
You’re my Saviour and my friend
By Your grace I live and breathe
To worship You
So they seem to compare favourably, so why the put down of the Hymns?
Just to show that my heart is for TRUE worship…