I’ve been a songwriter for quite some years, but haven’t written any songs lately. I don’t exactly know why that is, especially, when one of my first serious songs that I made a demo was “I’ll Always Have A Song”.  I made up crazy songs while my kids were growing up, singing to them and making them join in.

But now there has been a silence. Recently, I heard about an uproar from the Christian community about Lauren Daigle, Christian songwriter who appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show. I personally had no problem with her appearing on her show, but I actually did have one problem.

It seemed she did as I had done in my younger years as a Christian songwriter, she left out the name. I remember I wrote a little song entitled “As Music To My Soul“. The lyrics:

As music to my soul, so is he, As music to my soul so is he

Like the passion inside me is stirred every time I hear a sweet melody

As music to my soul, so is he.

Bridge

Like a song sung in time, sung in perfect harmony

As a lullaby hushes a baby’s cry, like songs of love to those in love

Makes loving so sweet…

At that time I had a real strong passion for music. I still love music, but at the time of the writing of that song, I was writing about my love for Jesus. Yes, Jesus. However, I deliberately left out his name with the hopes people would ask (should I have made it big) who the song was about, I would have had a witnessing opportunity. To myself now, I would say Hogwash!

How can I witness about Jesus without saying his name? Hadn’t I heard the scripture that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess? (Philippians 2:10) What about Acts 4:12?

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Or

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9,13 KJV

Jesus himself said:

…I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

So, why not say the only name under heaven whereby men can be saved? Why not say his name? Because we want to be accepted? By whom? Please know that I am in no way meaning this as a judgment against Ms. Daigle, but a judgment against myself and all who think there’s another way to get in, rather than, the Way.

Yes, I was young. In my life’s journey, thankfully, and only by his grace, and good teaching from the word of God, I have grown some. I have recognized the gross error of my way, and have repented.

We have to say his name. Jesus alone is our righteousness. Jesus alone is our sin bearer. Jesus alone takes away the sins of the world. Saying the name Jesus is specific. It cannot be mistaken as when we say God. Every religion will proclaim a god, so to distinguish from all other gods, we must proclaim the name Jesus. Say his name. Proclaim his name.