Awesome God

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"Awesome God" was a popular worship song in America during the late-1980s, composed by the late Rich Mullins and considered one of his best. Its title is inspired by a biblical expression (Nehemiah 1:5, Nehemiah 9:32, Psalm 47, Daniel 9:4, etc.), variously translated as "awesome god", "awful god" (JPS, in the old-fashioned meaning "awe-inspiring"), "great and terrible god" (KJV), among other alternatives. Many Christian bands have performed "cover" versions in various styles, from ska to swing to straight rock and traditional worship style. Its lyrics are simple, clear and repetitive to emphasise its description of the nature of the Christian God (sometimes called Yahweh), however bring up points usually not used by Christians, such as "thunder in his fists" and references to the destruction of Sodom. God is alternately described as:

  1. powerful
  2. righteous
  3. being a source of truth (described as "light")
  4. strict but also merciful
  5. holy, awesome, and powerful

More obliquely, the song refers to God:

  1. becoming man and being crucified
  2. creating the world
  3. and saving the listener

It is "biblical" insofar as its words are based in part on translations of the Bible, and it refers to assertions and descriptions there.

[edit] Internet Phenomenon

Awesome God has also become something of a cult hit among certain parody groups on the internet. The very repetitive lyrics and 1980s styling of the song that has made it popular in Christian music, has also made it particularly attractive to sites and groups that wish to poke fun at fundamentalist Christianity. Reference to it has appeared on whitehouse satire site whitehouse.org[1], and it makes periodic appearances on YTMND, as well as many other sites around the internet. It was also used in a fan made video entitled "God is NOT Awesome", in which the song is played over pictures of violence and death (amongst other things), indicating religious hypocrisy.

[edit] External links


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