We sang a new song at church a few weeks ago which hubby and I had never heard before. We absolutely loved it! When we got home afterwards we looked it up …
“So So Good”
Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship – So So Good (Live) [Official Music Video]
“This is my story, I’ll testify
The blessings on blessings You’ve poured on my life
When I start remembering how good You’ve been
Fear turns to worship; Tears turn to praise
Chains of depression broken by grace
When I start remembering how good You’ve been!
“You’ve been so so so so so so good to me!
You’ve been so so so so so so good to me!
“The enemy’s weapons fall to the ground
Armies of heaven always surround
When I start remembering
How you carried my cross
You called me by name
Loved me like I was
But You didn’t leave me that way
Was dead now I live
Yeah, that’s what You did!
“You’ve been so so so so so so good to me!
You’ve been so so so so so so good to me!
From morning to night
The lows and the highs
I look back on my life and all that I see
You’ve been so so so so so so good to me!”
Considering that I have been writing blog posts about Corinth recently, I couldn’t help thinking the people of Corinth would have loved this song too!
I watch the video and I can totally picture the brand-new Christians of Corinth singing their hearts out in worship … right along with us today who are redeemed by grace and saved by Jesus! (And one day we will sing together! In heaven we will all sing together!)
The joy! The freedom to worship and praise God with unrestrained abandon! It’s amazing!
The brand-new Christians of Corinth had been saved out of a background of paganism. So these words would really have resonated with them: “You, Jesus, called me by name … You, Jesus, loved me like I was … but you didn’t leave me that way … I was dead but now I live … That’s what You did!”
The brand-new Christians of Corinth were probably every bit as grateful and filled with thankfulness as I am today listening to and singing this song!
God has been so good to us!
Not because of anything we’ve done … but simply because he is that good!
The brand-new Christians in Corinth saved out of a background of paganism no doubt worshiped God with unreserved abandon. They would have been right here in this stadium with everyone else … hands raised high in worship … bouncing up and down with enthusiasm!
Yet, there was another group of brand-new Christians within the church at Corinth. These were those who had come to faith in Jesus Christ from a background of devout religious Judaism. They probably would have been reticent to worship with such unrestrained enthusiasm. Surely God deserves reverence in worship.
And so … it is the same with Christians in the Church today. There are those who are right there in the stadium, worshiping with hands raised in unreserved abandon … and there are also those who are uncomfortable with even watching the video.
To be honest, this song “So So Good” has been my “repeat” song recently, and I’ve been listening to it continually. I just love it. I love rejoicing in how good God has been to me!
And as I’ve pondered division today over those who would enjoy the song vs those who would not even watch it, deeming it as not reverent enough, I can’t help but think of the division which was in the church at Corinth.
“I appeal to you brothers [fellow Christians] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
“There are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas [Peter]’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’” – 1 Corinthians 1:10-12
“Since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? … One says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ … What after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believed – as the Lord has assigned to each his task.” – 1 Corinthians 3:3-5
The Christians in the church at Corinth were quarreling and dividing over the spiritual leaders whom God had placed over the Church at that time in history: Paul, Apollos, Peter. The Big 3.
My guess is that those from a background of devout religious Judaism probably took the position that Peter was the one-and-only spiritual leader to follow. After all, Peter was hand-selected by Jesus Christ himself to be one of Jesus’s 12 Disciples. Peter had a 3-year intensive internship with Jesus in ministry. Peter was one of the “Inner 3” whom Jesus chose from among the Twelve. Peter was recognized as the leader of the Twelve. Peter was commissioned by Jesus as the “Apostle to the Jews.” (Galatians 2:8)
Those who were not Jewish and had no background in devout religious Judaism probably took the position that Paul was the one-and-only spiritual leader to follow. After all, Paul was hand-selected by Jesus Christ himself to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” Paul was the one who had come to Corinth and started the church there.
Then there was another spiritual leader of that day whom God was using in a mighty way to spread the good news of Jesus Christ – Apollos. Apollos’s background was very similar to that of Paul. Apollos was a Jew, yet was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. Apollos’s family was no doubt part of a Jewish community which had settled in Alexandria. Just like Paul, Apollos had been well trained in the Jewish law and Torah.
“He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately.” – Acts 18:24-25
“On arriving [in Achaia/Corinth], he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.” – Acts 18:27-28
The Big 3.
As I watched the video of the song “So So Good” … it suddenly struck me that these are The Big 3 of the Church today! (in my own personal opinion)
The artists performing the song are: Phil Wickham … Brandon Lake … and Chris Brown (representing Elevation Worship).
The Big 3 during the time of ancient Corinth (Paul, Peter, and Apollos) were the primary spiritual leaders of their day tasked by God with spreading the good news of Jesus Christ across the world! The Big 3 were evangelists. They travelled from place to place, telling people everywhere the good news of Jesus.
Were there others during that time who also spread the good news of Jesus? Of course. But The Big 3 had a special anointing of God on their lives as the primary spiritual leaders of the Church for that particular time in history.
In the same way, The Big 3 of our time today (Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake, and Chris Brown/Elevation Worship) are the primary spiritual leaders of our day tasked by God with spreading the good news of Jesus Christ all across the world! The Big 3 are evangelists. They are not evangelist-preachers in the traditional sense that we might think, but as musicians they are evangelists none the less.
The Big 3 of today travel from place to place … sharing the good news of Jesus in stadiums filled with thousands of people! All over the country! All over the world! Their music is downloaded and listened to all over the world!
The Big 3 of today have a special anointing of God on their lives (in my own personal opinion) as the primary spiritual leaders of the Church for this particular time in history.
Thank you God for giving us spiritual leaders of the Church today … so that everyone all across the world can hear the good news of Jesus Christ!
God is so good!
(“Summer Worship Nights” with Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake)
