A Trinitarian Song for Mija
Singing matters. As the apostle Paul teaches, singing is part of a Christian’s sanctification: the Spirit fills and matures Christians as we sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:18-20; Col. 3:15-17).
Because singing matters, I think a lot about the songs I teach mija, my daughter. I want her to inherit a broad range of music, and I want some of it to be explicitly Trinitarian.
My desire for mija to learn Trinitarian songs reflects Paul’s teachings. Consider Ephesians 5:18-20.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Emphasis added)
Paul composes his exhortation to sing in a Trinitarian key. The Father, Son, and Spirit are all here. You find the same thing in Colossians 3:15-17.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Emphasis added)
These parallel passages stress the Church’s responsibility to sing songs from the Spirit, to the Father, through the Son.
Most of the Christian children’s songs I learned growing up weren’t in a Trinitarian key. They didn’t reflect Paul’s musical formula. I realized this one night while singing to mija. As she asked, “Could you sing me one more song, Daddy?” I recognized that I hadn’t sung her an explicitly Trinitarian children’s song but had sung all the songs I learned in Sunday school.
To be clear, mija knew the Doxology and Gloria Patri. But I’m not counting these as distinctively children’s songs, and I hadn’t learned them in Sunday school.
I decided to fill this musical gap by making a song for mija. And as I conclude by sharing it with you, I smile at the thought of other covenant children singing it, too.
The Father loves you,
Jesus lived, died, and rose for you
The Spirit empowers you every day.
Yes it’s true dear,
Our Triune God loves you
And your mommy and daddy love you, too.
