This is one of many settings of Micah 6:8 and, while we’ve never done it locally, it has a lot going for it.
It is available to purchase for download at As One Voice.
It is a gentle song by Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien and it would be almost worth doing just to get people singing about freedom and the earth being our mother – shocking. I like the shortness of the verses and the relaxed chorus. I think it is even better a bit slower than the 116 suggested -I used 100.
Refrain
Act justly, love tenderly,
Walk humbly with our God.
Act justly, love tenderly,
Walk humbly with our God.
Verse 1
The Lord requires only this: that we love one another.
Reaching out with compassion to the Earth.
Refrain
Verse 2
The Earth, our mother, our life, rejoices in our freedom.
Healing lives that are broken and afraid.
Refrain
Verse 3
Let our voices be heard sing the wonder of creation.
Seeking lives of forgiveness for our world.
Refrain
© Willow Connection 1991.
god sucks
The 2nd verse of this song says that ‘The Earth is Our Mother’.This is false as it goes against Christian teachings.This verse is teaching people to worship one of God’s creations and not the Creator. THE EARTH IS NOT OUR MOTHER!
G’Day Jasminka
That’s a big call considering the extremely wide range of views that can be called Christian. Which particular Christian teaching were you thinking about.
Songs are by their nature allusive and poetic rather than journalistic and didactic. When we have no words that are adequate for a thought we attempt poetry or song or enact it in ritual.
One idea that encapsulates some of these thoughts and has merit is the concept of panentheism. That said we are looking at mysteries beyond language and certainly beyond text. More and more I see the Christian religion as a question to live in, rather than a definitive answer.
But perhaps if we said, would our lives be more just, tender and humble (Micah 6:8) if we treated the earth like a mother – I wonder how unChristian that would be?
Also, to be fair to the lyricist I can’t see any suggestion here of worshiping the earth. Singing praise to the creator for the earth is there. Acknowledging that part of loving each other is respect for the earth we all share is present.
.. and it is a nice song.
Thanks for your comment and best wishes.
cheers
Geoff
Hello! I’d like to purchase this song for our church — but the link won’t work. Can you help? Thanks.
G’Day Alison
This link should work:
https://willowpublishing.com.au/product/act-justly/
Geoff