This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
I count as loss
I count as loss
I count as loss when compared to Christ
the rites which gave me pride:
the vows once said
for a new-born baby,
the wine and the bread
taken weekly or daily.
These rituals I used to count as gain,
now I count them as loss compared to the name
of Christ.
I count as loss when compared to Christ
religious ways I'd speak,
the words I'd pray
learned from those who taught me,
contrite things I'd say
when my sinning had caught me:
for all these things on which I once relied,
now I count them as loss: they're why Jesus died
for me.
I count them rubbish, and cast them aside,
I want to gain Christ and know him inside:
I long for his resurrection power in me,
to share his sufferings, that I may be
like him in his death,
and attain his risen life.
I count as loss when compared to Christ
all righteousness of mine:
It's not my good
which procures my cleaning:
but Christ by his blood
purifies me: I'm leaning
on him, the one whose all surpassing name
is the one whom I know by faith, and I will reign
with him.
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2007.
Based on Philippians 3:4b-11
Story behind the song
Graham Kendrick's hymn "All I once held dear ... knowing you, Jesus" (Mission Praise 799) has for many years been a great favourite of mine, and I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This hymn is based on the same passage (Philippians 3), and has the same focus of counting as loss the things which I used to regard as part of "religion", but instead kept me away from Christ. Like St Paul I was a law-abiding and conformist individual before I became a Christian, and like him I was convicted of the fact that my "legalistic righteousness" was in fact an impediment to knowing Jesus and receiving his grace.
I'm very grateful to fellow members of the Christian Songwriting Organisation for help with the words of this hymn. This is the second attempt, and I think it probably still has a number of weaknesses. You would do me a great service by writing and suggesting improvements!
John Hartley.
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.