The broken and the Holy Hallelujahs

When I was watching “KD Lang” singing Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah" in 2010 Winter Olympic opening ceremony, my feeling was mixed. A song, filled with images and stories (secret chord of David, cutting of Samson's hair), depicts the equality of holy and the broken Hallelujah. All a sudden, a question came across my mind: “Is broken hallelujah a sin?” I was confused, and my mind being thrown into turmoil. This is a not a new song (originally released in 1984 on Cohen’s studio album Various Positions), and it is not the first time that KD Lang sings this song (2004 on her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel, plus in many Canadian events). Probably I have been reading “too much” theology books, the question “Is broken hallelujah a sin?” really bothers me. Therefore, I started searching for comments regarding Cohen’s "Hallelujah" over the internet. I have an urge to see how others’ interpret the song in the middle of my turmoil.

According to the 20th fact from the article of “20 facts about Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah” , it "explains that many kinds of hallelujahs do exist, and all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value."

I believe only under one condition that “perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value” is when accompanied by repentance (Psalm 51). Without repentance through Christ; broken is forever broken, and perfection is beyond our reach. The formula is “broke Hallelujahs” + “repentance” = “Holy Hallelujahs”

Another anonymous review on 12/12/09 at "sing365.com" caught my attention on the subject of temptation. Personally, I kind of like this anonymous reviewer’s approach, not taking the song as-is or literally but to give further interpretation. I think “cry of repentance” is only awareness, but death of old self following rebirth in Christ is the real thing (no longer enslaved by sin but to live on God’s words). Such interpretation is made only possible for people who have fundamental Biblical knowledge with Christian believe; otherwise, it could be easily being miss-interpreted when references are fluid or just through humans’ mind. After all, all the images and stories are from the Bible, one should base on the Bible to interpret this song.

In summary, “broken” is sin, Hebrew’s term chatha ("Theology for the Community of God" by Stanley J. Grenz, Pg.183), which is deviating from the norm and lost by departing from God’s purpose. However, broken then repent through Christ and then saying Hallelujah is amen. The reality is that short circuit from broken to Hallelujah skipping repentance will not work, in which such short circuit condition turns out to be sin.

Appendix:

• You may click here to listen and view the lyrics of "Hallelujah" sang by KD Lang.