The Ancient Way explores how tradition, reason, and Scripture work together in the search for truth. Through a series of questions and answers, the composition examines how personal beliefs, human understanding, and traditions can sometimes assume authority that belongs to God. It leads toward surrender, where reason and tradition are not rejected but placed in subordinate relationship to Scripture.
Original Composition
The original composition brings together lyrics, melody, instrumentation, and arrangement to express personal experiences, observations, and reflections drawn from different seasons of life. Each work develops its own musical character, conveying meaning through both direct expression and the subtleties of imagery, symbolism, and interpretation.
The Ancient Way
Who taught these hands to hold the crown?
Who gave these thoughts a throne?
And if the road is ancient truth,
Why do I walk as though it’s mine?
I walked the paths my fathers knew,
And gathered wisdom from their years.
I built my reasons stone by stone,
And called conviction free from fear.
But what is old—is it therefore true?
And what is new—must it deceive?
Can I condemn what I don’t know,
Or sanctify what I believe?
Who gave the mind its right to rule?
Who taught the heart to trust its sight?
If wisdom calls me to be still,
Why do I struggle with the light?
Show me the ancient way,
Where truth outlives the hands of time.
Strip the crowns from all I’ve made,
Lay every thought beneath Your light.
Let what is faithful stand its ground,
Let what is false be swept away.
I will not worship what I’ve found—
Lead me in the ancient way.
I asked, “Can reason lead me home?”
But who gave reason eyes to see?
I asked, “Can centuries be wrong?”
And heard, “Then search what they believed.”
I asked, “Must everything be tried?”
“Hold fast to good; examine all.”
I asked, “And when my judgments rise?”
“Take every thought beneath My call.”
But if the Word should wound my pride,
Shall I accuse the blade of wrong?
And if the path corrects my stride,
Was I the guide—or led along?
Show me the ancient way,
Where truth outlives the hands of time.
Strip the crowns from all I’ve made,
Lay every thought beneath Your light.
Let what is faithful stand its ground,
Let what is false be swept away.
I will not worship what I’ve found—
Lead me in the ancient way.
I searched the page to prove my claim.
The page searched deeper into me.
I came to weigh the words of God—
And found my heart upon the scales.
What have I kept that You require?
What have I crowned that You condemn?
If every argument is ash,
Will I still follow where You lead?
Not every ancient stone is false.
Not every voice of old is vain.
But none shall wear the Master’s crown,
And none shall make His Word a chain.
Lead me in the ancient way,
Where faithful feet have walked before.
Take every crown these hands have raised;
I lay them at my Savior’s door.
Let wisdom teach and reason serve,
Let truth correct what I have made.
No throne remains for me to guard—
I yield to You, the ancient way.
I came with answers in my hands.
I leave with open palms.
Where You lead,
I follow.
