It is hard for me to sometimes believe, but I still have conversations about the use of contemporary worship songs as opposed to traditional hymns. Recently in one of those conversations a man told me that much of today’s music sounds like rock music and hymns sound like Church music. I went on to explain something to him that I think is worth repeating.
First, there is no such thing as Christian music. Music may have been written by a Christian and even done to the glory of God, but music itself – is just music. If I played a few chords of a song you could not tell me anything about the song. Only lyrics are Christian. What the lyrics of the song say is the only determining factor to see if the music is Christian or not. Just because a song is written by a Christian and even played in Church does not make it Christian. The difference between Christian and non-Christian music is the content of the lyrics.
Second, when we are picking out songs for our worship time on Sunday morning we need to think in terms of lyrics first. I ask several questions about every week. Does this song communicate a Biblical truth? Does this song say what our congregations needs or wants to say. Does it tie into the time of service – like prayer or communion or opening song? Does this song connect to the other songs in worship? Does this song connect with an overall theme of the day and the sermon? I am most concerned about singing the truth in a way that resonates with the people and glorifies God.
Finally, I put together a song list. I do not ask any questions about the year the song was written. I usually do not ask about the different vocal parts of the songs (I am a preacher and not a singer after all). I put together a song list that works toward a goal of connecting with the people in a way that brings glory to God. It doesn’t matter if the song was written last week or last century. As a result we sing all types of songs all the time.
Worship music needs to be about something bigger than, “Do you like the music?” It needs to connect with heart, soul, mind and God. Maybe it doesn’t do that for you every week. It rarely does for everyone each week. But it usually does with someone. Each week someone walks in our doors and their heart connects with God’s truth and their life is touched by Him. For that, I praise the Lord, not the music.