|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
God Songs or Our Songs? October 22, 2007 By Chadron Haymon
“There is no anointing in the songs we sing in church these days”—Hopefully your blood pressure hasn’t shot through the sky, as mine tends to do when I hear these types of statements.
I am third generation Pentecostal and owe my love for Christian music to my parents for keeping me on the pews during choir practice, making me sit through quartet practices, and even enduring family listening session of the great new artists “The Goodmans.”
I love my heritage and respect the music and writings of the past. I do my best to not tear down the foundation for which the church was built upon, remembering that the church was not built upon a particular musical style.
I am fairly confident in stating, that Paul the apostle would find that theory quite ridiculous and in fact would probably find our sacred hymns a bit “worldly” in musical style.
Personal Style vs. the Great Commission Many of our churches are stuck musically where they are today because they have refused to overcome their personal preferences and have forgotten that the Great Commission was to reach the lost at whatever the cost.
Many church leaders have let musical preference become their idol and in a sense have begun to worship the song/style over the message that the song was intended to convey.
Many of the great hymns and “older” songs were written by individuals who were telling their story of hope, deliverance, and salvation. The generations who came out of the Great Depression and the times of persecution were able to relate to these songs. They clung to and let these songs become strength to them. The majority of these songs are written about an experience, about deliverance or about relationships.
In saying all that, I find that most discussions of what music should or should not be in church comes down to exactly that: “the music” not the lyrics. This is highly unfortunate, since we take such a prideful stand on preaching holiness and the One God message.
We should be much more concerned about the message of the song. Many songs are being sung that talk about our experience rather than God. Often, because a song has that “Pentecostal sound,” we accept it and write it off as worship to God.
Lyrics or Music? The Bible has devoted one full book to the songs of David (and others) called The Psalms. I find it interesting that we have all the “lyrics,” but no record of the music. Could it be that every generation tends to relate or be drawn in by the sounds of that day? Is there really such a thing as an evil note or is it really about the intention?
Do we not embrace new technology in a heartbeat and brag about the newest electronics in our car or on our phone; yet refuse to accept new music styles and methods in our churches? (Understand that I am not talking about changing the message or compromising our doctrine.)
Every congregation is different and demographics are going to help set the parameters of musical influence and style. However, our lyrics should be pure in Spirit, theology, and they should be all about Him, not me. Many of the songs that are considered new are really not new in message; they are just new in sound.
Can we be helping to paint a bigger picture of who God is and point to His amazing grace with a guitar just as easy as with an organ?
One generation sings “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” another sings “I Am a Friend of God,” one generation sings “Amazing Grace,” another sings “Your Grace Is Enough,” and the list goes on.
Are we compromising the message of salvation by using songs and music that are appealing to today’s generation? No more than by using The New Living Translation, new and improved Sunday school materials, or than when we began to use Song Show versus song books.
Most of the folks who argue that they want the old songs back, really want the songs that were being played and sung at the time they committed their life to God. That’s completely understandable. However, just as your experience with God is personal, so was mine and therefore we will never agree if we base our musical selection solely on this. My experience is going to be different than yours and it would be difficult to compare them through song. If a sinner can walk in and hear about “How Great Is Our God” or how His mercies endure forever then they might actually be interested in finding out more about this great God we are singing about.
The Transparent Mission I strongly disagree with statements that proclaim the songs that are being sung today are not anointed. Is it possible that we have elevated the talent and forgotten to check the heart? Are we quick to say that a particular song was not anointed when in fact it could have been the messenger or the motive in which it was used?
Many of the praise and worship songs of today are written as prayers and require one to be transparent and open to being intimate with Christ. I fear that so many of us have not gone deeper in our relationship with God and so singing these types of songs makes us feel uncomfortable.
How can you not be transparent in singing lyrics such as these:
These are lines from two modern worship songs written in the last year or so. These songs have had great impact on my personal desire to be more intimate with my Maker. No, these are not hymns that have years of “tested and tried” congregational tradition marking their place in history. These are songs that the congregation that I worship with embrace with arms wide open and tears streaming down their faces. It may not have a “shout beat,” but I see lives that are being changed.
Balancing the Best We should not seek to throw out the old but neither should we shy away from the new. The unchurched of today are looking to go to church where they can join in and participate. (Look at the corporate world and how much emphasis is put on team and group participation.) People want to be involved in the worship service, not become spectators. By singing praise and worship songs we help put words in their mouths, which helps them speak to God, and in a sense, we are helping to teach them to pray.
How can you not see our awesome God when singing lyrics such as these:
Amazingly enough, these two lines come from the same transparent songs as the ones above. So not only do these particular modern worship songs require transparency of heart, but they also point to the great and everlasting God.
Let’s keep singing songs that touch the very heart of God, even if it has a modern sound, then we will have started to accomplish our mission in worship service.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2007, Chad Haymon
--------- Chad Haymon serves as the music and arts pastor at Capital Community Church led by pastor Chester Mitchell in the D.C. Metro area. He has a wife and two children and when not spending “quality time” with them he enjoys a little physical challenge at his local skateboard park. |
|
|
