I've been a worship leader for many years and I absolutely love music. Second only to the teaching ministry in the local church, is music. God loves music. The largest book in His Word is a songbook. He has created beings around him night and day that do nothing but sing praises to Him. Someday, the church will do the same. God loves music and so do I. I love all kinds for that matter. I can go from Southern Gospel to Bluegrass to contemporary praise with no problem. It drives my family crazy! However, the music, in and of itself, is not the primary focus in this conversation. The focus is, “Where have all of these changes in music taken us?”
My concern is that I believe something has been lost in the transition. For example, we took the old hymns, many of which were written in the blood of men who lost their lives for the cause of Christ and just virtually tossed them out over night in favor of "Countdown Magazine's Top 20". What’s been the fruit of that? We now have a collection of music in our churches that is for the most part doctrinally shallow and self-absorbed. Many of them are little more than mantras.
Not that the old hymns were perfect in all aspects as that some of them did contain doctrinal errors. However, many of the newer contemporary songs contain nothing of lasting value that's going to get anyone through the storms of life and many of them actually do contain doctrinal error. As a matter of fact, I'm amazed to see Bible-believing churches singing songs that were written in churches that they would never dare to step foot in, let alone fellowship with. What makes any of us think that a group of people who are teaching heresy can write music that is glorifying to God.
In the end, I make a plea for balance in our churches. One need not throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water. We just need to be a little more selective in what we sing. After all, it was Paul who said in Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Thanks, Dwayne. Good points!
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad that our worship leaders at our church are very to review our songs for doctrine. We've recently dropped songs from a very popular group, when we became aware they denied the Trinity.
I'm also very grateful for groups such as Indelible Grace who are taking the old hymns and maybe updating the melodies or just the instrumentation. Bringing back a lot of these great songs for a new audience.
It sure is a blessing when I ask my little ones what they want to sing and they pick "All Glory Laud and Honor" or "The Old Rugged Cross."