Singing and Praying Justice, Part 1

"Sadly, too often our church music is directed inward as a distorted, selfish facsimile of worship."

That comment captures the essence of where church music has been heading for several years now. Those who led the congregational singing and kept us on time with the motion of their hands (and perhaps a choir) have been replaced by young performers armed with microphones and heavy amplification. Timeless hymns have been replaced by choruses with a half-life that can be measured in weeks. What's at the top of the gospel pop charts? That's what we'll sing. Never mind that the congregation doesn't know the song or that it's difficult to sing.

I know that a lot of the changes were motivated by a desire to be relevant. But what we are witnessing is a "bidding war" to capture this amorphous mass of Christians who move to whatever they perceive to be the trendiest worship style. When I heard them singing, "I went to the devil's house and I took back what he stole from me", I almost threw up.

Amazing thoughts. As the music pastor at my church i regularly seek new stuff to introduce and have been looking for songs that speak to these issues, and have wondered if i was alone in this. Community worship can literally speak to every aspect of our lives with God and each other (including our longing for personal contact with the God of love), and i agree, that often what is missing are songs and experiences that open the door for God to challenge our commitment to the needs of others and unite our hearts with those needs. In truth, the church will not embrace those songs unless they are committed to living them out. A self-consumed church will sing self-consumed songs. Many churches are committed to joining God in his desire to bring peace though, and the songs of Sunday morning should echo the day to day life of that church.

It would be great to see the comments to this article include a song recommendation for the church that reflects this article. I, for one, would be grateful. My recommendation: "You Have Shown Us". A conglomeration of writers, the song is on a CD entitled CompasionArt.

""I went to the devil's house and I took back what he stole from me", I almost threw up."

What do you believe Jesus accomplished at the Cross?

"The condition of sin robs shalom, but Jesus' justice restores it." The lyric causing you to almost vomit is saying nothing different.

I understand the lyric personalizes the matter; but individuals to come with their lives they have experienced quite personally; and join to sing in community.

I appreciate much of the critique but urge a bit of caution. There is much about music that is stylistic, cultural, and embedded in a journey. A church will journey just as an individual. The place of music in a worshipping congregation will take on different roles at different times. What is the relationship, for instance, between solitude/silence/corporate worship/action. These are not different things--but part of a whole. None of them is the whole. Sometimes the Lord might draw us to a life given completely to solitude--other times we might be completely immersed in action.

"No" I don't think the Lord calls most congregations to spend ten years singing, "I'm going to get my blessing" or the entire church doing so all the time. But I also know there are real folks who are drawn into relationships of God because real things are being touched within them--and there is a class of quite smart, well-educated, 'people-we-ought-listen-to', who often are quite dismissive of theologies and shallow religious practices that engage such folks.

It's not just the music, either -- it's just a symptom of a church culture that wants to add pseudo-religion to Americanism, which craves comfort. I first saw this in the early 1980s when I began watching the 700 Club; I got a healthy dose of personalities and politics but virtually nothing about the Savior and (in retrospect) it left my spirit dry.

I remember in church a year or two ago -- we do a lot of contemporary choruses during service -- that during one service I deliberately substituted "we" for "I." It just felt more theologically correct.

""I went to the devil's house and I took back what he stole from me", I almost threw up."

What do you believe Jesus accomplished at the Cross?

"The condition of sin robs shalom, but Jesus' justice restores it." The lyric causing you to almost vomit is saying nothing different.

I understand the lyric personalizes the matter; but individuals to come with their lives they have experienced quite personally; and join to sing in community.

I appreciate much of the critique but urge a bit of caution. There is much about music that is stylistic, cultural, and embedded in a journey. A church will journey just as an individual. The place of music in a worshipping congregation will take on different roles at different times. What is the relationship, for instance, between solitude/silence/corporate worship/action. These are not different things--but part of a whole. None of them is the whole. Sometimes the Lord might draw us to a life given completely to solitude--other times we might be completely immersed in action.

"No" I don't think the Lord calls most congregations to spend ten years singing, "I'm going to get my blessing" or the entire church doing so all the time. But I also know there are real folks who are drawn into relationships of God because real things are being touched within them--and there is a class of quite smart, well-educated, 'people-we-ought-listen-to', who often are quite dismissive of theologies and shallow religious practices that engage such folks.

As I've been seeing this movement of spiritually driven justice rising in the church, I've been wondering for some time, Who is writing the songs for this moment?

This was the first time i ever commented on an article like this, my comment is towards the top. I'm a worship leader so the article hit me and i thought i'd give it a shot and throw out the question of hearing from others of songs that fit the category from which the article speaks. A couple did that, and thank you. Not that i expected my question to drive the posts, but wow, is this what these things are always like? People taking single statements, expanding on them as if the person said nothing else in the post. For many it seems like a big excuse to argue.

"We bring in a bus load here!
Rather than criticize others, what are you doing?"

Is this statement for real? Congrats on your bus load. The original author never said he didn't, maybe he does, who knows, certainly not you. The article was on worship songs.

Also, he never said anything about exclusiveness in worship themes. Of course there are others, of course they all need to come together, of course they can be practiced no matter the medium, the beat, the style, instrumentation, use of modern technologies, etc.

Why so angry everyone? There are lots of good thoughts here, enjoy them.

Oh, don't get my started on contemporary praise choruses and projectors. ugh... I could go on for paragraphs about how Sunday worship shouldn't try to copy every other social forums. It should be set apart - sacred. it shouldn't be like a trip to the coffee shop or workplace. But anyway...

One of the reasons I don't like projecting lyrics is that it removes them from any sort of order, form and structure. Songwriting is like telling a story. The verses are laid out in an order for a reason. You can see that on the printed page. You can't on a projector screen. You lose something when you can only see one line or verse at a time.

Also, I find a learn more about the craft of music writing and reading when I can see sheet music in front of me. I think of all the young people who only sing from projected lyrics who have no idea about the technical aspect of music (beats, rhythm, measures, rests, musical symbols, etc). I think we're doing our younger generation a educational disservice by divorcing lyrics from the written music. But I find I'm talking into the wind most of the times... *sigh*

Done ranting now...

"What do you believe Jesus accomplished at the Cross?"

I believe that Jesus's death on the cross paid the debt for our sins, and that his resurrection provided victory over death, hell, and the grave. I'm sorry but I see nothing biblical in the words to that song. Because of Christ's sacrifice, we are forgiven and any suggestion that we, in ourselves, should be getting into any kind of direct confrontation with the devil is ludicrous (and unbiblical).

You know, I'm not suggesting that in our daily walk with Christ that there are not situations that call for resisting temptation or for letting our light shine so that others may see the love of Christ in us. All that I am saying is that the devil gets enough free press in our TV, movies, radio, and magazines. I just find it distasteful to sing about him in church.

(And I am very thankful that the church that I now attend does not include that little ditty or any other of the awful songs that pretend to be "gospel music".)

Being exclusive, especially in worship, is a dangerous road. Yes, our songs should reflect social justice and radical Christian movement, but these are not the only songs we must sing. Songs of praise and worship, biblically, are used for a multitude of reasons regarding our relationship of Christ. It's like prayer; who is going to read a few verses that reflect prayer in the Bible and limit what we pray for? In the same way, our songs should not be limited either. There is a time for singing about the blessings we've recieved and the joy we have in our own hearts, and there is a time to sing about social justice. Personally I think that there should be a balance of all the different focusses of worship and song, but we'd be singing in Church for hours on end on Sunday's (not saying that would be a bad thing). And the fluff and amplification of modern Christian music is a whole different discussion...

Oh, don't get my started on contemporary praise choruses and projectors. ugh... I could go on for paragraphs about how Sunday worship shouldn't try to copy every other social forums. It should be set apart - sacred. it shouldn't be like a trip to the coffee shop or workplace. But anyway...

One of the reasons I don't like projecting lyrics is that it removes them from any sort of order, form and structure. Songwriting is like telling a story. The verses are laid out in an order for a reason. You can see that on the printed page. You can't on a projector screen. You lose something when you can only see one line or verse at a time.

Also, I find a learn more about the craft of music writing and reading when I can see sheet music in front of me. I think of all the young people who only sing from projected lyrics who have no idea about the technical aspect of music (beats, rhythm, measures, rests, musical symbols, etc). I think we're doing our younger generation a educational disservice by divorcing lyrics from the written music. But I find I'm talking into the wind most of the times... *sigh*

Done ranting now...

Where is the "Enemy's camp?"

Where is it that we are to struggle against sin and death?

In what realm are we praying that God' rule would be established as it is in heaven?

What the principalities and powers you believe we are to struggle with?

For what purpose do you believe we are to put on the whole armour of God?

Or is there no longer a battle to wage?

To the authors of this article:

How many homeless do you bring into your fellowship on Sunday mornings to teach about Jesus, then feed them?

We bring in a bus load here!

Rather than criticize others, what are you doing? I would like to know. An opinoion piece on Christian worship is easy to write and look righteous.

Being exclusive, especially in worship, is a dangerous road. Yes, our songs should reflect social justice and radical Christian movement, but these are not the only songs we must sing. Songs of praise and worship, biblically, are used for a multitude of reasons regarding our relationship of Christ. It's like prayer; who is going to read a few verses that reflect prayer in the Bible and limit what we pray for? In the same way, our songs should not be limited either. There is a time for singing about the blessings we've recieved and the joy we have in our own hearts, and there is a time to sing about social justice. Personally I think that there should be a balance of all the different focusses of worship and song, but we'd be singing in Church for hours on end on Sunday's (not saying that would be a bad thing). And the fluff and amplification of modern Christian music is a whole different discussion...

ljrd,

If you like that style of music, sing it loud, often, and lustily. I just will not remain in a church whose music centers around Satan rather than Christ or for that matter has an overemphasis on the pronouns, "I" and "me". I'm not saying that my preferences are superior to yours - just different. And it's not even a "high horse" thing either. My roots are planted firmly in a very rural area where we sang the same songs as our great-grandparents with reverence and awe.

You would no doubt like the following:

Drop Kick Me, Jesus

(Chorus)
Drop kick me, Jesus through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Drop kick me, Jesus through the goal posts of life

Make me, oh make me, Lord more than I am
Make me a piece in your master game plan
Free from the earthly temptations below
I'??ve got the will, Lord if you'??ve got the toe

(Chorus)

Bring on the brothers who'??ve gone on before
And all of the sisters who'??ve knocked on your door
All the departed dear loved ones of mine
Stick them up front in the offensive line

To the authors of this article:

How many homeless do you bring into your fellowship on Sunday mornings to teach about Jesus, then feed them?

We bring in a bus load here!

Rather than criticize others, what are you doing? I would like to know. An opinoion piece on Christian worship is easy to write and look righteous.

ljrd,

If you like that style of music, sing it loud, often, and lustily. I just will not remain in a church whose music centers around Satan rather than Christ or for that matter has an overemphasis on the pronouns, "I" and "me". I'm not saying that my preferences are superior to yours - just different. And it's not even a "high horse" thing either. My roots are planted firmly in a very rural area where we sang the same songs as our great-grandparents with reverence and awe.

You would no doubt like the following:

Drop Kick Me, Jesus

(Chorus)
Drop kick me, Jesus through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Drop kick me, Jesus through the goal posts of life

Make me, oh make me, Lord more than I am
Make me a piece in your master game plan
Free from the earthly temptations below
I'??ve got the will, Lord if you'??ve got the toe

(Chorus)

Bring on the brothers who'??ve gone on before
And all of the sisters who'??ve knocked on your door
All the departed dear loved ones of mine
Stick them up front in the offensive line

My roots are planted firmly in a very rural area where we sang the same songs as our great-grandparents with reverence and awe.

I think this is an excellent point Marie. So many churches today don't sing the songs of our forefathers (and mothers). I think it gets to a deeper philosophical strain that runs in the evangelical church. This strain is why attend an Angelican church today rather than a church similar to the nondenominational church of my upbringing.

Our church recently introduced contemporary choruses (with an overhead projector) for the early (8:30) service while retaining the traditional songs for the 11:00 service. In some ways, it is really ironic because the older generation (like me) were the main attenders at th early service (maybe because we're used to getting up early, or maybe its because we have no little ones to dress). So now what we are starting to witness is an increase in the younger generation at the early service while some of the older people are migrating to the late service. I really do want to learn how to sing those new songs, but it's very hard to know when to hold a note and when not because all we have is the words on the overhead.

My roots are planted firmly in a very rural area where we sang the same songs as our great-grandparents with reverence and awe.

I think this is an excellent point Marie. So many churches today don't sing the songs of our forefathers (and mothers). I think it gets to a deeper philosophical strain that runs in the evangelical church. This strain is why attend an Angelican church today rather than a church similar to the nondenominational church of my upbringing.