Song construction & use.
You might think that we've got this aspect of worship sorted.
After all, we've had loads of conferences, and training days,
and there are umpteen books on the musical aspect of worship,
(all of which rely on and quote scripture about praise). So,
how is it that the church can't discern the difference between
a praise song, and a load of drivel that someone wrote to fulfil
a market need? Any takers? Songs should be written with a purpose,
but that purpose should never be 'market' need. Songs should
only minister either to God, or His people, never mammon.
When you travel round a bit as we have, you get a feel for what's
going on out there. And musically what's going on out there is
not good. Just because a song was written by a Christian, (famous
or not), or appears in a song book or on an album, doesn't mean
it's a praise song or suitable for use in worship times.
There are many songs available to us today, with the increased
emphasis on music it's only natural that the number of songs
increase. But it doesn't follow that what we get is quality with
quantity, and what we desperately need is quality. There are
some songs out there that really shouldn't be. I'm amazed at
how many folk really like some songs that are very iffy, to the
point of publicly arguing with you when you give seminars about
the subject. The power of the flesh is considerable. So, what
we have is a big mish mash of songs, many excellent, the vast
majority so so, and some that should be filed under 'B' (for
bin), but the mundane and B file songs get sung anyway, sometimes
to the exclusion of the excellent. Where has discernment gone?
How could you conceivably imagine that songs that sing about
enemy activity are suitable for praise and worship. And yet,
a few years ago such a song was sung by 50,000,000 Christians
during march for Jesus. How the devil must have enjoyed the attention.
"Hey guys, they're singing
about me, and all the stuff I've been doing"
I know that when I say things like this
I step on peoples toes, but those with 'itching ears' will
not accept sound doctrine. Someone somewhere has to stand up
and make a noise about what the church is offering up to God
as worship.
Most of the trouble comes from folk writing
songs from the flesh, rather than the spirit. Flesh gives birth
to flesh, but spirit gives birth to spirit. Flesh
ministers to flesh, but spirit ministers to spirit. If
you minister to the flesh it will get stronger, so which do
you want, strong spirit, or strong flesh? Literally, one is
death, the other life.
The church as a whole can not discern
the difference between a fleshly response to a song, and a
spiritual response. The initial outward signs can be similar,
but the lasting signs are worlds apart. For instance, there
is a big stream in America, who minister to the emotions with
much of their music. They sing about their problems. Listen
to the songs and you start to 'feel' empathy with what the
song is saying, which usually means you start to feel down,
with an awareness of 'problems'.
Emotion like this makes mistakes, and
you'll find lots of them in today's songs. The Spirit however
does not make mistakes, He never shoots Himself in the foot!
The Spirit wants to sing about the Lord. Songs that sing either
to, or about the Lord, lift your spirit, and guess what? You
forget the problems! It must be
better to sing about the answer to the problems, than the problems! A
lot of the time it's dwelling on problems that makes folk susceptible
to them in the first place, it certainly gives them credence.
You can not sing about victory and overcoming at a snails pace,
because these things are joyful. That's why so much of this
American stream's music is soooooo slow and dreary.
Try leading a congregation into singing
in the spirit after singing an emotional song. It'll fall flat.
The above mentioned church stream will never discover this
however, because they don't believe in public expressions of
the spirit i.e. singing in tongues. So go there and you are
forced to sing what is put before you with no opportunity to
express yourself personally to God from your spirit. In other
words, no chance is given for the spirit to retaliate against
all the flesh. Considering the war that goes on between the
two this seems to be somewhat unwise if not ungodly, and definitely
unbiblical. Not only is the flesh being glorified, but the
Spirit is being quenched. A bias that is to the devil's advantage.
On the other hand, sing a song that points folk to God, and
they'll just flow on into singing in the spirit like it's the
natural thing to do, which it is, in churches that believe
the Bible.
You see, flesh cannot worship God. That's
worth saying again, flesh can
not worship God. Neither
does God accept anything from the flesh, especially worship.
Only spirit can worship God (John
4:23, 24).
So, what do we do about it?
Golden rule number one:
Follow scripture,
and test everything (every song). Not every spirit is from
God, and the devil has his song writers just like he has
his preachers. So, test song lyrics against scripture to
see if they match up. Roughly in line is not good enough,
they must match up. If in any doubt, don't use the song.
There's no shortage! If a song needs to be interpreted it's
bad. And beware, even scripture can be inappropriate for
praise
& worship.
Golden rule number two:
Categorize the songs. Look at
what the song is saying, and use it accordingly. Prayer songs
are NOT worship, even if they are slow, use them at prayer
times. A worship song allows you to express your heart to God
as AN OFFERING. It
doesn't ask for anything, it offers.
Golden rule number three:
At praise & worship times,
only use songs that focus on the Lord. No other focus is acceptable.
In order to praise God, you have to sing about HIM,
and to worship Him, you have to sing TO HIM. Anything
else is misguided, however nice the tune that gives everyone
goose bumps.
Golden rule number four:
Avoid emotion
like the plague. Don't sing songs that encourage you to look
in His face or hold Him in our arms etc. This is non scriptural
emotional drivel. And watch out for pride! There are lots
of songs that sing about us, and what we've done, or are
going to do. There's a song going round now, that says, "I went
to the enemies camp, and I, took
back what he stole from me." People sure love to sing
it, but, ask them where the enemies camp is, and how did
they get there etc. It's only a song will be the reply.
It's a lie is what it is, unless they actually 'did' go
there and do it.......
Singing in church (or anywhere
else) that you did something, when you didn't do
it, is a lie, and making yourself out to be something
you're not, i.e. brave, is contemptible, and glorying
in it by singing about it is pride! And don't give
me any of that "I did it in spirit" stuff,
most folk are too embarrassed to raise their hands
and too scared to go witness to their neighbour,
let alone going and sorting out the devil, spiritually
or otherwise. Only Jesus took back what was stolen,
how dare we say we did it,when it was Jesus.
Song writers:
Think about who's going to sing the song. Some songs are
just for the writer, maybe they express a particular time
in the writers life for instance. There are many such songs.
Mainly it is not appropriate for other people to sing such
songs, they're personal. If you are writing a praise or worship song, remember the
golden rule: praise is about God, worship is to God. If you
want the song to be congregational, it must be valid for them.
It's dangerous to write about personal things, and get others
to sing them. We don't want to encourage folk to sing lies,
and most will just sing what ever is put in front of them.
Song writing is a ministry, and an important one. It speaks
into peoples lives, make sure it speaks the truth. And make
sure that God called you to do it. If it's not anointed it's
flesh.
Make it simple! The folk in church haven't been to music college,
even if you have. Don't ask or expect them to perform. If the
song requires their concentration then there usually isn't
enough left for God! The song is not important, the response
of the 'worshipper' to the song is. The song is only a vehicle
by which the people focus on the Lord. If you want the song
to be noticed you're in the wrong job. If you just can't stand
simple music, you're in the wrong job!
Pastors:
Appoint a music director, someone
who has both biblical and musical knowledge, and
a servant heart. Someone you trust.
If you don't have one in the church yet, pray one in. Never
make do and mend, always get God's man, or woman for the job.
The director acts as a filter to get rid of any rubbish BEFORE it
gets to your flock. Prevention is always better than cure.
Healthy praise & worship equals a healthy church, and
one that will grow. Jesus said, "If I am lifted up, I will
draw all men." If your church really lifts up the
name of Jesus in its services, it will grow. Get your congregation
singing the truth and your work load will decrease. Try
it. The
Word works!
Worship leaders:
As you're the ones who pick the
songs, most of what I've said here is down to you. They can
only sing what you pick. The words you make them look at will
affect them, be aware of this. That's why it's so important
to be led by the Spirit. He knows what's needed, He knows what's
good for them. Some times He will lead you away from known
paths, follow Him always, no matter how it looks, He knows
what He's doing. Make it your goal to get those sheep into
the presence of God, and once there, leave them there as long
as you can. There's no finer place for them to be, and nothing
is important enough to get in the way, especially the notices!
(smile).
Congregation:
Don't just blindly follow by
singing songs that don't apply to you. If the words of the
song don't have relevance to you personally, don't sing them.
Better to be silent than sing lies, you can always sing in
the spirit instead. Don't put up with misguided worship leading.
Talk to leaders if the songs they pick are not correct. Talk
to leaders if they focus you on them and not the Lord. Music
can be an idol, so can a worship leader, don't stand for it,
it's your church remember, fight for it. Don't wait for someone
else to do it, they probably never will. And don't leave all
to the pastor, he has a lot to do as it is. Help him by pointing
out to him what the Spirit of God has shown you. Do it lovingly,
we are all in the same family remember.
Above all, enter in to your times
of praise and worship. Treat each one as though it's
your last chance, God is so worth it.
For the Lord,
Colin. |
