Some Thoughts on Worship Music

I’ve read a couple of articles lately about worship.  In church circles, that is quite the hot topic these days.  The first article is one by LifeWay President Thom Rainer concerning what attracts the Millennial Generation (those born 1980-2000) to worship.  You can read it here.  The second article, written by Christian layman David Murrow, ponders the reasons most men do not sing during worship times in church.  You can read that article here.

Both articles were very insightful and both challenged me and encouraged me.  As a pastor, I want to see my congregation genuinely worship God in a way that pleases Him primarily and edifies us additionally.  The problem with most worship discussions, I believe, is that we focus on how to please the wrong audience.  We discuss what music appeals most to a certain generation, demographic, or other affinity group.

We debate whether we should sing hymns, contemporary songs, or both sung from hymnals or projected on screens, while played by bands or organ and piano.  The deciding factor in those determinations is usually the preference of the majority of people in the church or the perceived attraction of a target group. The truth, however, is that our worship needs to focus on an audience of ONE – God himself who alone is worthy of our praises.  Instead of considering the preferences of our majorities or target groups, we should be asking ourselves if our worship pleases God.  Does our selection of songs communicate genuine and substantive praise TO GOD?  Is the effort with which we engage singing worthy of the ONE to whom we sing?

The key is not hymns, contemporary songs, books, screens, bands, or organs, but about singing upbeat celebratory songs that are easy to sing, knowable or learnable, and that have rich theological meaning, not fluff or gimmicky.  That is the kind of music that reverberates through the corridors of heaven and exalts our Lord.  It’s about HIM not me.

Worship leaders and Pastors; ask yourselves some questions as you prepare the worship service.  Do the songs we will sing make sense?  Do they really say the things God wants to hear?  Can the average person sing this song? Are we celebrating the glory of God or singing for the beauty of the song? Is the song keyed properly? Are the words simple to sing but substantial in meaning? Is God basking in the attention He is getting from my worship?

Worshippers, connect with God this Sunday when you worship.  Don’t just stand there, sing…sing to God.

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.”  – Psalm 66:1-4

3 thoughts on “Some Thoughts on Worship Music

  1. Jane Schum

    Clicking on the article written by David Murrow takes me back to Rainer’s article. Please send the Murrow article.

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