Worship Music vs. Music Worship

  In a couple of weeks our worship leader will be sitting down with a couple of us as we review our old songs and look at possibilities for new ones.  Our church would be described as “contemporary” in its musical styling. 

  When I was younger I hated singing those old hymns but these days, it’s about all I care to sing.  Why the change?  What would make me trade in the newer songs for melodies written several hundred years ago?

  It is very easy to worship the music that we sing.  It is true regarless of which style you prefer.  For those who prefer hymns, we can easily look at those songs as the songs that our protestant forefathers sang and hold traditions (although important) too highly.  I can remember when contemporary music was first introduced to a church that I used to attend and some people were very upset.  They thought that this new music was not worship at all.  They said ( and I agree) “These songs just say the same lines over and over and he makes us stand the whole time we sing.”  Looking back, I can see how some of those songs were more like New Age mantras than songs to worship God.  But, I must also point out that had I asked this person to explain to me what “O, Little Town of Bethlehem” was about, I’m not sure that they wouldn’t have gotten that deer in the headlights look.

What makes us worship music instead of having music for worship?  I think there are many reasons but here is just one.  Preferences to style can come from self-centeredness and self-exaltation.  Let’s be honest, don’t we usually want to sing the styles that WE like.  That is self-centered.  Self-centeredness always leads to self-exaltation.  You are driven by your desires in order to make much of yourself.  I don’t think that there is one style of music that can be labeled “God’s Music”.  But there is one kind of music that exalts God.

J. Ligon Duncan once wrote, “As the Bible is the final authority in faith and life, so it is also the final authority in how we corporately worship.”  That is what will comprise worship music and keep us from music worship.  I believe that the kind of music that pleases God has very little to do with style.  I think it very much has to do with content.  And that content must fix out thoughts on Him.

With all that said, while there are some very shallow songs in modern music, there are some modern writers out there that are putting together some pretty great songs.  Does God want to hear the organ or the guitar?  I think he wants to hear his church sing and see his people moved by seeing more of him.