Theology in Songs Part 2 of 3

The podcast went on to say that the correctness of the lyrics to a song are far far more important than the musical qualities or the enjoyment of the melody or beat, and that we can easily be distracted by our enjoyment of melody, harmony, tempo, and forget to pay attention to what the song is actually saying. This I agree with completely.  I have caught myself tapping the steering wheel to a song playing on the radio and suddenly thought, "Wait, what did those lyrics just say?? I better check into that!"

There absolutely is nothing wrong with enjoying the elements of music, playing an instrument with excellence, singing on key or with harmony, clapping in rhythm.  That can be enjoyed for itself at times. But in a church service, these are means to an end not a means in themselves.  There have been times when a musically gifted individual has been permitted--even encouraged--to participate in leading the music portion of the service when the lifestyle and attitude of that person was completely at odds. Such people are often called "worship leaders" but how can they lead anyone to something they are not doing? I've seen a policy or rule be discarded for one person while upheld for others seemingly based solely on the musical ability desired at that moment. It doesn't seem right to have musicality elevated above spirituality.

We may be spoiled in our culture today. There is so much musical talent and choices. But I have been in services where the musical talent was limited and I have been to other countries where they did not have the abundance of instruments or sound equipment and the true Spirit of worship was still overwhelming.

It seems we have lost so much in our knowledge of God, of the Bible, and of doctrine in every field of Christianity. It is no surprise that it is contaminating music as well. If people don't understand who God really is, how can they sing about Him correctly? If people have been constantly inundated with the idea that sin is just a mistake or an error, how can they grasp the magnitude of what it does to our relationship with God and what Christ had to do to restore us? Don't we sing "Amazing Grace" with fuller understanding when we know that we are a "wretch like me"? 

(to be continued)