Doctrine In Music

August 23, 2007

A good friend shares this commentary on Doctrine in Music

Lately, I’ve had things on my mind (about the spiritual decline of churches in America) that have really been bugging me. The discussion of spiritual decline could lead into many areas of contemporary churches, but in this particular article, I’ll be dealing mostly with worship songs, and the doctrines therein. And I realize that the following may appear as a ‘venting’ session to some of you, while most of you, hopefully, will see this as a call to orthodoxy.

I grew up in a Nazarene church, and we sang hymns at every service. But, about 12 years ago, I began attending a non-denominational church where we sang only praise and worship choruses. Initially, I really enjoyed the change. At that time, I considered the hymns to be boring, and the praise choruses brought a ‘freshness’ to worship that was completely new to me. But, over the years, I have come to realize just how theologically deficient most of the contemporary music is. I’ve noticed how little scripture, if any, is used in the lyrics, and that some churches are singing songs today, which have absolutely nothing to do with God or the bible!

Now, I realize that people have different preferences in worship styles, and that is fine. In fact, there are many different style preferences in the music department of my own church. Some of the people in my music department enjoy certain music styles that make me cringe. And, I’m sure my style preferences do the same for them. But, this is not an argument concerning style, but rather the content of the songs. If the content of your worship songs cannot be backed up by scripture, why are you singing them? If they are focused more on ourselves than on God, why allow them into His worship time?

Earlier this week, I visited with a minister here in the East Texas area who told me that we are in a ‘dispensation where scripture is no longer needed as the basis for our doctrine’, and that ‘we can sing any song we want as long as it is inspired.’ This is complete foolishness! Jeffrey Dahmer felt inspired, but that didn’t make his actions right. And, if we abandon the belief in sola-scriptura, and base our doctrine on things other than scripture (i.e. emotionalism, tradition, etc), then we might as well start going to Mass and follow the pope, because that is exactly what Catholicism is. This same minister claims to have the ability to determine which songs are ‘anointed,’ and which ones aren’t, and holds steadfast to the idea that all of the hymns of yesterday have lost their ‘anointing’ and have no place in modern worship. And, you guessed it, this person had no scriptural basis for that position when asked. But, then again, none was needed.

I’ve served as a worship leader for twelve years, and I’m getting to the point where I actually despise most of the modern music and lyrics, and find myself longing for a return en masse to the singing of biblical hymns. The main reason for this is that God deserves so much more than the modern lyrics offer. Now, I realize that occasionally I’ll come across a praise chorus or worship song that is biblically based and actually magnifies the holiness, sovereignty, power, and sacrifice of God (great example – ‘By His Wounds’ by Brian Littrell, Mac Powell, Mark Hall & Steven Curtis Chapman, but it doesn’t happen often.

To give an example of this, I’ve chosen two songs (one modern, and one hymn) for a comparison. This first song is ‘Sweep Me Away’ by Charlie Hall, and is being sung in many churches across America (predominately by the younger generation, and those who subscribe to emergent theology). Take a look at these repetitive lyrics and see if you can find any place where scripture is applied.

Suddenly I feel you holding me. Suddenly I feel you holding me
Suddenly I feel you holding me. Suddenly I feel you holding me
Suddenly I feel your hand in mind. Suddenly I feel your hand in mind
Suddenly I feel your hand in mind. Suddenly I feel your hand in mind
Suddenly I feel you leading me. Suddenly I feel you leading me
Suddenly I feel you leading me. Suddenly I feel you leading me
Suddenly I feel your heart in mine. Suddenly I feel your heart in mine
Suddenly I feel your heart in mine. Suddenly I feel your heart in mine
Sweep me away. Sweep me away
Sweep me away. Sweep me away

Did you find any scripture or doctrine? Nope. But, that doesn’t seem to bother most of the younger generation. Now, lets look at a well-known hymn that beautifully displays the greatness of God, and is basically sound doctrine set to music. This hymn is entitled ‘Crown Him With Many Crowns.’ Enjoy.

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.

Crown Him the Lord of lords, who over all doth reign,
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word, for ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light, where saints with angels sing
Their songs before Him day and night, their God, Redeemer, King.

Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.

It is very easy to see the difference in the two. The first song is a great depiction of the modern church era, which focuses more on emotionalism than sound doctrine, while the second song is sheer reverence and adoration. You see, today the church is embracing more of a me-centered (parody for illustration) worship, whereas the hymns portrayed a Christ-centered worship. Most of the modern choruses today focus on ‘what God can do for us,’ but the hymns seem to major on exaltation.

This self-serving mindset has even carried over into the Christian television networks, which feature the steady diet of prosperity preachers who teach only about ‘What can I get from God?’, rather than ‘How can I honor God and share His gospel with others?’ Rarely do these networks present messages about holiness, righteousness, sin, wrath, judgment, and repentance. This is (in my opinion) because people are overly concerned with self-gratification and striving to answer Osteen’s call to achieve their ‘best life now’… and it is shameful. But, that is a whole other message in itself.

The bible tells us in Psalm 96:4, that God is ‘Great and greatly to be praised.’ And, Psalm 66:2 exhorts us to ‘Make His praise glorious.’ He is worthy of so much more than we offer. And we have to remember that scripture shows us in the first two chapters of Malachi how worship (that doesn’t meet His standard) can be rejected. Friends, lets return to biblical theology, and sound doctrine, forsaking the narcissism that is so prevalent today.

Michael McGrath
http://www.streetreach.com

Posted in Doctrine, Music