How does worship music selection impact your theology?

Have you ever listened to a song that’s been selected for a worship service and either thought it’s not a worship song at all (about self only) or the lyrics don’t support good theology. Thoughts or good spirited banter are welcome. What songs come to mind?

The Back Row Believers Podcast has an enjoyable episode on this topic if you enjoy fun banter on these sort of topics.

Listen here

 

[AHumbleServant]

I have complained about this frequently. IMO the parable of the Hypocritical Pharisee and the Penitent Publican demands that our REPENTANCE in a communal setting be done as a personal assertion. OTOH our proclamation of any virtues (in particular our assertion of our Love of God, Love of our Neighbor, our belief (small b)) must be communal. If it is (e.g.) "How-w-w-w I-i-i-i Lo-ve You", it is an expression of Holier than Thou. As sinners we are indeed all guilty of HtT. BUT by doing it in a communal setting one is committing the Sin of David. David "...made God's name Stink in the Nostril's of His enemies..." in the words of the prophet Nathan by using his religious authority for personal gain. The Pharisee was using his (possibly very real) virtues to gain status with God and Man.
Having said all that, IMO all the Psalms which have been labelled "Deprecatory" must be examined EVERY TIME THEY ARE READ for Canonicity since he/she is asserting that Psalm's author is so much less sinful than his enemies that he can invoke God's support to injure another--thereby violating not only the Eighth Commandment (bearing the false witness that another is more sinful than the invokeo) but also the Second Commandment's injunction against invoking God's name.
Once upon a time, the LCMS powerfully believed in the Separation of Church and State. Since they have been using ""Praise"" worship, our denomination has failed to recognize that Fundamentalism is NOT Conservative--that beliefs (small b) can not be elevated to Belief simply by praising God more than others--that is merely hypocrisy.
I'm going to conjecture that some will rejoin that one must make one's proclamation powerful in order to mirror God's power. IMO a powerful presentation acknowledges James assertion that we must always respond that we are a HUMBLE servant". In order to not be lying when one proclaims one's humility, one must be humble dwelling not the great cathedral.
My apologies if my take isn't "fun" enough.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

I have complained about this frequently. IMO the parable of the Hypocritical Pharisee and the Penitent Publican demands that our REPENTANCE in a communal setting be done as a personal assertion. OTOH our proclamation of any virtues (in particular our assertion of our Love of God, Love of our Neighbor, our belief (small b)) must be communal. If it is (e.g.) "How-w-w-w I-i-i-i Lo-ve You", it is an expression of Holier than Thou. As sinners we are indeed all guilty of HtT. BUT by doing it in a communal setting one is committing the Sin of David. David "...made God's name Stink in the Nostril's of His enemies..." in the words of the prophet Nathan by using his religious authority for personal gain. The Pharisee was using his (possibly very real) virtues to gain status with God and Man.
Having said all that, IMO all the Psalms which have been labelled "Deprecatory" must be examined EVERY TIME THEY ARE READ for Canonicity since he/she is asserting that Psalm's author is so much less sinful than his enemies that he can invoke God's support to injure another--thereby violating not only the Eighth Commandment (bearing the false witness that another is more sinful than the invokeo) but also the Second Commandment's injunction against invoking God's name.
Once upon a time, the LCMS powerfully believed in the Separation of Church and State. Since they have been using ""Praise"" worship, our denomination has failed to recognize that Fundamentalism is NOT Conservative--that beliefs (small b) can not be elevated to Belief simply by praising God more than others--that is merely hypocrisy.
My apologies if my take isn't "fun" enough.

We must evaluate and choose our songs with the Bible's teachings in mind and not let the songs mold our beliefs.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

 

[AHumbleServant]

We must evaluate and choose our songs with the Bible's teachings in mind and not let the songs mold our beliefs.

I'm not addressing "mold OUR beliefs". I'm addressing our doing God's will by proclaiming the Good News. The Pharisee in the parable "went away not forgiven" not because God is a petty person who must keep us distant from his ""holiness"" but because the Fundamentalists' lack of proper humility made (and to this day makes) God's name "Stink in the nostril of His enemies".

 

[Christ_empowered]

I dunno

I never did get into modern Christian music in general. It’s not that I’m stuck on traditional worship hymns and such but…

In general the entertainment value…music quality and such…pales in comparison to secular music. Then from the believers perspective on lyrics as an expression of reverence in a church setting and Christian worldview at an individual level…

Never really did anything for me. I dunno I think part of the problem is that megachurch settings lend themselves well to mass entertainment with modern music….

With a reduction of quality in the music and the worship as well. Personal opinion!

 

[for_his_glory]

Any Biblical song needs to be uplifting and ministers to our soul to draw us into the beautiful worshiping of our God that brings glory to His name and draws us closer to His Spirit.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

I dunno

I never did get into modern Christian music in general. It’s not that I’m stuck on traditional worship hymns and such but…

In general the entertainment value…music quality and such…pales in comparison to secular music. Then from the believers perspective on lyrics as an expression of reverence in a church setting and Christian worldview at an individual level…

Never really did anything for me. I dunno I think part of the problem is that megachurch settings lend themselves well to mass entertainment with modern music….

With a reduction of quality in the music and the worship as well. Personal opinion!

In our huge church, the praise band serves as leaders of the congregation in singing at our three services. However, many people don't sing because nowadays they are more used to listening to music than to singing along with it.

As a pastor in 7 churches and a member in 6, I always look at the content of the singing to make sure it's biblical and ignore the presentation and music. That's what I always want, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14, so that the lyrics build the church up with the Bible's truths.

 

[for_his_glory]

Worship music needs to be for the uplifting of the body of Christ that helps draw us closer to Christ and most important give glory and honor unto the Lord. Whether it be the old hymns or the newer Christian contemporary it needs to all be done according to the word of God for after all the lyrics need to be Biblical as even songs can teach us the words of God.

Psa 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psa 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.