We Sing Our Theology

I was talking with a friend of mine a a few weeks back and we got into the topic of congregational worship through song.  I was telling him about my thought process in selecting the worship set for that particular week.  He asked me if I thought anybody picked up on the thread running through all the songs that week. 

It’s an interesting question.  Does the congregation grasp the entirety of the service? 

We agreed that most people wouldn’t pick up on all the idiosyncrasies of the worship set and the service.  Most will catch the obvious connections, but there are always a few more subtle relationships that will be glossed over.  I think it’s something that may be difficult to fully comprehend even if you’re looking for it.

At first this was a little disheartening to think about.  I mean, I spend a lot of time and effort to make sure that the service flows and the songs follow a logical progression that speaks to the heart of the day’s message and convey Biblical truth.  However, as I thought deeper I came to the conclusion that it doesn’t really matter if everybody "gets it" or not.  The truth is that, whether we intend to or not, we as a congregation sing our theology (I heard a quote to that effect once, maybe it was Martin Luther - I can’t remember).  The songs we use to praise GOD, to surrender to Him, and to repent before Him on a given morning are the things that will shape our thought processes.

I’ve read that people are likely to retain, at best, 10% of what they are taught.  That means that if people are leaving the service and then talking about what was taught that day then they will be lucky to remember about two-and-a-half minutes worth of information (based on a 25 minute sermon).  Even if this much is retained, how many people do you know who walk around quoting their favorite 150 seconds of last week’s sermon?  On the other hand, how many times have you found yourself walking around still singing the songs from Sunday morning on Wednesday afternoon?

The point is that people are more likely to walk out of the service humming a chorus of one of the worship songs than repeating lines of the sermon. 

(NOTE - There’s a whole other related topic about not inflating the importance of the music in the Sunday service.  I think that’s important to note, but I won’t get into it here.)

Music is an interesting study in that it’s one of two things that everybody likes (food being the other).  We all have our own taste in music, but you will never find anybody who flat out doesn’t like music of any kind.  So the songs that we sing on a Sunday morning are more likely to run through peoples’ heads during the week.  This being the case I, as a worship leader, have a great responsibility to take time and reflect on what theology I am leading people into.  Our worship sets can’t be about the songs I like to sing, the newest music on the radio, or even a catchy melody.  None of those things are bad and I think it’s important for those things to play into our musical selection, but they have to come AFTER sound theology.

A musically well-crafted worship set that does not speak pure Biblical truth is a waste of time and energy.  Not to mention the fact that it can even draw the ire of GOD.  In Amos 5:21-27, we see a people who worship GOD with their lips, but are devoid of knowledge of and surrender to who He is.  It is because of this empty lip-service that they are left without GOD's presence.  What GOD desires is not a perfect song transition, or beautiful four-part harmony, or wailing guitar solos, what GOD desires is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).  Once again, the focus of our worship of GOD through song must begin and end with theologically sound, exaltation of who GOD is, what He's done in our lives, and our proper response to Him. 

So where do we go from here:

For me (and for worship leaders everywhere) – I must dig deep.  I can’t settle for a worship set that simply sounds good and that I think is fun and energetic.  I must constantly seek to lead the congregation, challenge them, push them to worship with rich theology.  This may, at times, go against my personal preferences, but the highest importance must be in the function of our songs and the purpose of our praise.  Our worship is not displayed for our own pleasure, but for the pleasure of our GOD and King.

For you – Take some time this Sunday to think about what you’re singing.  Not just the song you’re in the middle of, but the songs that came before.  How does the GOD who created the heavens and the earth and you, the GOD who sacrificed His Son for you, the GOD who works all things for His good pleasure accomplish all you’ve sung about?  How do His characteristics manifest themselves in all the songs?  This might mean you close your mouth and instead of singing a verse and chorus of one song you meditate on the words your brothers and sisters are singing.

Your personal worship will radically changed when you grasp the fullness of who GOD is and way tat plays out in the worship of the corporate gathering.