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RSSEvery week I get the opportunity to choose the songs of which we sing Sunday morning at Crossroads. It may seem that this would be a fun part of the job, but it can get really tough at times.
I try to balance songs that relate topically to the sermon in some way (though it is not always the case) while at the same time choosing songs that we have not recently sang too often. On top of that, there usually needs to be some kind of flow from song to song. A little system as developed over the years to make this process as easy as possible, and will probably keep developing as time goes one.
What I really want to address, however, is not how I choose songs, but rather lyrical content. Probably the single most important part of singing a song on Sunday morning is found in what the song communicates. Are we singing to each other? To God? To ourselves? About worshiping? About what God has done for us? About when Jesus returns?
My good friend, Matt, said something about this, “It’s no wonder why people hated the choruses in the 90′s. The lyrics are very shallow.” Though that is not exactly what he said, it is close. And though this is not always the case, it is often the case. He is very right in what he stated.
Look at songs like Shine, Jesus, Shine or Your Everlasting Love. These are two songs that my home church, as well as many others across the nation sang over and over. What do they say? Jesus is shining, and his love is giant. There, you do not need to sing the songs, I just told you what they said. Many other choruses written have the same problem; no depth. The only thing that some of these songs had going for them is a catchy tune.
Thankfully, current songs writers like David Crowder are making a push to bring back songs with spiritual, Scriptural meaning. Look at Wholly Yours. Great song with great lyrical content.
What do I mean by bringing back depth? Hymns. Hymns were done well. They really were. Unfortunately the music sounds very dated, but that is easily changable. These old tunes seemed to be going to the grave, but as time passes we are realizing how much value some of these songs hold. Many are getting an Extreme Makeover: House Edition approach. Look at Vicky Beeching’s Hallelujah, What a Savior, which is lyrically straight from a hymn.
I want to apologize for all the terrible songs that I have lead people in singing through the years. As I mature it is easy to realize how selfish and stupid some of those choices were. I want to end with a quote from one of the great songs of the Twentieth Century.
Romans 16:19 says! Romans 16:19 says!
