Choosing Songs

It can be a last-minute job. While the chairs are being set up, the songleader frantically rummages through the songbooks in search of that one with the chorus that goes “Da da dumty dum”. But last minute arrangements are thoughtless arrangements. We need to sit back and think about what we sing and why we sing it.

Rob Smith analyzes the different types of songs we sing and then provides guidelines for choosing songs that will serve the needs of our congregation.

Types of Songs

‘Song’ is a general term used to describe quite a wide range of musical and lyrical forms, including hymns, choruses, liturgical music and even chants. In giving thought to the kinds of songs Christians sing when we come together, it is valuable to have some understanding of the different types of songs that exist and what makes them different from each other.

The following three categories ought to provide a helpful starting point for understanding most of the music we sing in our churches, although it must be admitted that many songs will contain a mixture of these elements.

Songs of Direct Address

Many songs are directly addressed, in one way or another, to God. For instance, a song that starts “I love you, Lord” is addressing God in his sovereignty; a song that begins “Father, I thank you” is directed to God by his child or children. Songs of direct address are extremely useful as vehicles for expressing praise, wonder, thanks and love—particularly if the words are good.

Songs of this kind can also take the form of a joint petition or even confession of sin (e.g. ‘Create in me a clean heart’, which is based on Psalm 51).

This type of song generally contains a strong affectional component. It will appeal to people’s emotions and draw an emotional response. This can be very helpful in assisting people to respond to the Word of God, after hearing a Scripture reading or a sermon, in an appropriate and biblical way. However, this affectional component also has the potential to be unhelpful in that it can suggest that a certain type of emotional response ought to be present in those who are singing. This in turn can lead to a false and sometimes crushing sense of guilt in the person who doesn’t feel what they have been led to believe they ought to feel. Our emotional states vary for all sorts of reasons. Therefore, songs which demand of us a response that is, perhaps, unrealistic (because of the level of emotion required) or unbiblical (such as suggesting to us the desire to touch Jesus) should be avoided.

To my mind, the most valuable examples of this type of song are those which stay very close to the Scriptures, such as the Fisherfolk song ‘Great and Wonderful’, which is taken from Revelation 15:3-5.

Songs of Confession

These songs are generally more objective in nature, seeking to tell out the great things that God has done. For this reason, they are usually more theological and credal and may be taken directly from Scripture. Whatever the case, they are a kind of proclamation in song and for this reason they are enormously valuable in building understanding and faith, and in making the gospel known.

In songs of confession we are not so much singing to God, but before him and to others, that is, to each other and to the world. However, we would be foolish to think that this makes it a lesser act of praise. In fact, the form that praise most commonly takes in the Scriptures is precisely that of ‘recounting the mighty deeds of God’ (see Ex 15:1-18, Pss 103; 104; 106; 111; 147; et al.)

Some examples of the kind of song I am talking about are ‘The Servant King’ by Graham Kendrick, ‘Jesus is Lord’ in Scripture in Song II and many of the great old hymns, such as ‘And Can It Be? ’, ‘Before the Throne of God Above’ and ‘Amazing Grace’. There is a great need for more contemporary songs to be written in this vein (there is a challenge to all modern Christian songwriters!).

In my opinion, the majority of the songs we sing should be of this type, for the reasons I have given. Moreover, songs of this kind also have a teaching function—a good reason for their theology being sound and helpfully expressed—and can, therefore, be used to support and reinforce the preached Word. The fact is that people tend to remember what they sing. If they are singing the great truths of God’s Word, this can only benefit them.

Songs of exhortation

These songs seek to exhort, challenge, encourage and inspire us to actions, such as telling out the gospel, loving one another, persevering in prayer and pursuing holiness. With this type of song we are again singing to each other with the specific aim of urging each other to obedience. This, of course, greatly pleases God and is likewise part of our praising him. We could also do with more songs of this kind.

Again, many of the Psalms fall into the category of exhortations to be ‘up and doing’, particularly in the matter of declaring God’s praise among the nations, or as we like to call it, ‘evangelism’ (e.g. Pss 66; 95; 96; 98; 100; 105; 107; 136; 148; et al.)

How to select songs

A number of factors should be kept in mind when choosing songs, be it for a church service, a youth night or a small home group. Of course, there are a great many factors to consider, such as the size of your meeting and the available musicians, but the questions below are of primary importance.

Are you using an integrated theme?

It is sometimes helpful to choose songs that follow a particular line of thought or have a common focus (e.g. the cross of Jesus). This would make sense in a service where the aim is to integrate the music with the Bible teaching. However, there is no reason why a service should not have more than one significant theme. The main questions to consider are ‘Why are we singing these particular songs’ and ‘In what order would it be most helpful to sing them?’.

Does the song reflect the truth of God’s Word?

This may seem a fairly obvious thing to say, but an enormous number of Christian songs are full of nonsense. I used to be more lenient toward songs with lousy theology but a catchy tune, but I have come to see some of the destructive long-term effects that these kinds of songs produce. They need to be weeded out! If the case in point is a hymn with three good verses and one bad one, then leave the bad one out and sing the rest.

Of course, it is possible to over-react and go on a kind of ‘witch hunt’ and this needs to be avoided. Perhaps a simple test is to ask people what they think a particular song means. Some songs simply need to be explained before they can be helpfully sung.

Have you achieved the best balance?

Keeping in mind the different types of songs that we identified earlier, work at getting a balance (or a deliberate imbalance, as I suggested, with more confessional and less emotionally oriented songs).

However, ‘balance’ also has to do with other factors such as the tempo, key and mood of the songs. For instance, if all the songs are the same speed, or if they are all pitched too high, the congregation may get bored and/or exhausted. These practical problems must be kept in mind.

Are we making use of our resources?

Christian congregations today are blessed with an enormous range of resources to draw upon. New music is being made available all the time (unfortunately, not all of it good) and many congregations are writing their own material. However, some of the most valuable resources we have are the hymns that have been bequeathed to us by past generations. These ought to be used if at all possible, since many of them are full of rich theology couched in the language of praise. Where the language is old-fashioned, this can usually be changed (if so desired). Moreover, alternative tunes can be used and even new tunes written to many of the old hymns. The tune can, in many ways, make or break a hymn.

Finding new resources that are good takes time and effort. Ask people from other churches about what they are using. Take a trip to your local Christian bookstore and obtain music catalogues where they are available. Follow up songs that are used at conventions. There are plenty of avenues to explore in search of good material.

Are we committing this ministry to God?

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, pray about choosing songs for an occasion. Ask God for wisdom and help, in order that the songs you choose may bring blessing to those who sing them and serve to reinforce the ministry of the Word of God.

Originally written for the 1992 ‘Save the Stave’ music seminar.

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