Serving the Lord with a Universal Language
Although it is not specifically mentioned as a special calling or ministry in the New Testament, the use of music as a universal language even of the church is very obvious in the Scriptures. People who devote themselves to singing Godly or Christian songs (sometimes for a living) are generally called Gospel musicians: some seem to prefer the title, "Minister", which actually means servant: fair deal, for that is what the Gospel musician should really be in every sense of the word. There are many others involved in making Christian music tick. Here I share a few insights on how Christian music should be guided in order to serve the Lord's purpose. (I wish to thank the PENSA Ghana 2019 Music Team for compelling this effort)
Ephesians 5:19, Psalm 150,
Deuteronomy 31:22, Revelations 14:3
1. What Is Gospel Music or Godly Music?
Godly music may cover all the songs
written with a view to glorify God or accomplish His will. Gospel music is a
bit narrower in the sense that it focuses mainly on New Testament theology.
Gospel music focuses more on publishing the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ,
exalt Him or exalt the Godhead for what He has done through Christ for us.
Gospel music is also prophetic in the New Testament sense, since it is for
edification, encouragement, and consolation (1 Co. 14:3).
2. The Contents or Composition of Godly Music and How to
Differentiate It From 'Fake' Gospel Music
Content of Gospel
Music
a. Proclaims the
saving virtues of God and His Christ
b. Usually couched in
the language of the New Testament
c. Calls people to
repentance and faith in Jesus
d. Encourages
Christians to serve Christ and endure the challenges of living for Christ
e. Appreciates and
exalts God
f. Is prayer and
supplication for guidance and strength in ministry
Fake Gospel Music
a. Contradicts the
word of Christ
b. Preaches the
limited virtues of the Old Covenant and human traditions rather than the
excellence of Christlike living and sacrifice
c. Is secular or nonspiritual words/lyrics accompanied with known Christian tunes or sung by a
known Christian or Christian musician
d. Discriminates among
people and casts insinuations and aspersions
e. Extols worldliness
and flaunts worldly possessions as God’s blessings
f. Includes lyrics of
personal revelation that are not consistent with the Gospel
3.
How to Lead and
Write Christian Songs in A Way That Does Not Make Them "Worldly" (Keeping our hearts
centered on Jesus and in giving Him glory, over trying to take the glory for
ourselves)
Leading Christian Songs in a Godly Manner
Usually, leading songs involves trained/inspired individual
singers, instrumentalists or teams that either minister for the edification of
a listening audience or to cue congregations to sing along. In both cases, the
music must be presented in a manner that allows for appreciation. The intended
audience or the congregation must always be entirely served according to the
will of God, not MESMERIZED!
a. Be mindful of the
lyrics first and foremost, that they will glorify Christ and facilitate the
purpose of the service.
b. Choose music styles
that suit the audience or congregation. You must therefore know them, otherwise
you may unnecessarily come across as disrespectful.
c. Tune and regulate
sound and music equipment in such a way as make you hear and appreciate the
voices of the congregation as well.
d. Respect time
allotted to you and be a good team member.
Writing
Christ-centered Songs
a. Be guided primarily
by what has been treated under number 2 above.
b. Follow the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit and thoroughly research the Biblical basis of
inspired words that make up your song.
c. Put inspired verses
to existing music or write music for inspired words.
4. How to Go About Writing Songs for And in The Church in A
Creative, Modern Way That Is Acceptable by The Church
An exceptional force of music is its dynamism, and the word of
God can be put into music in a way as to get the attention of virtually every
culture or subculture. The Church of Pentecost, for example, so far has
developed its own music culture, to the extent that one can predict which tunes
(assuming the words are Gospel) will be hits and which will be misses to the
overwhelming majority of members. Given however that the church exists to reach
the entire world for Christ, it is crucial that we write our music with as much
diversity as we are able.
a. Learn about the
target group that appreciates the creative style you need to write in, and what
their existing music means to them, including the overtones of certain sounds
and expressions. Otherwise, your music risks coming across as either
condescending or altogether fake and therefore ineffective in reaching out to
them.
b. Do not write with
the purpose of forcing an existing church music culture to change, as this is
not necessary at all: you are augmenting our arsenal, not replacing it.
c. Ensure that your
music gets to the culture or subculture, and get feedback to improve the
ministry.
d. Never water down
the Gospel or demean the existing church culture just to gain acceptance into a
developing subculture in the church.
e. When given the
opportunity to present a song in a style that is generally not familiar with
the church, make sure your lyrics stand out very clearly and tone down on all
other incidentals of the ‘new’ culture such as dressing and dancing.
5. How to Make Music
in The Church More Attractive and of Impact
a. We need to cover
all the basis of our theology with songs:
b. Our musicians must
be better trained and our trained musicians must reflect humility and personal
discipline: they must show abundant readiness to help all members who want to
participate in their ‘calling’. Improving on the technical music skills makes
it easier for us to teach new songs or present them in more appealing manner.
c. Our predominant and
most productive church music culture is that we all sing together rather than
sit to be sung to. All our musicians would therefore be more effective if they kept
this in mind
d. The idea of
commercializing church music must remain anathema, and therefore the church
must bear the responsibility for producing abundant musicians in the same
manner that almost every church member is able to preach the gospel.
6.
How to Effectively
Lead Worship and Choose Worship Songs. Also, Do's and Don'ts in Leading Worship.
We are caught up in worship when all around us pale into
insignificance in the awareness that the transcendent God is also immanent,
present and receiving our adoration. Good worship leaders therefore stand out
in that exceptional combination of sincere insignificance before God and the
call from that to all present to focus only on God. She raises song after song
that makes the congregants aware of the particular aspect of the Father that
has caught her attention and mesmerized her.
a. You must always be
prepared to lead people into worship. However, if you are given ample notice,
spend time in personal prayer and worship first.
b. Nobody will give
you a topic for worship. Select songs from the way you are currently
experiencing the awareness of God that is inspiring your ever-increasing love
for Him. They may be a collection from your own recent personal devotional
ministrations.
c. Drop all lingering
anxieties when the worship takes off, and just keep singing, praying and
waiting as the Spirit leads you. Silence is part of worship and it doesn’t mean
you have run out of options. There is no law that says we cannot use only one
song to worship, so check the pressure to be introducing many songs. Remember
you are only one of those worshiping, and don’t over-regulate.
d. When a member of
the congregation raises a song during worship, allow time to see how it picks
up and helps the rest, and you may not need to stop it after all.
e. Always worship
within allotted time.
7.
How to Effectively
Lead Praises and Choose Praise Songs. Also, Do's and Don'ts in Leading Praises.
What we normally call praise songs are the quick tempo songs,
but that is misleading, because praise songs constitute only one aspect of Gospel
songs (please check from section 2).
a. In selecting and
leading up-tempo songs, be mindful to stay within purpose, and remember that
one rhythm usually persists throughout a session.
b. Each song carries a
helping message: allow it to sink in before introducing another, when
necessary. This is also the time many people get to learn songs, so be as clear
as possible.
c. If there are many
leaders, allow one to lead in changing songs unless there is a prearrangement
otherwise.
d. Song leaders need
not be so loud as to be deaf to the congregation’s inputs, and so they must
learn to control their voices and microphones to volumes that are just slightly
louder and just enough for them to cue them in.
e. Care must be taken
to control the tempo in order not to get the congregation panting in a short
time or struggling to catch up with the dancing and therefore losing focus of
the words of the songs.
8. Conclusion
Singing and making music is
legitimate Christian ministry that virtually mimics what goes on in Heaven.
Musical expressions color our communication with God, and from God to others.
Music captures moods and expresses attitudes in ways that words alone are incapable
of. Music as a universal language is therefore a gift from God that we must lay
at His feet and for His pleasure. Like our use of words in language, so must we
choose the various aspects of music carefully if they will make impact as
Gospel. Our demeanor, training, preparation, attitude, sensitivity to the Holy
Spirit and, most of all, knowledge of God’s word are responsibilities the
Gospel musician must not take lightly.
