Have you ever wondered why we sing the songs we do? There are a number of factors that determine whether or not we use a song in our worship services at Grace Evan. Yet nothing factors higher than the content of the lyric, what the song is saying. Whatever pleasing qualities the tune or arrangement may bring, whatever emotions may be stirred up by the performance, we're wasting our time if what we sing together as God's redeemed people isn't calibrating our minds and hearts to the glories of who God is and what he has done.
John Bell makes this point in his book, The Singing Thing, in a discussion of children's songs:
...what we learn in childhood we retain all our life and [...] the images of God we receive from such songs will determine our faith and theology. That means that whenever anyone teaches a child a hymn or religious song, they may be preparing that child to meet his or her Maker. Does that seem too extreme?
Then consider the experience of those who minister to the elderly. A hospital chaplain colleague talks of how when she takes prayers in a geriatric ward, where people cannot read hymn texts, she uses songs they have in their memory. So they will sing "Jesus Loves Me" and "If I Come to Jesus, He Will Make Me Glad," both of which not only invoke the past but speak positively of the love of God.
Consider a child born in the 1970's, finding himself coming towards the end of his life in a geriatric ward in the 2060's, and as he prepares to make his peace with God summoning up such a deeply spiritual ditty as:
"If I were a fuzzy wuzzy bear,
I'd thank you, Lord, for my fuzzy wuzzy hair."
Children's hymns should never be seen simply as a form of entertainment to keep the kids happy. These songs, in the future, will be evocative of God.
It's true of kids' songs, but it's true of our songs too. Granted, music can simply be fun and entertaining. But as a church, we have a responsibility to use the divinely-designed power of music to teach and shape "our faith and theology" for the long haul. And the tunes and truths we sing together will often be what will come to mind in the trials of our lives.
- A loved one's death may bring to mind the reassuring words of "It is Well with My Soul."
- A season of grief and loneliness may be met with sweet comfort as you are reminded of the song "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
- A fear of death and/or a nagging uncertainty of your standing with God may be put at ease as you recall the truths of "Before the Throne of God Above."
This is why we invest so much time and energy into Scripture Songs for the kids (and everyone else!). This is why we sing songs in our gathered worship that are rich with biblical truth about God. We're preparing ourselves - young and old - to meet our Maker, yes, but also to face life, now and future, with bold confidence in him.
