What Do We Sing?

Last week we asked the question: why do we sing as a church? This week we ask what is perhaps a more pressing question: What Do We Sing? Do we sing songs that are highly emotive? Or do we sing songs that avoid provoking our emotions out of fear of our ‘flesh’? And what about the content of our songs? What do the lyrics communicate? 


Authentic worship arises out of an authentic understanding of who God is. That is merely a restatement of what Jesus says in John 4:22, where he says ‘true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth.’ If we do not grasp on to a true understanding of who God is in our worship, we are worshipping a god of our own making, and not the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who is.

That is why we think some of the old songs are some of the best songs. Kristyn Getty comments (1) that the song Great is Thy Faithfulness was sung by her parents, by her grandparents, and is now sung by her children. Timeless truths about the nature of God are communicated through these songs, which is why they become generational songs! However, at the same time, we are commanded to Sing to the LORD a new song! (Ps 96:1). Why is that? Well, I suspect because the mercies of the LORD are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and our hearts are compelled to sing new and fresh songs as we come to understand these things in fresh ways.

Songs have a unique way of wedging themselves into our hearts and minds. Who hasn’t had a song get stuck in their head - even an annoying little ditty - that they just can’t shake? Well, this is the way we teach these doctrines to our children: through theologically rigorous songs that stick themselves into our hearts and minds in this unique way. It is for that reason that we aim to sing songs that are so rooted in Scripture that when those in our congregation read their bibles throughout the week, the songs they have in their hearts will help shine a light on the meaning of Scripture. Jonathan Leeman writes: “ a church’s songs should contain nothing more than the words, paraphrases, or ideas of Scripture.” (2)

“If your people memorized the lyrics you’re planning to sing in church this Sunday, would they be able to share the gospel with somebody in your city? If not, is it too late to fix that?” (3)

We should be less concerned with provoking an emotional response and more concerned with the scripture-illuminating content of our songs. Understanding that true illumination of God’s word will provoke an affectionate response. Our emotions will be stirred as we come to comprehend the gospel evermore. Jesus teaches that true worshipers will worship ‘in spirit and in truth’ (John 4:23). So the question is: does the deep truths about the nature of God compel us to sing? Are we so moved by the doctrines of the faith that we want to herald them out together?

Next article will respond to the question: what do we prioritize in our singing?

ROSE CITY BAPTIST CHURCH   •   6406 44B AVENUE   •   CAMROSE, AB   •   T4V 0B6   •   780.672.4832