Dear Worship Leaders

Music has been and continues to be an important part of Christian worship services.  Many of our fondest and deepest memories of corporate worship have to do with music. 

I've said this many times... when you leave a service do you more often have a line from the sermon stuck in your head or a line from a song?  For me, it's nearly always a song that has become looped in my brain.

The songs we sing are important.  Many music therapist have told me stories of people with dementia that can't remember the names of their grandchildren or even their children but can sing multiple verses of their favorite hymns. 

Music glues words to our brains in a way no other thing can.

A few weeks ago my wife and I were reading through 1 Chronicles.  When we read at night we don't do a study.  We simply read a chapter before bed.  Some chapters we read are thrilling and others, to be honest, are long, boring lists of names and boundary lines.  1 Chronicles 25 is one of those chapters, but it was this chapter that had a line jump out to me and it has everything to do with the songs we sing.

"David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.  Here is the list of the men who performed this service:" 1 Chronicles 25:1

The chapter is all about King David's musicians.  This chapter is full of tongue tying names and is one of those chapters that are not the most fun to read, but that first verse spoke to me.

What were the musicians tasked to do?  Prophesy words set to music.

What is prophesy here?  First, it is not telling the future.  Much of the time the Bible doesn't mean doing the work of a seer when it says prophesy.  What prophesy means here is to speak as a mediator between God and man.  So, the musicians were tasks with singing God's Word to the people and singing the people's words to God.

Worship pastors/leaders, are you in the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by piano, organ, guitar, drums, bass and violin?  When you choose music for your corporate worship do you think about what sounds best first?  Do you consider what is on Christian radio?  Or do you most consider what lyrics best mediate God's Word to the people and the people's words to God?

I think there are all sorts of musical styles that can be God honoring.  From baroque to EDM, from orchestral to hip hop, all styles of music can honor God effectively.  Worship leaders must find styles of music that can speak to those in the congregation best.  But the lyrics should be of first importance.

What lyrics are long lasting?  What lyrics would Christ himself say accurately represent Him?  What lyrics help the congregation hear what Jesus has for them?  What lyrics help those assembled speak honoring words to God?

In 50 years when I'm in the nursing home with dementia will the lyrics sung on this coming Sunday at your church be worth being stuck in my head?

Worship pastors/leaders, your job is very important.  You are more than sing-a-long leaders.  You are tasked with the ministry of prophesy set to music.  Choose your lyrics wisely today.