How to Define Great Music

After writing my blog last week and quoting the tremendous song we sang as a congregation, I came across this wonderful blog on 9marks.org and I thought it would be a blessing. I put it below and also put a link to it. I hope it serves as a frame work for each of us as we worship together.

http://www.9marks.org/answers/how-important-style-music-church-sings

How important is the style of music a church sings?
The style of music a church sings is relatively unimportant.
1. Most important are the truth of the words being sung. Since a church sings music in order to worship God, our songs should function like a musical confession of faith. Those confessions of faith should contain substantial truth about God, or else we’ll hardly be worshiping at all.
2. Two principle purposes of putting such words to music (questions of style aside) are (i) to assist the heart to emotionally engage with the truths being sung, so that one’s emotions properly conform to those truths; (ii) to help the congregation remember, even memorize, those truths. We sing to God to stir up our hearts to exalt and honor him.
3. The style of music a church uses is ultimately unimportant. Style is passing.
4. It’s only worth paying attention to insofar as different styles may do a better or worse job of helping people properly conform their hearts to the truths being sung.
5. Even then, many people can learn to adapt, especially when their pastors teach them that our musical preferences provide us an excellent opportunity to “count others more significant than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3). This is especially true if a church hopes to reach a variety of people from a variety of walks and stations of life.
6. In short, what we sing is far more important than how we sing it.

A Song for the Saved!

Every week Bro. Jon Rushing does an incredible job of leading us in worshipping our Lord. Some time ago, several of our staff went to a conference and heard a song that he led our congregation in last week. I said then, as I say now…one can differ on styles of music but if a person’s spirit does not rejoice as they sing this song, it should really cause them to examine themselves spiritually! I had to take a blog and just list these lyrics… they are saturated with the gospel (just as every song he leads us in).

I had a man visit me who had joined our church very recently. He said… “What I noticed about Trinity when I came, is that everything happening is dripping with the truth of the Gospel.” There is no greater compliment! I want to just conclude this by posting these incredible words that we sang:

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You