“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” 1 Corinthians 14:15
Recently I had the privilege of speaking in a Bible college chapel. Leading up to that time, I thought a lot about what I was going to speak on. These are young people who have Bible classes hours a day, and hear preaching on the Bible multiple times a week. So I thought to myself what in the world am I going to speak on that they have not heard already. I spoke from 1 Corinthians 14. And spoke on the topic of having a Biblical approach to music, not a philosophical one. Music will often take up 40-50% of the church service, yet much of the thought process that goes into it is not Biblical. It is Philosophical. In other words, “I like this song:, ”This song will wake people up" “this song will prepare the hearts for preaching”. None of which are Biblical. And while many will decry modern songs as being flawed and repetitive, many MANY older songs are not immune from such flaws. I have heard preaching against the modern “7-11” contemporary songs and how they repeat themselves over and over. For instance the song “Reckless Love” - the song is not only problematic theologically, calling God Reckless, but the repetition of the phrases “coming after me” and the time the word me appears in the song is a bit much. ("Me" appears 14 times). I could mention other songs in the modern genre, but on the other hand, the standard traditional church also might sing “Burdens are lifted at calvary”, which is equally repetitive. Variations of the phrase “Burdens are lifted at Calvary” occur 9 times, with the word “calvary” showing up 15 times. Many may decry other modern songs theological issues, and I probably would agree with them. However, traditional songs sung in traditional churches may also have equal theological problems. Songs like “Dwelling in Beulah Land” is often sung in traditional churches, without second thought that the ideology of the song is that we as Christians just live above the fray and have no problems, and then immediately follow it up with the hymn “Am I a Soldier of the Cross” Which teaches quite obviously that we are to go through struggles as we take up the cross and follow Christ. My point is this; Anyone who knows me, knows that I believe in traditional music in church. But more than ever in my life I also believe that when we select a song, for private devotion, or for public singing, We must think about it. Put our personal preferences, and likes aside, and examine the song in the light of Gods Word. Understand the text of the music. Here is a song that should be considered. I don't hear it much in churches any more. But it is a paraphrase of a Psalm. Rich in Doctrine, Rich in Faith. Sing with understanding.
“Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun