Page 2 of 2If someone writes a song to go along with a sermon topic; if someone stands during the closing time and sings something that is tied to the sermon; or if someone sings a new, impromptu song inspired by the Holy Spirit (generally sung only that one time and generally tied to what was preached that week)—these would all qualify as songs of the Spirit.
So based on this passage, we should use lyrical variety in our worship services. Hymns help us grow deeper in our faith; psalms give us an easy way to memorize Scripture; and songs of the Spirit help us focus on one particular element of God's Word.
Sing and Make Music in Your Heart to the Lord
Next our verse says, "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." So let's talk about the music. As a member of the International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE), I have learned that music which comes from your heart elevates you to a new level of worship, and this is what God desires from us. We call this "Heart Music" or "Heart Worship." This must include not only our brain, hands, and voices as we make music, but something that aesthetically brings us to a new level of worship and praise. How can we do this if we're singing something with which we cannot connect musically? I can intellectually appreciate someone else's love of a certain style, but it will do nothing for my heart.
Musicologists are taught that all cultures should sing and write songs with which they can identify. Normally this means that they will use song styles that speak to their hearts. But in today's African cultures that are greatly influenced by music from the rest of the world, people don't necessarily want to sing in the "old" styles of their ancestors. Their indigenous music often has a negative connotation linked to other religions. In my recent musical research and studies, I have found that the music styles my African brothers and sisters enjoy are those that they hear coming from their CDs and radios. They want to sing these styles in a church setting. But when they sing them, they change the accompaniment to reflect something that is similar to their African musical styles. I only caution them to be sure that the words they choose actually go along with the melodies they're singing.
How to Apply This in Our Churches
So, let's step back a minute now and look at the songs we've been singing in our churches. Are these three poetical styles being set to music that our congregants can relate to? If not, then something needs to change. The style of music we want to sing will vary greatly from one church to the next, because people's tastes vary. Even within one church there will be a great variety.
If you're a music director in a church where people prefer singing the hymns and choruses of 50-plus years ago, then sing them. By the way, not all of those people have gray hair. Twenty-somethings also relate to these songs, and when they enter church and don't hear them, they often leave feeling let down.
So, the first question a worship leader needs to ask is, "What styles of music interest those in my entire congregation?" Take a survey. When I enter a new church as worship director, I ask everyone to give me a list of the 10 songs they most enjoy. From these songs, I build a master list of songs that become the core songs we sing each week. As I gain the confidence of the congregants, I can then bring in new songs and styles of music that are similar. In this way, they will learn to appreciate multiple styles of music for the sake of this diverse body.
Never settle for stagnant worship, but celebrate weekly with joyful hearts in a variety of lyrical and musical styles.
Cynthia Cook is professor of ethnodoxology and worship at La Faculté de Théologie Evangélique de l'Alliance Chrétienne in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa Alliance Evangelical Seminary in Abidjan, Ivory Coast).
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