Some churches are divided over which songs to use in worship services.\u00a0 Many churches have even split over this.\u00a0 When we are told to make a joyful noise, does it mean we can use electric guitars and drums or just the piano or organ?\u00a0 The first consideration for any worship song to be used in a church is the words.\u00a0 The words determine whether they are biblically sound or not.\u00a0 If the lyrics are not Scriptural then it doesn\u2019t matter what type of music you use in services\u2026bad theology is worthless worship to God for He will not accept it (John 4:23).\u00a0 God always loves to have His Word read back to Him and so if the lyrics contain Scripture, you can be certain that it will be accepted.\u00a0 Music is part of our worship and our music must contain truth.\u00a0 If our worship music sounds like a heavenly choir yet has words that are not true according to the Bible, then it doesn\u2019t matter how good it sounds.\u00a0 Truth in worship, whether in preaching or song, is the standard for whether it should be used in services.<\/p>\n
A quick reading of our own church hymnals revealed some bad theology.\u00a0 I recommended that some hymns not be used due to the words contained in the hymns because they do not reflect the accuracy of what is taught in the Bible.\u00a0 Some of these old hymns are beautiful and are the favorites of many but faulty lyrics that do not match what the Bible teaches are useless and the danger is that the words in the hymns will subliminally teach us error.\u00a0 If we are singing a beautiful song\u2026indeed if we sing with the voice of angels\u2026but are using words that are not true, then we might as well be singing to ourselves.\u00a0 God will not accept such worship if what we are singing is not true to the Word of God, the Bible.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/348\/2013\/04\/medium_8329857232-300x199.jpg\" "\\"medium_8329857232\\"")
<\/a>Modern verses Classic Worship Songs<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nInstead of having services consist of only classic or older hymns or newer, more contemporary hymns, why not alternate both?\u00a0 Worship music should not be a battle of the generations.\u00a0 It should not divide the older adults from the younger.\u00a0 It should not cause division or strife in the church because, remember, we are there to worship God, not to please ourselves with what we like.\u00a0 It is not about what we get<\/em> at worship services but about what we give<\/em> that is important to God.\u00a0 God has never determined in His Word exactly what type of music should be sung and which kind of music should not be.\u00a0 The Bible is silent about what instruments we should or should not use.\u00a0 God does not command to use particular instruments while not using others.\u00a0 All that God says is to lift up our voices in sing praises to Him and to make a joyful noise.\u00a0 Music styles and tastes change but only the Word of God remains the same.\u00a0 Knowing the nature of God we understand that God does not want us dividing over worship music because this is a non-essential of the faith.<\/p>\nBiblical Guidelines to Worship Songs and Music<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nLet the Bible guide our direction for musical selection.\u00a0 Let us read what God says about worshiping Him in song and music.<\/p>\n
Psalm 98:4\u00a0 \u201cMake a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is a great verse.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t say that we have to be on key.\u00a0 It only says that we are to make a joyful noise.\u00a0 That is all that God cares about.\u00a0 He desires us to \u201cbreak forth<\/em>\u201d like a dam holding water, \u201cinto joyous song and praises<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 What could be simpler?<\/p>\nPsalm 96:1 \u201cOh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nGod tells us here that we \u201csing to the Lord<\/em>,\u201c not to ourselves.\u00a0 This song can be an old classic or a new song, either way we are singing to the Lord.\u00a0 That is the key to much of the biblical Scriptures about music.<\/p>\nPsalm 100:1-2 \u201cMake a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is very similar to Psalm 98:4 in that we are to make a joyful noise.\u00a0 Is this \u201cjoyful noise<\/em>\u201d for us and for our tastes or preferences in music? No!\u00a0 This joyful noise is to be made \u201cto the Lord<\/em>\u201d or we could say, directed to the Lord.\u00a0 When I was young, the older generation said that our music was \u201cjust a bunch of noise.\u201d\u00a0 Well, God accepts noise, as long as it\u2019s \u201cjoyful.\u201c\u00a0 One thing God does command in these Scriptures is that we are to \u201center into His presence with singing!<\/em>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Although we are told to enter into His presence with singing, God does not tell us what kind<\/em> of singing to enter into His presence with.<\/p>\nPsalm 33:3 \u201cSing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is close to Psalm 96:1 in that we can sing a new song and we sing to \u201cHim\u201d or to God.\u00a0 One difference here is that we can play \u201cskillfully on the strings<\/em>\u201d indicating stringed instruments.\u00a0 Since God\u2019s Word is timeless, we are free to use strings on electric guitars or box guitars.\u00a0 Strings can include the piano or any other instrument but this doesn\u2019t necessarily limit other instruments. And we can sing with \u201cloud shouts.\u201d\u00a0 Why not!?\u00a0 We have much to shout about for our salvation is from the Lord.<\/p>\nSolutions<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nSome churches have an early service where the older adults attend.\u00a0 Many of the older generation are early risers and like to have services earlier in the morning and so many churches have the more traditional hymns in the first services if they offer them.\u00a0 Later morning services may contain more contemporary Christian worship songs that the younger generation and adults can enjoy and thus, more joyfully worship the Lord in song.\u00a0 Some churches even have a Saturday night service designed especially for youth.\u00a0 They get the opportunity to worship in a much more contemporary way in music that might sound like rock and roll to older generations.\u00a0 The Bible is silent on just what instruments can be used, what style of music may be used, and whether more advanced technology is involved or not.\u00a0 We can not judge from our own generation what should and should not be used if<\/em>, and I stress, if <\/em>the words of the worship songs are biblically sound.\u00a0 That is the most important thing about any Christian music.<\/p>\nConclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nFrom what the Bible says we are to make our singing and playing of worship music to the Lord.\u00a0 The worship music is not directed to us.\u00a0 I am not saying that we can not enjoy and enter into the music ourselves but the primary purpose of worship music is to praise God and not to please ourselves.\u00a0 We also know that God never indicates what type of music we ought to sing or play or what types of instruments should be included.\u00a0 God gives us freedom to choose and we must not judge others for their tastes in music because worship music is a non-essential issue as far as the essentials of the faith are concerned.\u00a0 We have also seen that words are<\/em> important in the songs we sing in praise to God.\u00a0 The words of any worship music must<\/em> be theologically sound. They must not be contrary to what the Bible teaches.\u00a0 God will not accept what is not true worship or as Jesus said, we must worship God \u201cin spirit and in truth<\/em>\u201d (John 4:23).\u00a0 My prayer is that we will not cause offense to others or let others offend us due to differing tastes and preferences in our worship music; either in worship music at church or anywhere else. The important thing is that we make a joyful noise to the Lord<\/em>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/348\/2013\/03\/Jack-Wellman.jpeg\" "\\"Jack")
<\/a>Article by Pastor Jack Wellman<\/span><\/h3>\nJack Wellman is Senior Writer at What Christians Want to Know<\/a>\u00a0whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer\u2019s daily walk with God and the Bible.<\/p>\nphoto credit: GlasgowAmateur<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How does a church choose which worship songs to use in services?\u00a0 What are the determining factors?\u00a0 Does the congregation choose them?\u00a0 If so, who wins?\u00a0 The youth or the older adults? Worship Songs Must Have Sound Theology Some churches are divided over which songs to use in worship services.\u00a0 Many churches have even split […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1485,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[20,21],"class_list":["post-72","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-answers","tag-christian-songs","tag-church-songs"],"yoast_head":"\n
Christian Songs in Church: How to Choose Them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How does a church choose which worship songs to use in services?\u00a0 What are the determining factors?\u00a0 Does the congregation choose them?\u00a0 If so, who wins?\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/christiancrier\/2013\/04\/27\/christian-songs-in-church-how-to-choose-them\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Christian Songs in Church: How to Choose Them\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How does a church choose which worship songs to use in services?\u00a0 What are the determining factors?\u00a0 Does the congregation choose them?\u00a0 If so, who wins?\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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Biblical Guidelines to Worship Songs and Music<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nLet the Bible guide our direction for musical selection.\u00a0 Let us read what God says about worshiping Him in song and music.<\/p>\n
Psalm 98:4\u00a0 \u201cMake a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is a great verse.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t say that we have to be on key.\u00a0 It only says that we are to make a joyful noise.\u00a0 That is all that God cares about.\u00a0 He desires us to \u201cbreak forth<\/em>\u201d like a dam holding water, \u201cinto joyous song and praises<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 What could be simpler?<\/p>\nPsalm 96:1 \u201cOh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nGod tells us here that we \u201csing to the Lord<\/em>,\u201c not to ourselves.\u00a0 This song can be an old classic or a new song, either way we are singing to the Lord.\u00a0 That is the key to much of the biblical Scriptures about music.<\/p>\nPsalm 100:1-2 \u201cMake a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is very similar to Psalm 98:4 in that we are to make a joyful noise.\u00a0 Is this \u201cjoyful noise<\/em>\u201d for us and for our tastes or preferences in music? No!\u00a0 This joyful noise is to be made \u201cto the Lord<\/em>\u201d or we could say, directed to the Lord.\u00a0 When I was young, the older generation said that our music was \u201cjust a bunch of noise.\u201d\u00a0 Well, God accepts noise, as long as it\u2019s \u201cjoyful.\u201c\u00a0 One thing God does command in these Scriptures is that we are to \u201center into His presence with singing!<\/em>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Although we are told to enter into His presence with singing, God does not tell us what kind<\/em> of singing to enter into His presence with.<\/p>\nPsalm 33:3 \u201cSing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is close to Psalm 96:1 in that we can sing a new song and we sing to \u201cHim\u201d or to God.\u00a0 One difference here is that we can play \u201cskillfully on the strings<\/em>\u201d indicating stringed instruments.\u00a0 Since God\u2019s Word is timeless, we are free to use strings on electric guitars or box guitars.\u00a0 Strings can include the piano or any other instrument but this doesn\u2019t necessarily limit other instruments. And we can sing with \u201cloud shouts.\u201d\u00a0 Why not!?\u00a0 We have much to shout about for our salvation is from the Lord.<\/p>\nSolutions<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nSome churches have an early service where the older adults attend.\u00a0 Many of the older generation are early risers and like to have services earlier in the morning and so many churches have the more traditional hymns in the first services if they offer them.\u00a0 Later morning services may contain more contemporary Christian worship songs that the younger generation and adults can enjoy and thus, more joyfully worship the Lord in song.\u00a0 Some churches even have a Saturday night service designed especially for youth.\u00a0 They get the opportunity to worship in a much more contemporary way in music that might sound like rock and roll to older generations.\u00a0 The Bible is silent on just what instruments can be used, what style of music may be used, and whether more advanced technology is involved or not.\u00a0 We can not judge from our own generation what should and should not be used if<\/em>, and I stress, if <\/em>the words of the worship songs are biblically sound.\u00a0 That is the most important thing about any Christian music.<\/p>\nConclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nFrom what the Bible says we are to make our singing and playing of worship music to the Lord.\u00a0 The worship music is not directed to us.\u00a0 I am not saying that we can not enjoy and enter into the music ourselves but the primary purpose of worship music is to praise God and not to please ourselves.\u00a0 We also know that God never indicates what type of music we ought to sing or play or what types of instruments should be included.\u00a0 God gives us freedom to choose and we must not judge others for their tastes in music because worship music is a non-essential issue as far as the essentials of the faith are concerned.\u00a0 We have also seen that words are<\/em> important in the songs we sing in praise to God.\u00a0 The words of any worship music must<\/em> be theologically sound. They must not be contrary to what the Bible teaches.\u00a0 God will not accept what is not true worship or as Jesus said, we must worship God \u201cin spirit and in truth<\/em>\u201d (John 4:23).\u00a0 My prayer is that we will not cause offense to others or let others offend us due to differing tastes and preferences in our worship music; either in worship music at church or anywhere else. The important thing is that we make a joyful noise to the Lord<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/a>Article by Pastor Jack Wellman<\/span><\/h3>\nJack Wellman is Senior Writer at What Christians Want to Know<\/a>\u00a0whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer\u2019s daily walk with God and the Bible.<\/p>\nphoto credit: GlasgowAmateur<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How does a church choose which worship songs to use in services?\u00a0 What are the determining factors?\u00a0 Does the congregation choose them?\u00a0 If so, who wins?\u00a0 The youth or the older adults? Worship Songs Must Have Sound Theology Some churches are divided over which songs to use in worship services.\u00a0 Many churches have even split […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1485,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[20,21],"class_list":["post-72","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-answers","tag-christian-songs","tag-church-songs"],"yoast_head":"\n
Christian Songs in Church: How to Choose Them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How does a church choose which worship songs to use in services?\u00a0 What are the determining factors?\u00a0 Does the congregation choose them?\u00a0 If so, who wins?\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/christiancrier\/2013\/04\/27\/christian-songs-in-church-how-to-choose-them\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Christian Songs in Church: How to Choose Them\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How does a church choose which worship songs to use in services?\u00a0 What are the determining factors?\u00a0 Does the congregation choose them?\u00a0 If so, who wins?\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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Psalm 98:4\u00a0 \u201cMake a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is a great verse.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t say that we have to be on key.\u00a0 It only says that we are to make a joyful noise.\u00a0 That is all that God cares about.\u00a0 He desires us to \u201cbreak forth<\/em>\u201d like a dam holding water, \u201cinto joyous song and praises<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 What could be simpler?<\/p>\n Psalm 96:1 \u201cOh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n God tells us here that we \u201csing to the Lord<\/em>,\u201c not to ourselves.\u00a0 This song can be an old classic or a new song, either way we are singing to the Lord.\u00a0 That is the key to much of the biblical Scriptures about music.<\/p>\n Psalm 100:1-2 \u201cMake a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is very similar to Psalm 98:4 in that we are to make a joyful noise.\u00a0 Is this \u201cjoyful noise<\/em>\u201d for us and for our tastes or preferences in music? No!\u00a0 This joyful noise is to be made \u201cto the Lord<\/em>\u201d or we could say, directed to the Lord.\u00a0 When I was young, the older generation said that our music was \u201cjust a bunch of noise.\u201d\u00a0 Well, God accepts noise, as long as it\u2019s \u201cjoyful.\u201c\u00a0 One thing God does command in these Scriptures is that we are to \u201center into His presence with singing!<\/em>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Although we are told to enter into His presence with singing, God does not tell us what kind<\/em> of singing to enter into His presence with.<\/p>\n Psalm 33:3 \u201cSing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is close to Psalm 96:1 in that we can sing a new song and we sing to \u201cHim\u201d or to God.\u00a0 One difference here is that we can play \u201cskillfully on the strings<\/em>\u201d indicating stringed instruments.\u00a0 Since God\u2019s Word is timeless, we are free to use strings on electric guitars or box guitars.\u00a0 Strings can include the piano or any other instrument but this doesn\u2019t necessarily limit other instruments. And we can sing with \u201cloud shouts.\u201d\u00a0 Why not!?\u00a0 We have much to shout about for our salvation is from the Lord.<\/p>\n Some churches have an early service where the older adults attend.\u00a0 Many of the older generation are early risers and like to have services earlier in the morning and so many churches have the more traditional hymns in the first services if they offer them.\u00a0 Later morning services may contain more contemporary Christian worship songs that the younger generation and adults can enjoy and thus, more joyfully worship the Lord in song.\u00a0 Some churches even have a Saturday night service designed especially for youth.\u00a0 They get the opportunity to worship in a much more contemporary way in music that might sound like rock and roll to older generations.\u00a0 The Bible is silent on just what instruments can be used, what style of music may be used, and whether more advanced technology is involved or not.\u00a0 We can not judge from our own generation what should and should not be used if<\/em>, and I stress, if <\/em>the words of the worship songs are biblically sound.\u00a0 That is the most important thing about any Christian music.<\/p>\n From what the Bible says we are to make our singing and playing of worship music to the Lord.\u00a0 The worship music is not directed to us.\u00a0 I am not saying that we can not enjoy and enter into the music ourselves but the primary purpose of worship music is to praise God and not to please ourselves.\u00a0 We also know that God never indicates what type of music we ought to sing or play or what types of instruments should be included.\u00a0 God gives us freedom to choose and we must not judge others for their tastes in music because worship music is a non-essential issue as far as the essentials of the faith are concerned.\u00a0 We have also seen that words are<\/em> important in the songs we sing in praise to God.\u00a0 The words of any worship music must<\/em> be theologically sound. They must not be contrary to what the Bible teaches.\u00a0 God will not accept what is not true worship or as Jesus said, we must worship God \u201cin spirit and in truth<\/em>\u201d (John 4:23).\u00a0 My prayer is that we will not cause offense to others or let others offend us due to differing tastes and preferences in our worship music; either in worship music at church or anywhere else. The important thing is that we make a joyful noise to the Lord<\/em>.<\/p>\n Jack Wellman is Senior Writer at What Christians Want to Know<\/a>\u00a0whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer\u2019s daily walk with God and the Bible.<\/p>\n photo credit: GlasgowAmateur<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How does a church choose which worship songs to use in services?\u00a0 What are the determining factors?\u00a0 Does the congregation choose them?\u00a0 If so, who wins?\u00a0 The youth or the older adults? Worship Songs Must Have Sound Theology Some churches are divided over which songs to use in worship services.\u00a0 Many churches have even split […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1485,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[20,21],"class_list":["post-72","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-answers","tag-christian-songs","tag-church-songs"],"yoast_head":"\nSolutions<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/348\/2013\/04\/medium_8329857232.jpg\" "\\"Jack")
<\/a>Article by Pastor Jack Wellman<\/span><\/h3>\n