“I'm With The Band”

Sunday, December 30, 2012

     I'm in a band with a group of guys, some of whom I worship with; others are co-workers.  We have a growing following, and we are considering taking our show on the road full-time.  It has been a true blessing to be a part of.  I'm thankful to God for this opportunity.  However, I'm conflicted.  I feel like this is a good way for me to provide for my family, and the fans love us.  But the message of the songs we sing is very neutral.  We play love songs and songs telling general life stories.  I feel that if we were able to encourage and strengthen faith through our songs, we could be an even greater blessing to our fans.  Without crossing the line into instrumental worship music, how encouraging can we be with a faith-centered focus in our music?  What words would be okay to use without crossing the line?

Sincerely,
Songwriter

Dear Songwriter,

The issue isn’t a matter of what specific words to use (after all, plenty of songs use the word ‘God’ but aren’t at all spiritual songs). The real question is: what makes a song a “worship” song?  Thankfully, the Bible defines that for us.  Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16 say that worship songs are three types: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Though there is great overlap in these three types of songs, it also helps us to understand what types of songs should only be sung as acapella worship.

1. A ‘psalm’ is a song or form of pious poetry… in biblical context, this is most likely referring to the psalms found in the Old Testament.  It is common to find worship songs that directly or almost directly get their language from the Bible.
2. A ‘hymn’ is a song written in praise of a hero, a conqueror, or a god.  In the context of the Bible, a hymn is a song written specifically to praise the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit.  Though the language isn’t directly from the Bible like a psalm, the intent is clear – to give glory to our Creator.
3. A ‘spiritual’ song is exactly what it sounds like, a song that relates to the spiritual element.  This is the hardest type of song to pinpoint because almost every aspect of human life involves a spiritual element.  However, the general principle is that if a song’s main focus or message is on spiritual things like heaven, eternity, the relationship between man and God, salvation, etc. – it would be considered a spiritual song.

With these definitions in mind, we can see the principles behind worship songs.  Many songs can include words like ‘heaven’, ‘God’, or even ‘Jesus’ and not be considered a psalm, hymn, or spiritual song… while other songs can have none of those words and be very spiritual.  The key is to look at whatever songs your band composes and run them through the filter of “Is it a psalm or hymn or spiritual song?”

Just remember, even if your music is “neutral”… a band that is moral in its reputation and keeps the lyrics of music wholesome and pure is still a shining example in an industry that is often lacking in godliness.  We wish you the very best in your endeavors.

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