To Whom Are We Singing?

Not long ago I made a comment at Bob Kauflin’s blog “Worship Matters” in regards to using songs on Christian radio in our church services. Here is the comment that I made with the most important point in bold:

We are all dealing with, to a certain extent, Christian songs that are being written with a broader market base in mind. In other words, more and more “industry” people are looking for songs that non-believers can also sing/listen to with their boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse in mind so that it will sell more. Thus, the language in songs has become more and more vague. I don’t mean to throw everyone “under the bus” on this. All I’m saying is that we must have great biblical knowledge and great discernment in our repertoire selections. I constantly ask myself in looking at songs this question: Does this song I’m considering, so unmistakeably declare biblical truths about Christ that it would be difficult to sing it to/about anyone else?

To expand on that last sentence, I would like to ask you, does your church’s music center on Christ so overtly that you couldn’t sing it to your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend?

Here’s an example of a very well-written song by Kelly Carpenter:

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

What I want to suggest to you is that this song is not clear enough as to whom it is sung. It might be a bit of a stretch but I could almost sing this song to a lover (my wife). You might respond, “But isn’t heart passion directed toward Christ important? Isn’t He the ‘Lover of my soul?” I would say “absolutely”. But our relation to Christ is in relation to His death, burial, and resurrection.

It is not specific enough to regularly sing nebulous songs of emotion toward “You” (whoever that may be) that is not rooted in the Gospel. Why are there more and more songs being written in this vein? I go back to what I said in the beginning of my quote. The Christian music industry is constantly looking to expand its market. That market has very little to do with whether or not it is selling to regenerate or unregenerate customers. Dollars are the bottom line.

So in selecting the music for your church’s song service, make sure that if you use a song like “Draw me close” that you have adequately declared the gospel so that your congregation is singing to “You” in that context. We don’t do this particular song at Grace Life Church because of its vagueness. I would much prefer a song that has the same theme as “Draw me close” (consecration/progressive sanctification/perseverance/repentance) but is centered on Christ’s work as expressed in the Gospel like this one (I’ll only state the first verse):

Come Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the Mount—I’m fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Before you make the mistake of thinking that I’m purposefully selecting an old hymn over a newer chorus—don’t. There are plenty of new, glorious, wonderful songs that more directly, more overtly, more purposefully express a gospel-centered affection.

Brother Music Minister, make sure that the music your church is singing cannot be sung to or about anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ!