February 4, 2007

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

Q & A Series: Should We Sing Any Song?

 

Question: Several questions have been asked about the songs that we sing in worship.  They could be asked this way: 1) Does every song in our book accurately express the faith?  Are they biblical?  2) Should we sing patriotic songs in worship?

 

The first question has to do with whether every song and even specific words are biblical; and the second question deals with the attitude toward the USA as a theocracy, or favorite-nation status with God.  Since I have not often discussed songs before, I would like to address these two questions.

 

General Observations

 

We should acknowledge that our songs were not inspired of God as Scripture is inspired.  I could add that neither are preachers today guided by the Holy Spirit; therefore, it is possible for both the preacher and our songs to have errors in them.  Those who lead us in prayers might also express some things that are not exactly true according to Scripture; yet God wants us to preach, sing and pray even though we are uninspired.

 

Some Christians have felt uncomfortable with facing this truth.  They have concluded that we should not have a song book written by men and sing only verses from the Bible.  I met such a family years ago who would not sing from our song book.  The man of the family told me after the services that where they worshipped they sang only Bible passages.  Some examples are Matthew 6:33, 1 John 4:7-8, and Galatians 2:20.  There is nothing wrong with that, except Paul did not say, Sing Bible verses.  Rather, he said, Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  (Eph. 5:19.)  New songs were sung when new occasions arose to express their faith or victory over evil.  David is not the only one in Scripture that wrote psalms or spiritual songs.  Moses and Israel sang after being delivered from Pharaoh’s army. (Exodus 15:1f.)  Then Miriam led the women in dancing and singing.  (Exodus 15:20-21.)  Paul wrote to the Corinthians about several issues concerning worship.  He mentioned that too many wanted to speak in tongues and teach new songs.  “How is it brethren, when you come together, that every one of you has a song?” (1 Cor. 14:26.)

 

Apparently then, God wants us to express our faith and hope in our own songs and expressions.  If they were inspired, they would not be from the worshippers, but from God.  The Psalms in the OT are different from other Scripture in that they are focused God-ward from man.  David expressed some bitter sentiments about enemies and their destruction.  He also expressed many lamentations questioning the presence of God.  God allowed him to lament; he also allows us to do so.  Jesus lamented on the cross saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  On this point, I find it interesting that we do not have songs which express laments.  We have been taught that believers should not question God or cry out in anguish.  I do not hear people questioning the absence of certain songs.  Our songs are not complete in covering every biblical topic.  We know very few songs about the Holy Spirit.

 

We should therefore be careful about picking at every word or phrase that it is used in our songs, prayers or sermons.  We will occasionally make some mistakes in what we say.  The more immature the person is the more errors can be found in his expressions.  I know people feel uncomfortable with that concept because of the prayers that we often hear for preachers.  We use similar expressions that are found in John concerning the Holy Spirit guiding the apostles and bringing to remembrance all that Jesus taught them.  We ask God to give our preachers a good (happy) recollection of what he has studied.  What are we asking?  For inspiration?  We feel uncomfortable with the fact that our preachers are uninspired; that we are not speaking ex-cathedra (from the chair).  Our songs and prayers are also human in nature.  God wanted them to be that way.  Some churches allow only the “priests” to lead in the worship.  They too are afraid of the truth of the form of our worship.

 

Another observation is that we should not demand literal words in our songs.  Complaints are often made if a figure of speech is used.  In one song, the word spilt is used by the writer.  Some claim that this means his blood was accidentally shed, like a child would spill a glass of milk.  I doubt if anyone thinks that when singing that song.  Everyone knows that Jesus went to the cross for a divine purpose.  Besides, the Bible uses figurative words.  We should allow for poetic license in our songs.

 

Our songs follow the KJV in its use of archaic language.  That is, our songs use old English words similar to the KJV, like thee, thine, thou, and thy.  We use illustrations that the younger generation might not understand.  Do we understand the phrase “bringing in the sheaves?”  What about “night with ebon pinion” or “the balm of Gilead?”

 

Generally, I would conclude that we have some great songs written by men and women of faith through the ages.  We owe song writers a great debt of appreciation for their work in providing us with wonderful expressions of our faith and hope.  We have great song writers, though only few in number, in the brotherhood.

 

Unscriptural Songs?

 

Beyond just words that we might question, there are whole songs that have been questioned.  Do they properly express our faith?  Here are some examples.

 

Jesus Is Coming Soon.  Since 1942, this song has been used often in worship assemblies.  Despite constant objections to its scripturalness, it continues to be used.  Is Jesus coming soon?  Well, it has been over 60 years since it was first written, and Jesus has not come yet.  Most Bible students are aware that the Bible teaches that no man knows the day or hour.  (Matt. 24:36.) Many Protestant preaches teach that we are in the last days and near the Second Coming of Jesus.  We might be, but they do not know that.  Jesus did say, “Watch therefore, for you know not the day or the hour when the Son of Man comes.”  (Matt. 25:13.)  This song helps to remind us that it could be soon.  It would be much more difficult to sing “Jesus Might Come Soon.”  It would not express the urgency of Matthew 25;13.  The song is more closely aligned with Matthew 25 than Matthew 24.

 

Just a Little Talk with Jesus.  Several songs express the practice of praying to Jesus.  Another one is “Tell it to Jesus Alone.”  The question is whether we should pray to Jesus as well as to the Father.  It has been a common practice among many Protestants to pray directly to Jesus and in his name.  I must say that this is not as simple a question as it might seem.  I have discussed this topic with several preachers and some of my teachers.  The result has been that there is not a clear consensus on the matter.  Some say, yes, to the practice of praying to Jesus and others say, no.

 

Here is a summary of the discussion.  For centuries until the coming of Jesus, man prayed to the God the Father.  Jesus said to the apostles, “Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name.  Ask and you shall receive that your joy might be full.”  (John 16:23-24.)  Paul wrote: “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”  (Col. 3:17.)  When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he said, “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”  (Matt. 6:9.)  Jesus did not teach the disciples to pray to him after he departed.  He told them to pray to the Father in his name.

 

Others have said that there are NT examples of praying to Jesus.  The ones claimed are: Stephen saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  (Acts 7:59.) Secondly, Paul often began his letters with expressions of thanksgiving to God and to Jesus Christ.  “First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all.”  (Rom. 1:8.)  “I thank Jesus Christ our Lord who hath enabled me, for he counted me faithful, putting me in the ministry.”  (1 Tim. 1:12.)  But just a few passages later, Paul spoke about prayer specifically.  He said that intercessions should be made for all men and that there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.  (1 Tim. 2:5.)

 

Others have added that since Jesus is God, divine in nature, that we should express worship to Jesus equally as we do to the Father.  It is true that Jesus is divine, but so also is the Holy Spirit.  Should we pray to the Spirit?  I do not know of anyone who practices that.  Besides, we can express some aspects of worship to one member of the Godhead and not to another.  For example, the Communion is the communion of the body and blood of Jesus.  It is not the communion of the Father’s or Spirit’s body and blood.  Likewise, when we pray, we speak to the Father alone, in Jesus’ name, and in the Spirit.  (Eph. 6:18, Col. 3:17.)  I am not convinced that there are clear examples of praying to Jesus in the Bible.  We should pray to the Father in Jesus’ name and in the Spirit.

America the Beautiful.  This is song number 801 in Praise for the Lord.  And we have also “America” on page 803.  Should we sing patriotic songs in our worship assemblies?  Of course not.  This has been a common practice over the years to equate patriotism with Christianity.  Many think of America as the chosen country, like Israel of old.  As Israel misunderstood their role in God’s plan, so also have others misunderstood the role of America.  Did God reject all the Gentiles under the Old Testament?  Not according to Romans 3:29.

 

Many countries have made the mistake of developing a strong exclusive nationalism.  In history some noted examples are Germany and Japan.  Even the KKK tried to make the connection between patriotism and participation in the Klan.

 

While we should love the country in which we live, we should not despise citizens of other countries.  Nationalism and patriotism can be nothing more than ugly prejudices against other nationalities and races.  Americans are not favored or more important in the eyes of God than citizens of other countries.  I think some Christians have a mistaken view of the role of America in the eyes of God.  They think that we are a modern Israel. 

 

I would not support the singing of America, or American the Beautiful, in worship to God.  It is worshipping your country, not God.

 

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.  Some brethren refuse to sing this song because they reject the teaching that we are saved by Jesus’ righteousness.  They mistakenly believe that they are saved by their righteousness.  See Does the Holy Spirit Operate Directly Upon the Heart of a Saint?, by Curtis Cates, 202.  They reject the words of the third verse, “Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”  Songs reflect our theology.  Just as some theology is wrong; so also are some songs.  But this song, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less #438, is true to Scripture.