[Worship] objecting to songs

["Bruce Johnson" <bjohnson@worshipmap.com>]

"Chey" <newsong@ev1.net> writes:

> The reason I KEEP asking about the song is because the lyrics
> would have to be questionable in the first place to even warrant
>an objection.
> The song being goofy isn't enough....unless there is a reason behind it
>that makes it seem wrong to use.

There are those who would say the approach should be to place the
bar very high for IN-cluding songs (making them "earn" a spot), rather than
simply asking whether the weaknesses are serious enough to EX-clude
a song.

But I don't think that's quite what you're talking about.  And I agree
that we need to be careful about objecting to a song that another is using,
to be sure it's a matter of substance.    It isn't always appropriate to
object  to something we don't think is a good choice.. or that
we would not recommend using.

But this does raise some interesting, and sometimes awkward questions,
about how a group of people in a church go about choosing which songs
to put IN the repertoire, which to exclude or retire.

What if our repertoire includes many songs which are not 'objectionable'
in the sense of containing heresy or serious error, but which which don't
make much of a positive contribution. . .don't really ADD anything to our
worship?

Similarly, what do we do when our repertoire has a whole lot of some types
or songs, and few or none of others?

IOW, what do we do if the songs we sing--taken as a WHOLE-- do not
present a 'balanced' picture, but neglect important aspects of the truth, of
the gospel and how we should be responding to God?

Its a tough issue to address in a church.   Many churches, I suspect,
never really address it.

For those who help to choose songs to add in your church,  do you or others
involved in this process have any way of reviewing songs you are thinking of
using (perhaps also after you're using them) that includes considering
whether they are a helpful addition to YOUR repertoire?     Do you have
in mind certain sorts of songs (or subjects of songs) that you are on the
look out for because they include things your repertoire isn't 'saying'
very well?

I ask this in part because I have my own ideas about this, but also because
it is an issue I am urging others in our church to consider more
carefully -- and to talk about amongst the group (of those of us who
recommend and/or introduce songs), not just do it all individually.
But it can be a sensitive issue.  Any support  or tips on how to handle
it would be appreciated!

Bruce Johnson
www.worshipmap.com












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