As a worship leader, I’m continually evaluating the theological merits of songs which we could do at our church.  Anytime I hear a new CD, I spend time reading the lyrics before I ever press play.  Lyrics to hymns like “He Leadeth Me,” “Peaceful Bower,” “As Thy Days” and “How Firm a Foundation” are excellent at communicating the truths of the gospel or truths which result from the gospel…why would anyone ever sing crap?  Because it’s catchy.

People sing “Nothing Is As Wonderful” (an old Vineyard chorus) or even “Hosanna” by Hillsong, where I take real issue with the line, “I see a near-revival coming as we pray and sing.”  What the heck is THAT mess??

“But Dave, it’s only one line.”

Every line counts. Ever notice how a person will remember the one part of a story that’s fictional?  It’s like we’re drawn to repeat lies (intentional or otherwise) like a glutton toward food or drink or whatever makes him gluttonous.  Singing even one line that makes no sense or isn’t completely true is disaster.  This is why I won’t ever do the song “Here Is Our King” by David Crowder, unless it was just the chorus, joined to different verses.  The verses are a mish-mesh of nothing.  Don’t believe me?  Read them and then I challenge you to make actual sense out of them.  You won’t be able to, I promise.

In the preface to the 1838 edition of his now-famous hymn collection, William Gadsby began thus:

To be employed with the solemn pleasure in singing the praises of God with the spirit and with the understanding  also, is a blessing peculiar to God’s elect; nor can even they be thus engaged, only as the blessed Spirit influences the mind, and favors them with the unction of his grace.  It is one thing to have the ear charmed, and another to have the heart engaged in this most delightful part of God’s worship in his church below.  “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound.”

Continue reading →

One might wonder why in the heading of my blog there are a collection of hymnals.  I am a worship leader and collect hymnals of high caliber on which to draw Christ-centered, cross-focused texts which exhort God’s people to worship on the basis of Christ and Him crucified for their sins.  I compose original melodies as well as arrange old ones so that the Church may be edified in singing these timeless truths.  William Gadsby (1773-1844) was a pastor and hymnwriter who compiled the first edition of his hymnal on in 1832.  I have a copy of the final text-only edition in my possession (recent reprint by Old Paths Gospel Press).  #662 gives us the sum and substance of Christian worship.

Continue reading →