Why? Part 1
I was asked the other day how I am led to the songs that I choose for the choir to sing. I want this blog to always be encouragements from Scripture, and I hope that over the next few weeks as I explain procedure that you will still very much be ministered to in how it is tied to Scripture.
This week I want to talk about the most important element of the song…the lyric. There is a set of criteria I use for analyzing the lyrics.
1. Is it Scriptural? Obviously this is the most important aspect of any song that is being used for worship of the Lord Jesus. There are many cool grooving songs that are written that claim to be worship songs that fail this first step.
2. Is it sing-able? Do the words make sense and easily understandable by the worshipper? Are they corny lyrically? I received a song in one of the packets a few weeks ago called “Don’t Get Me Started.” I thought it was an interesting title…well after I read the words guess where that song went…you are right straight to the trash. CORN CITY!!!!
3. Is it usable in this setting? Again, there are many wonderful songs out there that meet the first two requirements lyrically but will never be used here at Wedgwood. Why? Because they don’t head us in the direction of the vision.
4. Are the words vertical or horizontal? I lean toward the vertical…not to say that we don’t proclaim statements of our faith through music. Psalm 33:3 weighs heavily when I am analyzing lyrics…sing TO Him, not about Him. But of course you can and will continue to see many songs that come across Wedgworship that are proclamations.
So that is the criteria for choosing a particular song lyrically. Next week I will talk about the music itself.
Have a great week.
pb
I was asked the other day how I am led to the songs that I choose for the choir to sing. I want this blog to always be encouragements from Scripture, and I hope that over the next few weeks as I explain procedure that you will still very much be ministered to in how it is tied to Scripture.
This week I want to talk about the most important element of the song…the lyric. There is a set of criteria I use for analyzing the lyrics.
1. Is it Scriptural? Obviously this is the most important aspect of any song that is being used for worship of the Lord Jesus. There are many cool grooving songs that are written that claim to be worship songs that fail this first step.
2. Is it sing-able? Do the words make sense and easily understandable by the worshipper? Are they corny lyrically? I received a song in one of the packets a few weeks ago called “Don’t Get Me Started.” I thought it was an interesting title…well after I read the words guess where that song went…you are right straight to the trash. CORN CITY!!!!
3. Is it usable in this setting? Again, there are many wonderful songs out there that meet the first two requirements lyrically but will never be used here at Wedgwood. Why? Because they don’t head us in the direction of the vision.
4. Are the words vertical or horizontal? I lean toward the vertical…not to say that we don’t proclaim statements of our faith through music. Psalm 33:3 weighs heavily when I am analyzing lyrics…sing TO Him, not about Him. But of course you can and will continue to see many songs that come across Wedgworship that are proclamations.
So that is the criteria for choosing a particular song lyrically. Next week I will talk about the music itself.
Have a great week.
pb
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