Suggestions For Selecting Songs
If a congregation would begin serving the fruit of vine in six ounce portions, there would be criticism. Of course the scriptures do not specify the amount to be taken and it might be a bit difficult to prove such a serving sinful. But prudent brethren would be quick to point out the tendency to make of the Lord's supper a physical refreshment rather than a spiritual exercise.
There is danger of the same misdirection in our singing. Too often song books are selected and songs chosen for their entertainment value rather than for their worship value. It is not always possible to show that such songs are unscriptural - it is simply that their appeal is to the flesh more than to the spirit.
If there is any area in which we should be tolerant of the preferences of others it is in this, so long as no principle is involved. We must remember that tastes vary because of background and training. Some appreciate the music of the classic composers and the poetry of the literary masters. Other consider these too cold and formal and prefer to express their worship to God through simpler forms. Therefore, "Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others." (Phil. 2:3,4)
There are, however, some characteristics which may make a song altogether unsuitable for public worship. Such songs should be avoided.
Songs that are unscriptural should not be used. While we do not encourage the hypercritical attitude which rejects all figurative language and reads into every poetic phrase the worst possible connotation, we do urge caution. One or two of the best books in use among churches still contain songs which teach premillennialism and other errors. Song leaders should certainly read through songs before leading them regardless of the book being used.
Songs that are too difficult to sing should be omitted. There are songs that are too high or too low or too fast or too difficult for the average Christian to sing. It seems out of place to use them in worship. We may as well have a choir as to sing songs which by their very nature exclude part of the congregation. Of course, we are not objecting here to the use of new songs - some should be used on a regular basis. However, even then it is best to sing no more than one at a service - better still to learn them in a period set aside for practice.
Songs that encourage exhibition should be avoided. Songs are sometime selected to give opportunity for a low-down bass to rattle the rafters or a strong alto to show off on the lead, or possibly to allow the leader to demonstrate his skill. Poorer reasons for selecting a song can scarcely be imagined. The right kind of singing directs attention to God. Anything designed to attract attention to human performance defeats our efforts at worship.
Songs dominated by the rhythm or harmony are unsuitable for worship. The words and sentiments are the important part of the song; the music is but an aid to the expression of the words and a means of impressing more deeply the sentiment. When the music steals attention from the words and sentiments, it defeats its own purpose. Many songs are used and remembered almost entirely for some peculiarity a staccato rhythm, a solid beat, a bass lead, or the like. Such songs are often almost totally lacking in words that make any sense and are often at best but the repetition of some simple idea over and over in varying musical form.
Sometimes we wonder why some rather unsavory characters become so taken up with "gospel singing." This may be no credit to them. It may be that their interest is more in the singing than in the gospel. They pay little or no attention to the words and often the music is little different from the rock and roll music whose appeal is so strongly to the flesh.
Let us not frown at songs because they do not satisfy our own aesthetic preference, whether we consider them above it or below it. But let us emphasize the sentiment rather than the music, the sacred rather than the human, the spiritual rather than the physical. And let us select our songs accordingly.