Sing A New Song To The Lord … But Is It Too Much For The Congregation?

Fred McKinnon wrote a great blog column recently.  This is an unprecedented time in the history of songs written for worship.  Digital technology, the internet, education and capitalistic market forces have created a “perfect storm” of new worship music — not a day goes by that some record label or indie singer/worship leader doesn’t release a new CD.

Churches try to keep up, having their worship teams remain “relevant” by learning new songs for their congregational gatherings.  But how much is too much?  When does it become just one big noise, or when does a congregation morph into a group of spectators because, among other reasons, they simply cannot learn all the new songs and so they either grow disenchanted or just decide to “sit back and enjoy the show?”

Last May, I responded to a question one of the Sojourn songwriters asked about our own songwriting open submission periods (times during which I solicit and collect songs from our writers, encouraging and occasionally collaborating with writers along the way, before turning all the songs in to our worship arts pastor, Mike Cosper).  I said:

… remember not to get discouraged if a song doesn’t make it. Realistically, we can only sing so many songs per service, and the universal Church has such a wonderful, rich heritage of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to choose from that there is only so much room at any given point in time for new worship songs. Even if I were the only writer at Sojourn and the pastor loved all my songs, there is no way we could use them all. Or even half of them.

But also remember that, if God has given you a gift and told you to write songs for Him, there are tons of ways He can use them besides, or in addition to, the corporate worship service. Your community group might be blessed by them. Church plants or youth rallies might be blessed by them. You could record them and put them on a website. And of course, never forget or look down on the fact that God loves to hear you sing alone to him at your bedside, regardless of the quality of your voice or instrumental skills. Just write, play and sing your songs to Him with a humble heart. He will do with it as He pleases and carry it where He pleases. And He will be pleased, Himself.

What I would add when addressing Christians everywhere, from many different churches, is that I’m glad to be a part of a church that has a balanced approach in culling songs for the repertoire.  We use classic hymns, because it connects us with our heritage while also presenting a depth of theology that is hard to find in modern worship music.  We also use great songs by popular modern worship writers like Matt Redman, Keith and Kristin Getty, Chris Tomlin and Michael Pritzl.  And then we use songs written by our own writers.

Not every church is going to have songwriters — and it’s hardly something to wring your hands over if God hasn’t gifted your congregation in this way.  Songwriting is not essential to the health of a church — the gospel is.  But songwriting is a wonderful tool for presenting the gospel, and if God does bless your church by raising up those from your own congregation to write songs of praise, lamentation, confession, assurance and adoration, then encourage it.

Will every new song stand the proverbial “test of time”?  No.  Nor will most of the worship songs being recorded in Nashville these days.  Will other churches use every — or any — contemporary hymn written by someone in your congregation?  No … in fact, it’s rare when any song written by an “unknown” writer “makes it.”  It may just be a tool that God uses in the life of your local church body. 

But it is good — in fact it’s commanded — to sing new songs to the Lord.  We just need to be wise about how many we throw into the corporate service mix at any one time, and then to wisely integrate them into the life of the church.  One way in which Sojourn does this is through our CDs.  By recording some of our original songs, we know that our congregation will begin to grow familiar with the songs and will better be able to sing along in our services.

Of course there are other ways to succesfully introduce new songs and help a congregation become familar with them.  Feel free to post any ideas you have or explain how your church does this.