Did you ever find yourself in a Sunday Morning Service singing a beautiful, Spirit filled, God honoring, Blessed gospel hymn? One of those hymns that your mamaw would play on a good ole high back piano and she did it for Jesus as she suffered through it with a smile! She wasn’t going to let her arthritis stop her! You remember singing that song when Uncle Joe or little Bubba who you had been praying for for so long came down the aisle and was gloriously saved by the blood of Jesus! For me, I get that feeling and remember back to when I was 7 or 8 years old in a rented school gym in Mississauga, Canada singing my heart out to “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder”. Is it just me or did the sun previously shine a little more golden, was the sky crisper and bluer and didn’t people seem to be more sincere in their singing? What happen? ........ Wake Up! You got older!
Five to Ten years ago teenagers and college age students (And many older adults as well like myself) were singing the following songs and listening to them on Christian Radio. 1. How Great Is Our God, 2. Mighty To Save, 3. Our God Is Greater, 4. Blessed Be Your Name, 5. Here I Am To Worship, 6. Revelation Song, 7. Everlasting God, 8. Amazing Grace(My Chains Are Gone), 9. Jesus Messiah, 10. In Christ Alone, 11. Your Grace Is Enough, 12. Forever, 13. Open The Eyes Of My Heart, 14. Forever Reign, 15. How He Loves, 16. You Are My King(Amazing Love), 17. Holy Is The Lord, 18. From The Inside Out, 19. Hosanna, 20. Shout To The Lord, 21. Come Now Is The Time, 22. The Stand, 23. Hosanna(Praise Is Rising), 24. Lord I Lift Your Name On High, 25. Glory To God Forever, 26. How Great Thou Art.
This is the CCLI top 26 most commonly used song list from 2012. This list was compiled by a survey sent out to 150,000 churches across North America. These are the songs that mean something to this generation. Ten years later (which is now) when they are having families, raising children and looking for churches to join they are going to look for churches that sing these songs. Why? Because that was the song being sung when they got saved at church camp! That was the song that was playing on the radio when they got the courage to share their faith with their best friend when they were driving down the highway. Tell me, wasn’t the sun shining a little more golden that day? Wasn’t the sky a little crisper and bluer and didn’t people seem to be more sincere back then? You may choose to not go to a church that doesn’t sing songs you like or prefer…..Hey, guess what? The next generation does the same thing! You’re the same!
Some will object and say “But these new songs take out “The Blood””. Stop reading e-mails from people who make stuff up or repeat things because it supports their preference without checking it out! Apparently they never checked out the lyrics to “You Are My King” or “In Christ Alone” which has been banned by some denominations because it speaks of the wrath of God!
Some will object and say “But these new songs say the same thing and repeat themselves over and over and over!” Really? Apparently you haven’t sung “Standing On The Promises” or “Blessed Be Your Name” out of the old hymn book lately. Maybe you need to be reminded of Psalm 136 and the inspired repetition of the words in that song.
Some will object and say “I don’t like these new instruments and those drums”. Maybe you have forgotten that King David invented a new musical instrument in his day and commanded that it be used in worship! For those of you who don’t want drums in church is it not hypocrisy for you to sing songs to an mp3, CD or cassette in church that has drums in it?
In conclusion, we wonder where all the 19-49’s have gone from our churches? Maybe it’s because many of them have chosen their likes, preferences and feelings just like many of us have! Obviously this isn't the only reason but one that is having a negative impact. When we point the finger we have three pointing back at us. Let us not be guilty of trying to enforce on others the song styles, the preference of what is in our church names and the translations we like as "The Commandments Of God" and somehow more spiritual than theirs!
Watch this video of my son Matthew getting his worship on! Enjoy!
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