Writing theme specific worship songs for YOUR church

Walk into a church in America and you are likely to hear songs you are familiar with. Non-denominational, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Christian; the name above the door doesn’t matter. The music is the same. Those churches which are traditional minded will sing Hymns such as “How Great Thou Art, Crown Him with Many Crowns,  or Rock of Ages.”  Contemporary minded churches will be singing “I will not be shaken, The Potters Hand, or Revelation Song.”

 

Where is the music that explores and teaches about the core beliefs, doctrines and teachings of your specific church group? All of those songs mentioned are great songs for the church to sing, and they can be very effective in worship. But they are theologically vanilla, dealing with the same themes that can be applied to most every church in America.

Each week, your church meets, and the songs you sing are predictable. We’re in a theological Starbucks, and we’re all drinking the same latte. That’s not bad, but it’s like everything else on the menu has been wiped clean. Where are the songs that deal with the biblical analogies of baptism, the responsibilities of the presbyters, the meanings of the Lord’s Supper, or the pre, post, or a-millennial views? Where are the songs that your church specifically identifies with. Let me tell you. They haven’t been written yet!

I’m a member of the independent branch of the restoration movement churches. We’re kissing cousins with the disciples of Christ churches as well as the non-instrumental church of Christ. And we have no specific music among us that teaches the doctrines that all of those churches embrace! Though there are well over a million members of Restoration Movement churches, there has been very little effort made to develop music that deals with the themes of emphasis. We have no theme specific songs for worship.

I’m betting your church is in the same boat.

Music as a tool of education seems to have been downplayed. The church has been more interested in waging internal worship wars over the style of music that will be used. Contemporary worship music and Hymns both exalt God and deal with His incredible qualities as well as our own relationship with God. But music also can deal with a number of teaching issues, something that our churches are entirely lacking.

Churches of the Restoration Movement will recognize that the weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper and the importance of baptism are foundational teachings. Yet, there is no distinctive music that these churches sing to teach and confirm these beliefs. They sing the same old hymns that every other church sings. Many of those hymns are excellent. But that music does not address the design, import, or modes of either of those two doctrines.

What about your church? If you’re a member of a denominational church, do you know if your church supports songwriters who can create songs that can be used in worship to celebrate the core beliefs of your church? I’d be interested in knowing if there are any churches out there who are tapping into this tremendously powerful teaching medium to educate and affirm the beliefs of your church.

I’ve written a number worship songs that I’ve used at the churches I’ve served about the Lord’s Supper and baptism. My church needs to focus on putting together a concerted effort to create theme specific music that will not only enhance worship, but teach our core biblical teachings. I’m involved in dialogue with ministers and music ministers among our church brotherhood.

Dialogue is the first step. Talking about the need and visualizing the potential are required in order for us to address this issue. My vision is for a group of committed songwriters to begin to collaborate on creating exciting, fresh worship songs that people among the restoration movement churches can be excited to sing. If you’re a part of those churches, write me and let’s visit.

If you’re interested in brainstorming ways to harvest and disseminate theme specific worship songs for your church, check into what has been done and if you have questions or want to visit, write me.