4. Is the content of your church music biblically sound?
This question has become more prevalent as modern Christian music has developed. No doubt you have heard the phrase "7-11 songs," those songs that have seven words and we sing them eleven times. These seemed popular mostly as I was growing up near the turn of the millennium (at least, the music I was listening to was like that). These days that has developed into singing about a concept in as many ways as possible without developing the idea further. For example, a song could say how much we (the singers) love God, and yet never explain why. This kind of song has been coined the "Jesus is my girlfriend" song, where the lyrics sound like you could interchange Jesus' name with your significant other's.
This question has become more prevalent as modern Christian music has developed. No doubt you have heard the phrase "7-11 songs," those songs that have seven words and we sing them eleven times. These seemed popular mostly as I was growing up near the turn of the millennium (at least, the music I was listening to was like that). These days that has developed into singing about a concept in as many ways as possible without developing the idea further. For example, a song could say how much we (the singers) love God, and yet never explain why. This kind of song has been coined the "Jesus is my girlfriend" song, where the lyrics sound like you could interchange Jesus' name with your significant other's.
Compare this with something like Psalm 66:
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch in the nations -- let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance (vv.5-12).
Instead of singing just that we love God, we are singing about reasons why we love God, because of who He is and what He has done. These are the meatier songs that really drive us to that love of God. Hymns especially facilitate this. I have a number of hymnals in my possession, and there are times I will just read the lyrics to hymns. Without any of the music, they can still encourage the soul.
Contrast that with these "Jesus is my girlfriend" songs. When singing these types of songs, much more importance is put upon feelings instead of Gospel knowledge. You may be truly praising God, but for what? There have been many Sunday mornings where I have come to church with a heart that is not turned toward God, and a song based on feelings is going to do nothing for me. I'll simply choose not to sing because I cannot sing it truthfully. Here's a video I discovered recently of Alistair Begg addressing this very issue:
Feelings can be very fickle, and there is no reason why our worship of the One True God should be determined by them. Paul understood this as he wrote from prison to the church in Philippi: "I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear" (Philippians 1:12-14). Paul had every right to be disappointed, angry, or any other range of emotions about his imprisonment, but instead he was fueled by the fact that his being in prison meant that the gospel was being proclaimed in new ways and new places. His knowledge about what God was doing determined his emotions, not the other way around. The lyrics of the songs we sing on the weekends ought to be fueled in this same way.
I know this may sound like I think we ought to sing only hymns since they incorporate so much depth into their lyrics. I can assure you this is not the case. There are still many people writing strong songs full of truth for the church today. And there are times when a theologically lighter song can be used properly. At my home church we used to sing the chorus and bridge of "Glory to God Forever" occasionally as a response after another song. There's not much lyrical depth in those parts of the song (the chorus is literally four words), but it can serve as a perfect response to a song that declares the work of God. The problem comes when your musical diet is made up entirely of light songs. Your theology begins to diminish because you are not reminding yourself of Gospel truth as you sing.
Music has a way of keeping things at the forefront of your mind. You leave church humming the tunes that you sang, which reminds you of the lyrics. The melody of the songs can help you memorize the lyrics. The question is, what are the kinds of lyrics you are placing in your mind? Are you reiterating Gospel truth to yourself through music?
(Afterword: There have been many worship/recording artists who are giving a modern twist to classic hymns, and many of them are worth incorporating into your musical diet. The Gettys have been writing modern hymns for a number of years. Jimmy Needham is releasing a hymns record early September that is stellar, with a bit of a jazzy bent. Page CXVI has done a number of EPs of old hymns and gospel songs that are more conducive to listening and encouraging your own heart than as congregational singing. Jadon Lavik's two hymns albums are wonderful as well. Also be sure to take a listen to any of Enfield's albums; they are chock full of Gospel truth.)