(Psa. 47:7) “Sing ye praises with understanding.”
(1Co 14:15) “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

I confess! I have sung the same songs in church all my life, and many times I don’t even think about the meaning of the words.

For a few months now, I have been without a music “director” at our church (Mt. Jackson Baptist Church). At first I thought this would be only temporary. I expected God to quickly bring someone along to do the job (and I still hope for a great musician with a heart for God). But He has not yet.

Trying to lead the music and preach the sermon is very taxing! This past Sunday I had another man preach, and I only had to think about music. It was FUN! I could really think about the words and message of the songs.

Now I am not against contemporary music. I like some of it. I think the melody and words of some newer songs are superb. But a lot of the new stuff does not measure up to what I consider “quality music.” I like almost every genre of music (except rap). But I want the music to be quality (whatever the genre). And I think most Christian music is still a few steps behind secular music.

Good music (Christian or secular) must go beyond melody and harmony and rhythm and rhyme. Music must make us “muse”!

Chas
7/17/07