There are those who think the only worship songs that are “anointed” by God are from a different century and there are those who think songs they heard on their local Christian radio yesterday are the “new thing” God is doing. They are both right, but that does not mean we should sing them in church every week ad-nauseum. Let me get right to it; here are my top 10 worship songs I would obliterate from the worship canonical
Let it Rain– Sorry Michael W., It’s rained and now it’s got to go. I want to see the rainbow.
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). Love the older version, the newer one has become the new funeral song. Sorry Chris T., it’s got to go.
Shout to the Lord – Yep, it has to go. It’s too epic and crashendo-ee.
Days of Elijah– Elijah told me himself, “I wish they would stop using my name to sell records.”
Friend of God– I get it, I am God’s friend, I am thankful, but can we move on now?
Revelation Song– If you sing it a thousand times, it’s no longer a revelation. It’s annoying.
How He Loves– Sorry, it’s become a juke box song. Don’t push that button.
Lord I Lift Your Name On High– It was better camp song than a church song. Let’s leave it there.
How Great Is Our God– I do not deny this at all. I am just over it.
Any song sung at a popular revival– I don’t care how many times you play it or sing it, the results will not be the same.
There are reasons why these songs make my list. The major one is that they have all been beaten to death by being over sung. Think about your own reaction to my list. Does it describe any of your own preferences or reveal and of your own biases? Whether you think I am a heretic or hero, I am still a worshipper who loves God and wants to have a powerful experience worshipping God just like you, with you, every week.
If our church plays any of these songs, I am still going to sing, wether it becomes worship or not is a choice I have to make. Folding my arms and waiting for the song to be over is not the solution to developing a heart of worship. Conflict over worship styles, songs, and practice are not a modern problem. Jesus had a similar discussion with a woman at a well, and it was more about location than style.
““Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” John 4: 19-20
The woman wanted to debate Jesus about worship. Jesus would have not of it. Jesus got to the crux of the matter
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Can you imagine singing Friend of God in heaven. I can just picture Jesus saying, “Umm, hey, I’m right here.” In heaven, we will sing neither the old songs or the new songs, but A New Song, one we have never sung before, and it will be glorious, powerful, and sung together, in unison, and face to face to the ONE we should be focusing on in our churches every week.
What worship song would you like to send into the void, never to return?
Has your worship bias been holding you back from having a powerful worship experience?
Tomorrow: Developing A Heart of Worship In Youth Ministry