Finding the right song...

 Psalm 57:7 "My heart is steadfast, O God. My heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord among the nations. I will sing of You among the peoples.

Hillsong United Concert- August, 2011

At church one Sunday, a man in my church told me he needed to talk to me. He then asked me to sit down. At first I thought I was going to get a lecture about something I had done or needed to do (even though I couldn’t think of anything), but the tone of the conversation quickly changed. Before I knew it, this man was apologizing to me. Earlier in that week he mentioned a Christian singer and asked me if I knew who she was. When I had no idea, he chuckled. I thought nothing of it, but apparently he thought about it all week. That weekend he had attended a church service in which the praise band was “horrible” in his own words. Then the tears started (not mine, but his!) and he remained quiet as he just cried in that pew.  When he started to talk again, he said he felt so convicted about judging this band and me for our taste in music. He mentioned that he realized how God quickly made him realize that this band was praising God and it didn’t matter if their tempo was slow or he understood their words- their hearts were right. And isn’t that the point of worship? Our hearts?!

Unfortunately, music is one of the most divisive aspects of the church today. If it’s not a hymn, it’s a sin. If it’s not drums, it’s boring. We see such a generational gap in the music in our churches and it is hurting the body of Christ. I have to admit, I have complained about the slow tempo of the hymns in which words like “thou” and “diadem” are used. What is a royal diadem anyway?! However, in that moment on that pew next to this man who was crying, my heart broke. Was I being part of the solution or part of the problem?  Actually, what is the problem and what is the solution? Was my taste in music blocking out the opportunity for me to worship as well?

Is there anything wrong with preferring one type of music over another? Absolutely not! I would much prefer some good rap or hip hop over country music any day, but the problem stems not from our taste in music, but in our thirst for the Lord. If we can find ourselves swept away in worship, does it really matter who is on stage? No, it is Who we are making the center of our attention. Is it that lead singer or our Creator? Does it matter how fast the beat goes? No- it is the beating of our hearts and Who our heart beats for. So as we argue about this song or that genre, where does the focus turn? We, as Christians, spend more time complaining than we do worshipping. So it’s not that music that is the problem-  it’s our hearts… What song is your heart singing?

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus