Sing with Understanding
1 Corinthians 14:15
As I study all of these songs - I see them falling into 5 categories
Doctrinal error
Not accurate in some detail
Subject to interpretation – more than one meaning
Songs that send a wrong message
Poetic license
Is not a psalm, hymn or spiritual song
The largest group is - POETIC LICENSE - Many of us just misunderstand the meaning or fail to see there can be more than one meaning to a poetic phrase.
Doctrinal Error
# 11 Jesus is Coming Soon – Jesus 1,000 year reign on earth
#25 Turn Your Radio On – Saved listening to radio
#26 I’ll Live in Glory – We should not want to “stay here longer”
#17 Jesus is Coming Soon – We don’t know the time of 2nd coming
Not Accurate in some detail
# 22 O Holy Night – has wise men at manger
# 23He Could have called 10,000 Angels – 12 legion = 72,000
#33 We Three Kings – Wise men not “kings”, don’t know there were 3 of them
Subject to Interpretation
#3 Break Bread of Life – beyond the sacred page = extra biblical?
#1 Mansions Over the Hilltop – Selfish, “I” too many times
Sends a Wrong Message
Singing birth of Christ songs in December – teaches what we deny
Only singing resurrection songs on Easter
#24 The Old Rugged Cross – sounds like we worship the cross
# 9 Showers of Blessing – Now we are just getting a drizzle – we want more!
Poetic License
#4 Amazing Grace – the hour I first believed – faith only?
#27 – In the Garden – Was author talking about us or Mary?
#28 My God and I – “go unendingly” teach OSAS?
#32 Living by Faith – “will return to this earth some sweet day” – premill or return in clouds?
#30 Why Not Tonight? – “Believe, obey, the work is done” – teaches OSAS?
Not a psalm, hymn or spiritual song
#2 – Precious Memories – only chorus is OK
#8 America the Beautiful – patriotic, not spiritual
#13 My Country ‘Tis of Thee – not a hymn
#14 Little Brown Church in Wildwood – about a building
#18 Faith of our Fathers – Reformation leaders – Luther, Calvin, etc.
Conclusion:
Be aware of the words – meaning and message
Sing with spirit – sing with understanding
We teach and admonish in song – don’t teach error
[NOTE: I did a survey on a couple of mail lists for songs that, in their mind is questionable in some way. Here is the list from those who responded.]
SUMMARY LIST OF SONGS AND COMPLAINTS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS
1. Mansions Over the Hilltop – “I” too many times, selfish desire
2. Precious Memories – nothing religious (except chorus)
3. Break Thou the Bread of Life - "beyond the sacred page, I seek thee Lord" implies that there is some source of knowledge beyond the "sacred page" of scripture
4. Amazing Grace – “the hour I first believed” sounds like faith only
5. I’ll Fly Away – teaches that we go straight to heaven
6. Where Roses Never Fade – teaches that we go straight to heaven
7. No, Not One – verse not in all books - "Will he refuse saints a home in heaven? No, Not One" – implies once saved, always saved
8. America, the Beautiful--The whole song, it is praising America not the Lord
9. Showers of Blessings--Mercy drops round us are falling but for the showers we pled--I don't think we received just drops of blessings from God, I think we are all receiving showers, therefore we are praying for something that is not true.
10. Kneel At the Cross--Kneel at the cross, Christ will meet you there--This sounds like mourners bench salvation to me. Yes, in a way Christ meets us at the cross, but everything I hear this song (and I don't sing it), all I can think of is my childhood days going to denominational meetings and the people being dragged to the mourners bench.
11. Jesus is Coming Soon-The whole song is premillennial. It has a really nice snappy tune, but teaches error.
12. God Will Take Care of You - there is a verse that says "nothing you ask will be denied". Is that true? I don't believe that God will never say "no" to something we pray for.
13. My Country ‘Tis of Thee- This is not a hymn
14. Little Church in the Wildwood – It is about a church building, not the Lord's church
15. ‘Tis Midnight and on Olives Brow - The questionable phrase is its reference to "ether plains."
16. All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name - There was a big discussion of songs folks thought were unscriptural back in the 1960's which got way out of hand!
17. Jesus is Coming Soon – One verse - “Troubles will soon be o’er, happy forever more; when we meet on that shore free from all care, rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye, homeward then we will fly glory to share.” The “signs” are about destruction of Jerusalem.
18. Faith of our Fathers – Who are these “fathers” of faith? The song is about the reformation leaders – Luther, Calvin, etc.
19. Just A Little Talk With Jesus – At one congregation they even had "do not use" stamped on the page. They thought the song gave the impression that one could be saved through prayer only, leaving out baptism. Some question if we can talk to Jesus or go through Jesus to talk with God.
20. Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul – This song teaches a direct operation of the Holy Spirit
21. Soon and Very Soon – Sounds like we know when Jesus will return
22. O Holy Night – Has the wise men standing beside the cradle (manger) – Fact – Jesus was 2 years old, living in a house, when the wise men arrived
23. He could have called ten thousand angels – A legion is about 6,000 – 12 legions = 72,000 angels –
24. The Old Rugged Cross – Sounds like we are worshipping the cross
25. Turn Your Radio On – “Gospel Music” on the radio is not proper worship
26. I'll Live In Glory - first line says - I'd like to stay here longer than man's allotted days and watch the fleeting changes of life's uneven ways, but if my savior calls me to that sweet home on high I'll live with him forever in glory by and by. It is questionable that we should ever say we'd rather stay here on earth but we'll go on and go to heaven if He calls us home.
27. In the Garden – Does Jesus speak to us outside of Scripture? “And the melody He gave to me” claims direct inspiration
28. My God and I – “Go in the fields together, we walk and talk” “God and I will go unendingly” – teaches once saved, always saved
29. This is My Father’s Word – “In the rustling grass, I hear him pass, He speaks to me everywhere” sounds like extra-biblical revelation
30. O Why Not Tonight – “believe, obey the work is done” – that implies once saved, always saved
31. Let Him Have His Way With Thee – “Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest? – The kingdom and church are the same – we need to be working, how can we rest constantly?
32. Living By Faith – “Christ will return to this earth some sweet day” – teaches premillennialism
33. We Three Kings – The Bible does not teach there were 3 wise men
34. Devotional Songs – Many imply Holy Spirit leading