A thought struck me the other day: it seems that there are a lot more decent modern worship songs out there at the moment than there were around ten years ago. I’ve not always been a fan of modern Christian music, but it does seem that the game has been kicked up a notch of late. (Check out the We Are Worship website for some examples).
One reason I think different is because my opinion on worship songs has changed a bit: in the past I would have preferred hymns or songs which were theologically ‘rich’: “if it doesn’t go through a chapter of Grudem’s Systematic Theology I don’t want to know”! But one of the things I’ve realised over the past couple of years is that it’s OK for songs to be simple sometimes. If a congregation sung three or four EMU or Sovereign Grace style songs in a row, it would be exhausting!
This may be a tad controversial at my theological college (ahem), but I believe sometimes what is needed is something more emotionally-driven, something which allows an individual to express an honest feeling to God, as well as times to declare truths about God to each other. In short, I think I’d say the important thing is balance here – trying to sing songs which are theologically rich as well as lighter songs which allow people to express themselves.