Calling All SongwritersExemplo

TOTAL SINGING 

One of my Professors in college once said that most Christians are struggling deeply with their faith because they believe in a “canon within a Canon.” He shared this when talking about the 66-book Canon (or standard) of Scripture. What he meant is that most people cherry-pick verses from the Scriptures in whatever manner they like, and assemble the truths (apart from their context) into beautiful worldview bokeh that fit their taste. 

This idea of churches forming a “canon within a Canon” has shown up in our songwriting as well. It has become our Achilles Heel, and become like a cannon (a gun) to kill the formation of robust kingdom worldviews and hearty truth-filled affectionate giants of the faith. Some churches, in their songs stress God’s love to the neglect of talking of God’s justice. Some churches shout for God’s kingdom and yet fall silent when singing of sin and the cross. Some are infatuated with God’s reign, strength, and power as Reigning King, and have overlooked his posture of a humble servant in the Incarnation through a helpless babe. 

So how do we practically avoid forming our own points of emphasis regarding our “song-writing-discipleship?”   

Songs are to be written and sung in full scope of God’s story. The greatest story ever told is the story of God, as expressed in the complete narrative of the Bible. Therefore, every story and doctrine included in Scripture is intimately important to the world at all levels, and the Bible’s truths are inextricably linked to the whole. What happens in bad biblical teaching and bad singing is that certain doctrines that are savory and tasty to the general populous are elevated above less popular Biblical topics. If people are to truly edify and build each other up in songwriting, we must make sure and write the whole history of God, from Creation to Consummation  (beginning to end).