Question: When we worship the Lord through singing, why do you choose to sing songs that repeat the same words over and over again? Why aren't more hymns sung?
Answer: These are two questions that are best discussed person-to-person, seated in plush leather chairs, drinking a steaming cup of coffee. Then again, any questions are best discussed in that setting. So, since that's not an option (although give me a call if you'd like to meet me at the coffeehouse of your choice), grab your own mug of java and read on for a few of my reactions and thoughts concerning the aforementioned questions.
My first thought - a rather defensive thought I'll admit - is that we actually do sing quite a few meaty, theologically rich songs, many of them being hymns. But I don't think that's the point of the question. I think the thrust of the question is trying to wrestle with the issues of why we choose the songs that we do - in other words, what makes a good congregational worship song? Although many factors are involved in this pursuit, I believe that there are two key areas to look at when addressing this question: theological truth and congregational edification (in this essay, I won't be dealing with the actual music content, as that wasn't part of the question - that's for another day!).
The most basic qualification a song has to meet before it is deemed "KSBC material" is theological accuracy; that is, does the song say something that is Biblically true? If it fails on this account, we won't sing the song - no matter how catchy it is or what popular Christian artist sings it. Beyond this most fundamental qualification, song lyrics can fall into different categories. Bob Kauflin, in his book
Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God, mentions three different kinds of lyrics, all with different purposes:
"Objective lyrics tell us something true about God that helps us know him better. Most, but not all, hymns from the eighteenth century tend to focus on objective truths. Subjective lyrics express responses to God such as love, longing, conviction, or adoration. [...] God delights in strong emotions that are a response to revealed realities. Reflective lyrics describe what we're doing as we worship God. We bring our offering, we praise, we sing, we lift up our hands."
Kauflin goes on to say that these divisions aren't hard and fast, and that many times songs can have elements of all three. Reflecting on this list, two observations can be made. First, songs with objective lyrics need to take priority. Without the rock-solid foundation of objective Biblical truth - the meat that feeds our souls - we will too easily fall into emotionalism, shallowness, and error. Secondly, though, in order to reflect well the example of Scripture, we need all three kinds of lyrics. As we feast on the glorious realities of who God is and what he has done, we need songs to express back to God our praise and adoration. We need songs that remind us of how we are to respond. Sometimes those songs will be simple and repetitive, since our response is often simple - which brings us to the first question: why do we sing songs that repeat words over and over again?
When done right, songs with repetitive lines ("His love endures forever,"O come let us adore him," etc.) will either be invitations to behold God more closely, or responses to spiritual realities that have already been proclaimed.
Psalm 136 provides a wonderful example of the latter. In what has to be the ultimate proof for the legitimacy of repetition in song lyrics, the psalm alternates between the worship leader's statement of objective truth and the congregation's response: "for his steadfast love endures forever!" The congregation repeats the same line 26 times!
A warning must be mentioned: if we come into the worship service committed to a passive, apathetic level of involvement, or a consumer-oriented mindset, then repetition (such as that seen in Psalm 136) will only serve to bore and frustrate us. On the other hand, if we come committed to engaging actively and thoughtfully in the time of singing, then repetition will provide a potentially limitless landscape for us to reflect on the glorious and infinite riches of God's character.
Because of length considerations, I'll briefly mention the second key area to look at when considering the value of worship songs:
congregational edification. Scripture consistently talks about singing as a community activity, something to be done for the purpose of edification. Look at Colossians 3:16:
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
While many points could be made regarding this verse, I want you to notice that singing is related to teaching and admonishing one another. In some way, then, our singing at Kossuth should be directed towards God and for the benefit of those around us. Looking at it from this perspective, one question that needs to be asked in choosing a song is this:
"How will this song benefit this specific group of believers here at Kossuth?" Another way to ask it would be:
"Will the average church member see God more clearly and be encouraged to live for him more faithfully after singing this song?" The answer to this question, I believe, makes a great case for the use of both old songs and new songs. Great songs that have been handed down through the ages encourage and edify by pointing us to the faithfulness and unchanging nature of the Creator God. Great songs that have been written in our day and age encourage and edify us by reminding us that the God of the Bible is alive and active today. In the end, though, I like how Bob Kauflin draws our attention to what really matters:
"When it comes to forms of worship, any form that facilitates and encourages worship in spirit and truth by a particular gathering of people, at a particular time in history, in the context of a particular culture is pleasing to God. That implies that no one form can fully express the vastness of God. No given time, culture, or generation can give God the honor he deserves. This understanding keeps first things first. Cultures change, styles change, traditions change, times change. God remains the same."