Is it possible to sing worship songs to God that actually are songs that worship money? “No” says Jesus. You cannot worship God and money.
Yet the motivation behind publishers’ surveys asking us to name the most popular worship songs is this: “If we publish the popular worship songs, we will make more money.”
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They don’t realise that if we allow song-popularity to influence the songs we sing on Sunday, then we are unconsciously worshipping money instead of God. That’s serious. Before we get into the details of God’s criteria for our songs, let us begin with God’s bigger picture and purpose:
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Wouldn’t you agree that Jesus spells this out in His Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)? — “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and in the Name of the Son and in the Name of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”.
Then Jesus gave them the best enabling and motivating promise imaginable: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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This overarching purpose is re-stated in Mark 15:16; Luke 24;45-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8. This grand purpose is perpetuated in the apostolic letters, as these samplings testify: Romans 1:15-17; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 2:4-10; Philippians 1:3-10; Colossians 1:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-15; Philemon v4-7; Hebrews 1;1-4, 2:1-4; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 2 Peter 1:3,4; 1 John 3:1-6; 2 John v9; 3 John v3,4; Jude v20,21; Revelation 22:12-16.
Jesus’ command to “make disciples of all nations” must be the big picture which covers all the activities of His Church.
Singing songs is one of these activities, and is a powerfully effective way of making disciples. So, when choosing which songs to sing on Sunday, make sure you include some songs that teach and admonish the congregation. These are the songs that “make disciples”. These are the songs God wants to hear.
Well done, Hugh! When will the church of the Lord Jesus get back to the simplicity of its roots.
Only two commands:
“And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.”
1 John 3:23 NLT
Only one commission:
“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:15-16 NLT