Is it possible to use too much new music in our worship services? Here are some more thoughts on developing a balanced and effective approach:
We should resist the temptation to fill our worship services with lots of new music just because we think it stylistically resonates with the world we’re trying to reach. They will not be drawn to Christ simply because of the style of our music, but rather because of the substance of our message. One reason we’re seeing so many traditional hymn texts showing up in new modern worship songs is that these lyrics have an undeniable truth that transcends generations.
New is good. But newness for newness sake misses the point. A new song can be the perfect embodiment of what God is saying and doing in our midst. Likewise, a familiar worship song or traditional hymn can bring back memories of God’s faithfulness months—or even years—ago.
All of us come to church with our own worship language, with our own spiritual history. When we constantly emphasize new songs over familiar ones, we’re—in effect—telling people that their own stories and songs aren’t important. And yet they are.
When we sing the familiar hymn or chorus, it’s as if God’s people are raising their Ebenezers—their memory stones (1 Samuel 7:12)--in testimony to God’s faithfulness in their lives. Will we miss the opportunity for our congregations to sing, “This is my story, this is my song”?
So just as it is important for worship leaders to systematically introduce new songs to a congregation, it is imperative that we be good stewards of familiar ones. For many of our people, these songs bear profound witness to God’s mercy and grace—timeless themes for any and every generation of worshipers.
The rush to make “All Things New” in worship may do a disservice to the ultimate goal of worship: to create an environment where people are released to give God the glory he is due.
