My wife recently attended a worship service where the message was shaped around a popular country western song (rather than the text used) and then the secular song was the last set by the worship band. She left deeply disheartened.
The service raised an interesting question. Does the sacred influence the secular or does the secular influence the sacred? Now without a doubt there was some truth in the song. But why use a secular source to try to communicate eternal truth when it is the word of God that is the source of all truth? Maybe to illustrate but not as the source. There are many good illustrative stories from the secular world, but the source of all truth about God is found in His word.
In addition, how can a secular song as a worship set raise our hearts to the throne of God? Again, does the sacred influence the secular or does the secular lead us to the sacred?
What was more interesting was that many loved the song. Actually I like the song. But I question the discernment of those who believe that the secular can lead us to the sacred as an act of worship. In our effort to be relevant we often forget that the Word itself is the source of all relevance and that word, empowered by the Holy Spirit has amazing power to change lives.
Perhaps our drive for relevance is an indication that we don't always think the truth of the Word is enough. Paul did. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith' " (Romans 1:16-17).
3 comments:
I Concur! Attended a service built around the secular song "live like you're dying" and left disappointed. It was an appropriate illustration, but should not have been the core. Why would we depend upon the secular to communicate the fleeting nature of this world, when we have the One who created it and the promise of the eternal to motivate a proper stewardship of our earthly lives?
What Israel took from Egypt had to pass through the fire.
Wow... this is extremely concerning to me, especially comging from a "leader" in the denomination. This blog was brought to my attention and I just had to comment on it. I totally disagree with you. My question would be.."How many people were reached or touched through the message?" Let's not forget the goal of what the church is, to bring people to Christ, to grow in Him, and to honor and glorify Him. Can you not reach someone through the use of a secular message? I think you can. Obviously there are limits, but using a "secular" song as a basis for a message with "secular" song in worship doesn't cross those boundaries in my mind. I would be concerned if there was no scripture referenced, but I'm sure that there was. Sometimes I think God is in heaven laughing at what we do down here, majoring in the minors. I think we should be encouraged to get out of the sandbox and think about how the church can me more effective in reaching people for Christ.
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