Can we Sing Error? 1 Corinthians 14:15. I asked for suggestions This topic was discussed in an elder’s meeting I wrote to many preachers on email lists.

Can we Sing Error?Can we Sing Error?

1 Corinthians 14:15

I asked for suggestionsI asked for suggestionsThis topic was discussed in an elder’s This topic was discussed in an elder’s meetingmeetingI wrote to many preachers on email I wrote to many preachers on email listslistsI got dozens of responses – I got dozens of responses – suggesting a list of more than 30 suggesting a list of more than 30 songs that are “questionable.”songs that are “questionable.”I studied the songs and the comments I studied the songs and the comments and questions they raisedand questions they raised

I asked for suggestionsI asked for suggestions

I saw them fall into 6 categoriesI saw them fall into 6 categories

1.1. Doctrinal ErrorDoctrinal Error

2.2. Not accurate in some detailNot accurate in some detail

3.3. Subject to interpretationSubject to interpretation

4.4. Songs that send a wrong messageSongs that send a wrong message

5.5. Poetic licensePoetic license

6.6. Not BiblicalNot Biblical

Requirements of SingingRequirements of Singing

Colossians 3:16Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 14:151 Corinthians 14:15 – “Understanding”

One can “sing” error just as easily as One can “sing” error just as easily as one can “preach” error.one can “preach” error.

Doctrinal ErrorDoctrinal Error

• Jesus is Coming SoonJesus is Coming Soon– We don’t know when He will comeWe don’t know when He will come– This song teaches the 1,000 year reignThis song teaches the 1,000 year reign– One verse teaches the signs of One verse teaches the signs of

Matthew 24 and applies them to 2Matthew 24 and applies them to 2ndnd ComingComing

• Turn Your Radio OnTurn Your Radio On– Teaches you can be saved listening to Teaches you can be saved listening to

your radioyour radio

Doctrinal ErrorDoctrinal Error

• I’ll Live in GloryI’ll Live in Glory– ““I want to stay here longer”I want to stay here longer”– We should want to be with GodWe should want to be with God

• Most of our hymn books are edited Most of our hymn books are edited by members of the church and by members of the church and many songs with doctrinal error many songs with doctrinal error have been eliminatedhave been eliminated

Not accurate in detailsNot accurate in details

• O Holy NightO Holy Night– Has the wise men coming to the Has the wise men coming to the

mangermanger– Wise men came 2 years laterWise men came 2 years later– They came to a young child in a They came to a young child in a

house, not a babe in a mangerhouse, not a babe in a manger

• We Three KingsWe Three Kings– We don’t know how many wise men We don’t know how many wise men

there werethere were

Not accurate in detailsNot accurate in details

• He Could Have Called Ten He Could Have Called Ten Thousand AngelsThousand Angels

– Matthew 26:53 - Matthew 26:53 - Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

– Legion = 6,000– 12 Legions = 72,000

Subject to InterpretationSubject to Interpretation

• Break Thou the Bread of LifeBreak Thou the Bread of Life– “Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee,

Lord”– Does this teach extra biblical revelation?

• Mansions Over the HilltopMansions Over the Hilltop– Selfish– Everything in this song is “I”

Sends a Wrong MessageSends a Wrong Message

• Placing emphasis on what we rejectPlacing emphasis on what we reject– Only singing songs about the birth of

Christ in December– Only singing songs about the resurrection

at Easter time

• The Old Rugged CrossThe Old Rugged Cross– This song seems to worship the cross,

not Jesus– “I love that old cross”

Sends a Wrong MessageSends a Wrong Message

• Showers of BlessingShowers of Blessing– Are we just getting a “drizzle” now?– Song message – We want more!

• The emphasis can be misplacedThe emphasis can be misplaced

Poetic LicensePoetic License

• Greatest difficulty in this areaGreatest difficulty in this area

• Poetry differs from prosePoetry differs from prose

• More beautiful, less preciseMore beautiful, less precise

• Amazing GraceAmazing Grace– ““The hour I first believed”The hour I first believed”– Is this teaching faith only?Is this teaching faith only?

Poetic LicensePoetic License

• In the GardenIn the Garden– Many think this is about USMany think this is about US– Author had Mary in mindAuthor had Mary in mind– This song is about Mary meeting This song is about Mary meeting

Jesus after His resurrectionJesus after His resurrection

• My God and IMy God and I– ““We go unendingly”We go unendingly”– Is this teaching once saved, always Is this teaching once saved, always

saved?saved?

Poetic LicensePoetic License

• Living by FaithLiving by Faith– ““Will return to this earth”Will return to this earth”– Earth can mean – on the groundEarth can mean – on the ground– Earth can mean – in the atmosphereEarth can mean – in the atmosphere– Jesus will return to our atmosphere – Jesus will return to our atmosphere –

in the cloudsin the clouds– But He will not be on the groundBut He will not be on the ground

Poetic LicensePoetic License

• Why Not Tonight?Why Not Tonight?– ““Believe, obey, the work is done”Believe, obey, the work is done”– Is this teaching OSAS?Is this teaching OSAS?– Is the “work” the initial act of Is the “work” the initial act of

salvation?salvation?– Could it be like in “work out your own Could it be like in “work out your own

salvation”?salvation”?

Not BiblicalNot Biblical

• Colossians 3:16 – Ephesians 5:19Colossians 3:16 – Ephesians 5:19– Both give a list of three approved Both give a list of three approved

types of songstypes of songs

– PsalmsPsalms – scripture set to music – scripture set to music

– HymnsHymns – addressed to God, praise – addressed to God, praise directed to deitydirected to deity

– Spiritual songsSpiritual songs – songs to – songs to encourage, teach, motivate Christiansencourage, teach, motivate Christians

Not BiblicalNot Biblical• Some songs are useful in other Some songs are useful in other

settings – but not in worshipsettings – but not in worship• Precious MemoriesPrecious Memories

– Verses are about mother, fatherVerses are about mother, father– Nothing in this song fits any of the Nothing in this song fits any of the

three typesthree types

• America the BeautifulAmerica the Beautiful– PatrioticPatriotic– Not spiritualNot spiritual

Not BiblicalNot Biblical

• My Country ‘Tis of TheeMy Country ‘Tis of Thee– ““Thee” is not referring to GodThee” is not referring to God– Thee is the “sweet land of liberty”Thee is the “sweet land of liberty”– Only the last verse mentions GodOnly the last verse mentions God

• Faith of our FathersFaith of our Fathers– This song praises the reformers – This song praises the reformers –

Luther and CalvinLuther and Calvin

Not BiblicalNot Biblical

• Little Brown Church in the Little Brown Church in the WildwoodWildwood

– This song is about a buildingThis song is about a building– The church is not a buildingThe church is not a building– The church is saved peopleThe church is saved people

Conclusions:Conclusions:

• Let me issue a caution – Let me issue a caution –

• Don’t think that all the songs I have Don’t think that all the songs I have mentioned in this sermon are mentioned in this sermon are wrong or “taboo”wrong or “taboo”

• We just need to study and We just need to study and understand the meaning so they understand the meaning so they can be sung correctly and with the can be sung correctly and with the proper meaningproper meaning

Conclusions:Conclusions:

• Be aware of the wordsBe aware of the words

• Know the meaning and the Know the meaning and the messagemessage

• Sing with spirit – sing with Sing with spirit – sing with understandingunderstanding

• We teach and admonish in songWe teach and admonish in song

• Don’t teach errorDon’t teach error