Singing in Spirit and TRUTH

“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." - Colossians 3:16

The same command is found twice in the New Testament, the other being Ephesians 5:19. Why?

It's evident throughout Scripture that song plays a crucial role in the life of God's people. 

Take the Book of Psalms, for example. It is the longest book in the entire Bible and it alone makes mention of song at least 94 times. The Bible, as a whole, references singing at least 182 times, from Genesis to Revelation. 

"So what? We always sing in church," you say. Well, the modern Church is facing a major problem: our songs are weak.

"But we have more access to more kinds of music than ever," you say. And yet we end up singing instrumentally impassioned, but theologically void songs. 

OR we end up singing the same mediocre line about 30 times before the song ends and that one line is all the doctrine we get.

I recently found myself singing (and loving) a popular new worship song. But as I wrote down the lyrics in a journal (as I frequently do when I find a song particularly moving), I stopped, shocked at my own lack of attention. 

The words weren't necessarily void of theology, but the theology held within was wrong. The line, "You didn't want Heaven without us, so Jesus you brought heaven down" perpetuates the idea of a man-centered gospel and a sissified Jesus who somehow needs our companionship. 

I was delighted when I came across this video in which John Piper so eloquently addresses this matter, in a humble and Christ-exalting manner. Take a moment to listen.

Jesus Himself said,

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:24 

Did you get that? We MUST worship God in spirit AND truth. TRUTH. *ding ding ding* We have a winner!

Understand that I am not against new worship music. We are commanded 5 times in the Book of Psalms to sing to the Lord a new song. 

My only desire is that we sing songs of truth, rooted in God's very Word. I am a firm believer in Sola Scriptura, the doctrine that the Scriptures are the primary and absolute source for all doctrine and practice.

"What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." - 1 Corinthians 14:15

Read more on this topic here.