Why the Theology of Worship Lyrics Matter
In lieu of their weekly worship service, the BCM hosted Justin Cross, a minister of music at the Church at Shelby Crossings and a folk singer/songwriter, to play at Sorrell Chapel.
Cross played a diverse set of heart-gripping worship music and folk songs about life and love. He said that he strives for all of his music to point people to Christ, whether directly or indirectly.
As for his role as minister of music, he takes the task of selecting music seriously.
"If it's not something that's easily backed up in Scripture, we just don't sing it," Cross said.
While the undertaking of accurately representing a holy and perfect God is a difficult one, it's well worth striving the extra mile to ensure that the Bible backs up the words we sing, rather than contradict or miss the mark.
Cross agreed that a balance of truth and spirit needs to exist in music, which is something I've touched on many times, but received a lot of flack for.
"There is truth, and there is a way that we should represent that truth," Cross said. "If you stray too far into that emotionalism or into that feelings-based stuff, you kind of lose a lot of the meat of the doctrine, a lot of the gospel."
However, on the other hand, we agreed that a hyper-doctrinal approach with no true heart of worship is just as dangerous.
Cross said certain songs from Christian radio are phenomenal for personal reflection, but lacking for the congregation.
"As a songwriter ... I write things that are supposed to move you, to make you feel a certain way that don't directly preach something to you," Cross said. "Whereas on Sunday mornings, there is a doctrine that we are trying to proclaim.
After citing it as an example of a doctrine-rich song that provokes an emotional response, he quoted the first stanza of Before the Throne of God Above, saying, "That is art; that is truth. What we're trying to do is marry the two in a way that moves people to Christ."
Wesley Ralph, the BCM's worship chair, has known Cross for many years and is the one who invited him to come.
"I've seen the way the gospel permeates his life," Ralph said. "And I enjoy his original stuff."
"The fact of the matter is music does draw an emotional response," he continued. "God created us with these emotions and we're told to worship in spirit and in truth."
Check out his music at justincross.org.
Cross played a diverse set of heart-gripping worship music and folk songs about life and love. He said that he strives for all of his music to point people to Christ, whether directly or indirectly.
As for his role as minister of music, he takes the task of selecting music seriously.
"If it's not something that's easily backed up in Scripture, we just don't sing it," Cross said.
While the undertaking of accurately representing a holy and perfect God is a difficult one, it's well worth striving the extra mile to ensure that the Bible backs up the words we sing, rather than contradict or miss the mark.
Cross agreed that a balance of truth and spirit needs to exist in music, which is something I've touched on many times, but received a lot of flack for.
"There is truth, and there is a way that we should represent that truth," Cross said. "If you stray too far into that emotionalism or into that feelings-based stuff, you kind of lose a lot of the meat of the doctrine, a lot of the gospel."
However, on the other hand, we agreed that a hyper-doctrinal approach with no true heart of worship is just as dangerous.
Cross said certain songs from Christian radio are phenomenal for personal reflection, but lacking for the congregation.
"As a songwriter ... I write things that are supposed to move you, to make you feel a certain way that don't directly preach something to you," Cross said. "Whereas on Sunday mornings, there is a doctrine that we are trying to proclaim.
After citing it as an example of a doctrine-rich song that provokes an emotional response, he quoted the first stanza of Before the Throne of God Above, saying, "That is art; that is truth. What we're trying to do is marry the two in a way that moves people to Christ."
Wesley Ralph, the BCM's worship chair, has known Cross for many years and is the one who invited him to come.
"I've seen the way the gospel permeates his life," Ralph said. "And I enjoy his original stuff."
"The fact of the matter is music does draw an emotional response," he continued. "God created us with these emotions and we're told to worship in spirit and in truth."
Check out his music at justincross.org.
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