“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. ” (Colossians 3:16)
“…teaching and admonishing one another…” Songs of worship should be teaching and admonishing. We have so many beautiful and meaningful songs that have been written and loved over the years. Unfortunately, today’s songs of worship are meaningless repetitive phrases teaching and admonishing nothing. There is a generation of children that have not been moved emotionally or spiritually by loving sermons in the form of songs. I have heard MANY people complain about this switch in the music of the church. What I mostly see are songs that are have gone away from teaching and admonishing because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. It’s hard to learn the gospel and to confirm it within one’s soul and life experiences. It’s hard to walk away from the temptations of the world, and some songs of the past teach of us how to do that.
I’ve listed some of the songs that have touched my heart deeply over the years, and I am so glad that I had that foundation to build on instead of the repetitive phrases used today.
“Only Trust Him” is a song that has resonated to me for almost my entire life. Followed closely behind that is “Just As I Am”. Two songs that can uplift and give hope to anyone in need of the extra boost to make it through the week ahead.
“Onward Christian Soldiers” always let me know I wasn’t in this battle alone, I had many other ‘soldiers’ in the same battle to make it day by day.
Perhaps the sermon that is one of the most beautiful of all is the touching “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”. This song teaches a strong lesson in helping others. The much shorter song, “Love One Another, As I Have Loved You” teaches the same lesson. Both songs have such a powerful message.
The children’s song “I Am A Child of God” pleads with parents to teach their children about God. Such a beautiful message for us in the day when many parents feel they are in a daily battle to keep their children close to God.
“I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go” is one of the most beautiful songs of complete submission to the gospel, and the earthly mission in which each of us are participating. “I Stand All Amazed” is the confirmation of how we actually can follow the gospel of Christ, and see the wonders in our lives.
The sermon, “How Great Thou Art” and “Oh My Father” teach of the divineness of Heavenly Father, and our testimony of His truly wonderful creations.
I can’t imagine my life without these touching, beautiful psalms. They each require looking at the real teachings of the Gospel, and, the admonishing of the Gospel. They allow the Spirit to touch the heart with full testimony. They bring us closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the beautiful teaching lyrics. I pray that we each look further into the sermons that encompass the songs of faith. Find the sermon, lesson, or admonishment; if it isn’t there, it isn’t a hymn of praise or worship.
Carolyn Bendall 