Trends in Christian "worship" to watch out for: by Jessica Lichti

Music is always evolving. When I think of music I often think of notes and rhythms. However songs are ultimately messages that are enhanced by their melodies. Here are some trends in Christian "worship" to watch out for: 

1) Watch out for love songs. Songs that try to equate a relationship between humanity and the Godhead with a human love relationship. While God uses human relationships to teach us about the relationship between us and himself, we should never euphemize it. It is not equal. And we should not hesitate to state the subject of the love song....proclaim His name! When the "you" could easily be substituted with a boyfriend, girlfriend, or child we love, we should examine the content of the song. If the song is only about how wonderful he makes us feel, (instead of how wonderful is God's character, his salvation and his mighty works) could we not also insert the name of any other false god into the song? Does the song reflect the nature of our God, or is it full of obscure symbolism? 

2) Watch out for promise songs. Songs that are filled with statements and commitments of what we will do for God and how should be examined. Do we come to meet with God and give him a bunch of empty promises that we likely don't fulfill the rest of the week, or do we come to remember and thank Him? Are our songs about what God has done for us, or what we will do for Him? How can that be classified as praise? If we don't and can't live up to those words, we may suddenly find we have nothing to sing about. 

3) Watch out for a song's theology. Or the lack of it. Does it present facts? Do those facts line up with the Bible? Does it present symbols and imagery? What do they mean? 

4) Watch out for joyless songs. After all, what is the meaning of gospel? Good news! A song may involve a sad story but if it is a Christian song it should always present hope! There are many songs that people may relate to because they stir up emotions of sadness and anger or other such emotions, but it saddens me to find more and more Christian music with joyless songs. 

Jesus said to the woman at the well that the Father is looking for worship in spirit and in truth. 

"You worship you know not what. We know what we worship: For salvation is of the Jews. 
But the hour comes and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. " (John 4:22-24)

We know that Jesus was speaking of worshipping Him with our whole lives. But it applies in the worship of our lips as well. Worshipping from the heart according to knowledge. How can we praise God without knowledge? How can we worship Him without sincerity? Something to think about.