LANGUAGE IN WORSHIP
MUSIC: MODERN, TRADITIONAL, METAPHOR, AND LITERAL
A recent
popular worship song has caused great controversy among worship leaders and
churches. Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love” has sparked debate far and wide.
Arguments made both for the use of the word, reckless, are:
1)
it is a metaphor;
2)
from a human perspective, God’s love is reckless
because it does not make sense;
3)
the song does not speak of God himself but
rather his love;
4)
and many more.
I do not intend to delve into discussion of this song itself
or the use of the word, reckless, but I would like to discuss the broader topic
of language in worship music. I would like to examine the pros and cons of
modern vs. traditional and metaphorical vs. literal language. I do not mean to
sway one way or another but merely to have us think about these issues as it
relates to the message of the gospel as well as the context we minister in,
which is disparate across the spectrum. To sum, I will discuss how to approach
language in worship music, which, by the way, is nothing to be taken lightly.
Clarity in Gospel Communication, No Matter the Medium, Is Crucial
I have
suggested this before and have even shared blogs and podcasts on the topic:
clarity in gospel communication is crucial. I am often dumbfounded at the
number of professing Christians who truly claim and believe that the language
we use in our gospel presentations, whether through speech or music, does not
matter and any criticism of such communication is nitpicking. We cannot have
this attitude if we desire clarity in the gospel message. I will often
reiterate that we will never get it perfect; yet, that should not be an excuse
not to try. We have been given an incredible task, a task that requires the
leadership of the Holy Spirit. Why would anyone take such a task lightly? To
claim that the language used in gospel communication does not matter is to
effectively admit a lack of care. We must keep this in mind as we minister in
our own denominational and cultural contexts, which is often from where our
choice of language is derived.
Context Is Important
God has
placed a unique call on every individual in his kingdom. Our job then is to
obey him where he sends us. I am dealing specifically with worship music right
now, but this should also be applied to all forms of ministry. Traditional
language does not work in every context; likewise, modern language does not
work in every context. The same could be said of metaphors and literal
language. Consider the context in which you serve. If you minister primarily to
teenagers, you will likely not use traditional Puritan-like language which uses
“thee” and “thou.” Nonetheless, in many traditional church settings with
primarily older congregants, that language is fine. Context is key.
Pros and Cons of Each
I will now
be specific with various types of language used in worship music and give pros
and cons to each.
Modern
Modern language
can be beneficial in modern contexts where one might minister to a younger
population or even people who might be more progressive in their approach to
music. There are, however, certainly pros and cons, which I would like to examine.
Pros
·
Easy to understand, colloquial, the way we
commonly speak now
·
A seeming freedom to form of prose and
grammatical rules
· Text that can speak to a generation of believers
in a way that traditional language often cannot
Cons
·
Easy misuse of the English language
·
Lack of mental awareness, i.e. congregants might
not think about the text as much
Traditional
Like modern
language, traditional language has its place in worship music as well. I will
even suggest that traditional language can have more benefit to a younger population
than many might realize.
Pros
·
Commitment to proper use of the vernacular language
·
Strict form of text, which yields greater
thinking for writers
Cons
·
Text could be too difficult for congregants to
understand
·
Use of outdated language[1]
Metaphor
Metaphorical
language can be a valuable tool for presenting the gospel through music. I
would suggest, however, that writers should be careful in their use (and
perhaps overuse) of metaphor. Often, the effectiveness of metaphor is found in
the limited use thereof. Moreover, metaphor should not lend itself to be an
excuse for improper use of vocabulary, i.e. on a micro level, words have
specific meanings whether a metaphor or not, but on a macro level, the
combination of words can give a metaphorical picture that expresses a concept
in a marvelous way. In sum, be careful with the use of metaphor. Here are some
pros and cons.
Pros
·
Picturesque language that describes a concept in
ways literal language cannot
·
Congregants acquire a personal meaning to texts
in the music by thinking of metaphor, e.g. God’s love like a waterfall pouring
over
Cons
·
Misuse of text, e.g. reckless used in a way that
goes against the proper use of the word
·
Too much metaphor can make a song ambiguous when
gospel communication should be as clear as possible
Literal
It has
become seemingly more common for songwriters and worship leaders to stray from
literal language. Metaphorical language seems to resonate with younger
generations more, which I submit has contributed to an increasing biblical
illiteracy and a lack of spirituality. Literal language still has its place in
Christian worship music. There are a few pros and a few cons.
Pros
·
Clear meaning, e.g. black and white; it is what
it is
·
Congregants learn biblical concepts and theology
in no uncertain terms[2]
·
A door to theological scrutiny, i.e. ambiguous
language (rightfully) draws questions from thinking Christians
Cons
·
A seeming lack of passion[3]
·
A lack of freedom, i.e. the text might seem
strict and regulative where metaphor could imply freedom
Know the Fine Line
As
Christians and especially as worship leaders, we should usually not be so quick
to judge something as heretical; nevertheless, there is a fine line. We must
minister effectively in our context without compromising biblical truth and
authority. I do not mean to harp on any particular song or style of music but
rather to challenge all worship leaders to think about what they are doing. We
are called to a serious task. It is not wrong to question the language used in
our worship music and make the best decision possible for ourselves and for the
people to whom we are called to minister. Clarity in gospel communication
matters; language in our worship music matters. Let us be faithful servants.
[1] Often, this might be a poetic took rather than a
strict adherence to only old language.
[2] Worship leaders should always be mindful that they
are teaching theology as they lead congregational singing.
[3] This is not necessarily truth but could be a
perception since metaphor might resonate with certain people in a greater
manner.
