So You Want to Lead Worship: An Admonition
Evaluating hymns and spiritual songs in light of Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16
Welcome back to my series on worship! So far, I’ve been hammering on two themes over and over: first, that worship is a tool for teaching. Second, that God’s word teaches us how to worship. I couldn’t think of a better way to start this article than with the above verse, as it encapsulates both of these points so well.
While the previous articles have focused on stories about what you should NOT do as a worship leader, this is the first article that I’ve written with an explicit instruction of what should be done! In this article, I’d like to spend a little time discussing this verse, and then follow up by evaluating some songs in light of what we studied.
Music serves an important educational purpose. If you want to learn something, set it to music. Think about “A-B-C”, or “Old McDonald”. These songs etch into the minds of young children, teaching them about animals and the noises they make, or the letters of the alphabet. These songs are so powerful that you can find them sung in different countries, and still remember them decades later when you have your own children!
Can you imagine trying to teach a two year old the alphabet without music? (What else would you use, flash cards?) Similarly, I can’t imagine teaching a young believer about Jesus without music. Songs like “The Lion and the Lamb” can etch truths about Jesus into our minds in a way that no preacher ever could! Can you imagine being a more effective teacher as a worship leader, than as a pastor?
Paul lists three different types of songs that we can sing in a Christian context: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (or songs from the Spirit). A psalm is pretty straight forward to understand, it’s a worship song you can find in your Bible. Conversely, hymns and spiritual songs are songs not found in your Bible. A hymn is direct praise towards God. A spiritual song is not necessarily direct praise to God, but a song that teaches a Biblical principle about Christian life.
Whatever you sing, the starting principle is that the message of Christ should dwell richly in the lyrics of what you sing.
What’s an Admonition?
“Admonish” is an austere sounding word. Perhaps it brings to mind the image of a father lecturing his son about the friends he’s hanging out with. If you admonish someone, you are giving them a stern warning to avoid something bad. Or alternatively, an admonishment can be a sober reminder of one’s duty! (You could say these articles are an admonition — I’m giving you a sober reminder of your duty as a worship leader!)
When you look at the catalogue of songs sung at your church, how many do you know that carry a stern warning, or a reminder of duty? I’ve racked my brain, and I’m really having trouble thinking of any that I know by heart. My suspicion is that these songs are slightly uncomfortable to sing, and we have shied away from singing them in favor of songs that are easier to sing.
I’d like to teach you what songs of admonition look like, in hopes that you will include them in your worship. Of course, not every song should be an admonition! There’s a wide variation of songs we should sing. My intention is to encourage you find a healthy balance — and that starts with being able to identify and classify songs properly.
To that end, I’d like to look through three songs, and evaluate them in light of Colossians 3:16. I’ll provide a link to each song for you to listen to, pick a few of the best verses, and discuss them here. Here is the process I’d like to outline:
Lyrical Analysis: What does this song say?
Stylistic Assessment: How does the style assist in conveying the message?
Message Evaluation: How richly does the message of Christ dwell?
Classification: Psalm, hymn, or spiritual song?
Finally: Is this song for teaching, or admonition?
Let’s get started!
Praise Before My Breakthrough - Torwalt
The first song that came to mind for this article was “Praise Before my Breakthrough”. This song was written in 2018 by Bryan & Katie Torwalt, and is currently a popular choice for contemporary worship.
1 - Lyrical Analysis: Resolved to Worship
(Verse)
I know the tension of the now
I don't always understand
I don't always get to see everything
When I'm holding up my hands
When I'm counting every breath
Lord, all I need to know is
You choose me
You choose me(Chorus)
I'll praise before my breakthrough
'Til my song becomes my triumph
I will sing because I trust You
I will bring my heart, I will lift my song(Bridge)
He who came in power, He will come again
He who heals the sick, won't He move again
He who raised the dead, won't He raise again
And I will sing, I will sing
This song starts with an acknowledgement that we do not have God’s perspective on our circumstances. We might not understand what is happening to us, or why. However, the singer reminds herself that God’s election is the only thing she needs to remember in such circumstances — the helmet of salvation that protects the mind!
In the chorus, the singer resolves to praise God in spite of her circumstances, and expresses assurance that God will deliver her out of this situation, and that God is worthy of her trust.
2 - Stylistic Assessment: Athletic Determination
The verse has a somber tone, and relies instrumentally on warm “pads”. The meter is broken up in such a way that the lyrics sound like an out of breath athlete, gasping out fragments of sentences. Despite the exhaustion, the melody for the chorus carries a resolute determination that contrasts with the verse — as if the runner is catching her second wind. The bridge develops this theme of resillience further with a steady and athletic working beat, almost like a military cadence for jogging.
This style helps build structure in the song: the verses describe an exhausting circumstances. The chorus resolves to praise God in spite of the circumstances, and builds the bridge up to a regular tempo so that the final chorus carries an air of victory and triumph.
3 - Message Evaluation: The message dwells vaguely
Torwalt speaks of God choosing us, God’s imminent return, and God’s dominion over sickness and death — and I do recognize this as the gospel. However, compared with other songs we’ll study today, the gospel message is somewhat vague. Just using the lyrics of the song, try answering these questions:
How did God choose us?
Why does God have dominion over death?
Why is God returning?
Continuing with vagueness, what “breakthrough” is this song speaking of? Certainly we can fill in the gaps with our own experiences — breakthroughs in dealing with anxiety or addictions. All of these things come with scriptural assurance that God wants us to overcome these, and will send the Holy Spirit to help us with spiritual breakthroughs. This is the gospel message!
However, younger believers may assume that this song is talking about material breakthroughs, like financial success, or healing from sickness. This is a false teaching known as the “prosperity gospel” — or the “health and wealth” gospel. Health and wealth are good things, and God may give them to us, but he also may not! Peace and victory over sin, however, are good things that God always promises to give us.
Torwalt doesn’t encourage a false message in the song, but she also doesn’t guard against it. While the message of praise in any circumstance is good, this song fails to deliver on the richness of the gospel.
4 - Classification: Spiritual Song
Perhaps the easiest thing to rule out is that this song is not a psalm. You can’t find these lyrics in your Bible! (That was easy!) That leaves us to decide whether or not it is a hymn, or a spiritual song. Remember, a hymn is more direct praise of God, and a spiritual song deals with aspects of Christian life.
While this song may fill us with gratitude that God has given us spiritual armor for situations where we’re “counting every breath”, this gratitude is not explicitly conveyed through the lyrics. The song spends the majority of the lyrics addressing an inner battle within the singer than praising God. For this reason, I consider it to be more of a spiritual song.
5 - Teaching, or Admonition? Passive Encouragement
I don’t consider this to be an admonition, or teaching. I do think this song is intended to encourage Christians towards a certain behavior, but passively rather than actively. That is to say, the lyrics read “I’ll sing before my breakthrough”, and not “You should sing before your breakthrough”.
To be clear, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with teaching passively through encouragement and inspiration. It is good for Christians to see faith modeled in song. For another example, let’s look next at “It Is Well”.
It is Well With My Soul - Spafford
In my last article, we talked about “It Is Well” by Spafford. If you remember the story, Horatio G. Spafford suffered the loss of his children when the ship carrying his family sank at sea. He wrote this poem as he traveled over the site where their ship sank. Hundreds of years later, his song still brings great comfort to those who are suffering. Let’s study it more closely here.
1 - Lyrical Analysis: An Epic Tour de Force
(Verse)
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
(Verse)
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)
It is well (it is well),
With my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
The first verse I would consider a “spiritual song”. It discusses two disparate circumstances (leaning heavily on water for illustration). Whether the peaceful rivers of life or the tumultuous waves of the sea, God has taught us to find rest for our souls with him.
The second verse, however, transitions into explicit praise, pushing this song into hymn territory. Spafford points us towards salvation and the cross. Clearly, Spafford can hardly contain himself — interrupting his thoughts with interjections, and repeating himself as words fail him. “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!”
2 - Stylistic Analysis: Swells to a Climactic Majesty
The first stanza starts modestly — pitching up momentarily, before taking a dramatic dive. From there, the second stanza climbs a mountain, with the harmonies forcefully driving the melodies towards the climax. The final line has almost a false start — “It is well…” before a triumphant resolution: “It is well with my soul!”
The refrain breaks the title of the song into two parts, and employs a call and response format that makes the tune nearly impossible to be sung solo. The refrain starts out with a lonely call standing on a single note: “It is well”, only to be joined moments later by the rich response of the full chorus, “It is well, it is well with my soul!”
Stylistically, the tune tells a triumphant story — but a story that cannot be sung alone. In the above recording, one of the verses is sung without instruments. Many modern worship leaders will “unplug” at times, and only use an acoustic guitar. Spafford unplugs the band entirely, and depends on the congregation. If you haven’t had the chance to experience being in a room full of people belting this at full volume, you haven’t lived!
3 - Message Assessment: The Gospel in a Nutshell
This song directly focuses on the gospel. If you ask, “How has God taught us to say ‘it is well’ in every circumstance?” I can explain why using the lyrics of this song. It is unambiguous, and clear as day! Christ has shed his blood for my soul, and one day I will meet him! Until that day, all my trials are inconsequential compared to the weight of glory that awaits me.
In the lyrics we have Christ’s death on the cross, his victory over sin, his assurance that nothing can separate us from his love, and his promise of triumphant return. That is the gospel in the nutshell!
4 - Classification: 50% Hymn, 50% Spiritual Song
This song is a hybrid. Some of the verses are devoted to a discussion of Christian life: being able to find peace and contentedness in any circumstance, and even the coming resurrection. Other verses are dedicated to praise and worship for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, which paid for our salvation.
5 - Teaching, or Admonition? Explicit Teaching and Passive Encouragement
Like a parent walking through deep snow, Spafford blazes a trail for us to follow in his footprints. However, Spafford does not urge us (or lecture us) to follow — we follow him instinctively because of the beautiful sacrifice of praise he offered.
Like Torwalt, Spafford penned this song is more encouragement than an admonition: a life preserver, not a lecture. Unlike “Praise Before My Breakthrough”, Spafford lays the gospel out in clear terms. The “breakthrough” here is not vague, but explicit: my sins are nailed to the cross of Christ, and I no longer bear them. My victory is that I get to share in Christ’s victory over death.
Take Time to Be Holy - Longstaff
This song is a little less well known. Though I’ve heard the title before, I’ve never had the opportunity to sing it in church. I can almost guarantee that you’ve never sang a song like this in church! (Unless your worship leader is unfathomably based.)
1 - Lyrical Analysis: Parental Instruction
(Verse)
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of Gods children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.(Verse)
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.(Verse)
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Each verse from this hymn starts with the same admonition: “Take time to be holy!” Look at how many instructions are in these two verses. I count eight!
Set time aside to be holy
Pray to God
Abide with God
Feed on God’s word
Make friends with other Christians
Help those in need and suffering
Seek God’s blessing for your activities (through prayer)
Spend time in secret with Jesus (like Daniel)
It may seem uncomfortable at first, singing such lyrics. Why doesn’t this song talk about Jesus’ death on the cross, or how he forgave my sins? Shouldn’t songs worship God? It feels like someone is pointing a finger at me, and telling me how to act — almost as if they’re accusing me of not doing these things!
And perhaps it would seem accusatory, if you simply sat there and listened as someone sang this song at you. But when you join the people near you and sing along, the song transforms into a powerful mirror. Your mind leaves the worship leader, the stage, the instruments, and the people next to you — and you begin to evaluate your own lifestyle. Am I taking time to be holy? Am I spending time alone with God?
2 - Stylistic Assessment: Lullaby
This tune is distinct from the other two songs. Torwalt’s “Praise Before My Breakthrough” is difficult to sing without instruments. Spafford’s “It Is Well” can be sung without instruments, but not by one person. In contrast, “Take Time to Be Holy” can both be sung by one person, and without instruments. The tune is soft and gentle, like a lullaby — and sweetens an otherwise difficult look in the mirror.
3 - Message Assessment: There if you look for it!
You can find the basis (and inspiration) for “Take Time to Be Holy” in 1 Peter 1:14-16.
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Peter is calling us to live holy lives by our day to day actions — turning from our former sins to obedience. But Peter’s call seems to be so high that it’s almost impossible. Be holy, just like God? You might as well try to jump over a skyscraper. William Longstaff breaks this down into practical, simple steps. Step one? Spend time in God’s word, and in prayer.
As if knowing the anxiety that such a great call will cause a young Christian, Longstaff closes the final verse of his hymn with an assurance. Holiness is not something like a light switch, that happens all at once. It’s a process that the Holy Spirit walks us through, and we must be patient while God works in us. That God will turn sinners into saints is the gospel message!
4 - Classification: Spiritual Song
Hopefully by now, you beat me to this answer. This song is not a hymn because it does not praise God directly (as the second verse of “It Is Well” does). Given that it contains instructions for Christian living, it is easily considered a spiritual song.
5 - Teaching, or Admonition: Both!
An admonition sounds like such a stern thing — but how do you think this would impact the life of a child if their mother sang this to them before bed each night? How do you think the lives of those in your congregation would change if you closed each service with this song for a month? This is why Paul encourages us to “teach and admonish one another with spiritual songs!”
Conclusion
I think that many Churches today have an unbalanced lyrical diet. When preparing a “lyrical meal” for the congregation, it’s easy to pick “fast food” songs that are bangers. Songs that are high on emotion, have a catchy chorus, or feel good to sing. Nothing is wrong with those songs — unless they are the only songs in your diet! Thankfully, God’s word gives us excellent instruction on the types of songs we can use, the content for the songs, and their purpose.
We have the Psalms — God’s inspired word to us, which we can memorize in song. Just last week, I had the opportunity to read Psalm 20 as a blessing for a close friend during a desperate time. The only reason I knew that song was because I had sung it before! How wonderful it is to have God’s word hidden away in your heart (Ps 119:11), and at your fingertips! You will truly be equipped for every situation! (2 Tim 3:16-17)
We also have hymns to praise God, and we have spiritual songs to encourage each other. Both teach us about the message of the gospel and Christian living. Some can even be used as a sober admonition of our duty as Christians, like “Take Time to be Holy”. But don’t think that such somber music is burdensome or a “mood killer”. Often times, such songs are surprisingly gentle and earnest.
Maybe you’ve heard a pastor preach a sermon about the importance of reading your Bible daily — but when’s the last time you heard a worship leader choose a song that urges the congregation to read their Bible? How do you think life at your church would change if you closed out every sermon with this song for a month? How do you think children would grow up, if their mother sang them to sleep with this song?
My encouragement to you today is to assess the songs you sing at your church. Classify them like we did here, using Colossians 3:16. How balanced is your lyrical diet? Do you have songs from each class and type, ready to sing at the right time?
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” — Matthew 13:52