Someone said to the group, “I think we should not be using this song in worship because I have issues with the way the song describes Jesus. But more importantly we should not use it among young people because they will not have the theological grounding to discern.”
Another replied, “Read what this person wrote in his blog about the song. There are positive values in the song that can build up the person. No song is perfect but we should consider the song writer’s intent and use of scriptures.”
A third person said, “We can agree to disagree. The song means a lot to me as the scripture used and the context it’s used in spoke to me during a difficult time I was going through.”
Listening in to this conversation I felt that the bigger picture was missed as others rushed in to defend a song. And so I said, “Sorry for jumping into a discussion late but I thought I’d throw in a slightly different perspective: I take to heart the principle laid down by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8, when he says “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up” in the context of the discussion on food offered to idols. We can argue about the theological correctness of something but the more important thing is to focus on building up one another in love. If a brother tells me that he is concerned about the theological correctness of a song, I may discuss with him so that there is better clarity and both of us can be educated. But I would also care about his discomfort and not use the song in a public worship context; why would I compel him to sing words he is uncomfortable with (and he should not) or choose to not participate in that situation?”
The important part of the discussion is the person who expressed his concerns and also his concern for the theological input that we are exposing young people to. Statements such as “No song is perfect” and “Let’s agree to disagree” is basically telling the person who expressed concern “We note your concern but we will think what we think and do what we do” and take the discussion into the private sphere. In other words, this is private.
Except, of course, the person was raising concerns about the use of the song in public: in worship meetings and with young people.
The response to my input was “ONLY If the song is theologically unsound we should not be singing it. But for any other reason we should take every step to share & understand but as a church we should not just ‘Cancel’ a song if an individual doesn’t like certain choice of words or the artist.”
So the person asserts that every song has a right to be used in church as long as it is not theologically unsound. The song, and the right to use the song is more important than another brother or sister (a mere individual) in the church.
This was when I saw how perceptive Paul was when he wrote his response to the church in 1 Corinthians 8, over the issue of eating food offered to idols.
“So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” (I Corinthians 8:11-13)
I have been running in my head how I should “destroy” this individual for his arrogance and expose him, all in the name of preserving the truth of the principle that Paul taught. What an irony!
Father, I was puffed up; forgive me and help me find ways to build up my brother.