A Twisted Crown of Thorns ®

I wish I had come up with these recommendations but I am glad that a concerned pastor has beaten me to it and done it the way an elder should….

1. Write and sing songs that exalt the Godhead, rather than songs to and about the congregation or audience.

2. In many instances, simple is better. But be careful not to dumb down worship by only writing and performing simplistic songs. 7-11 songs – where you keep saying the same seven words eleven times – are not edifying. Write a text. Make a point. Give us something grand about Christ and the gospel to listen to, sing, and think about.

3. Please stop doing so much talking before, during, and after the songs. Just sing. And let the lyrics speak for themselves.

4. Take the time to have a pastor or Bible teacher review your lyrics, to help you think through the theological, doctrinal, and textual implications of your lyrics. (Hopefully, it can be your pastor. You do have a pastor, don’t you?) Word of Faith teachers do not count on theological grounds.

5. Be sensitive to the fact that your recordings influence many local churches, music departments, and worship services – for better or for worse.

6. You may cause us to miss your point about how good God is if you are simultaneous trying to show us how good you can sing.

7. Do not give “shout-outs” during the songs to your record company, producers, fellow musicians, band members, home town, or… you get the point. What’s that about?

8. You dishonor the entire worship service and set a bad example when a pastor invites you to sing and you do your “set” and then leave.

9. Stop speaking in tongues on your recordings. Many of your listeners do not speak in tongues. And many who do believe that tongues should have an interpreter. Carefully study 1 Corinthians 12-14. And think about what you are communicating in a recording of worship music.

10. Stop addressing cities in your music. “Praise him, Detroit.” Or, “Sing it with me, Houston.” You are not leading cities in worship. You are leading the congregation you are leading. Hopefully.

Here is one more recommendation for free:

11. Please remember that it is not about you!

Ha! I love the last one! 🙂