As the Titanic sank, deeds of heroism were done.
A determined set of musicians, contracted to provide music throughout the voyage, decided they would stay in their place and play their music to the best of their ability although the ship was doomed.
My home country, the United States of America, is sinking faster than most thought possible. Just as some proclaimed “Even God couldn’t sink” the Titanic, so some have thought America is invincible. While there are still good people and rays of hope for a turnaround, the sun appears to be setting on what was once a God-fearing nation. Our decay is not in our military might, our scientific prowess, or other such things. Our nation’s soul has been lost to a desire for pleasure along with an arrogant rebellion against the God of heaven.
I write music. It is part of who I am and what I do. I’ve wondered what the future holds for songwriters such as myself, who write songs for what seems to be an ever-shrinking group of people known as Bible-believing Christians. It seems that only those “Christian” music companies who assimilate into the entertainment world’s pop music scene can make a living in music. For what purpose am I writing, arranging, and recording music?
It has now occurred to me that the songs that I am writing may serve as hymns and spiritual songs for a generation of Christians who grow up in an anti-Christian America, an America that will persecute them for claiming the name of Christ.
Paul and Silas were persecuted for their faith, and yet we find them in the bowels of a dank, disgusting dungeon praising God in song. Music moves us when times are difficult, or even impossible.
I’ve received word that some of our songs have made their way to the other side of the world, in villages with mud huts and thatched roofs, but with iPods and computers inside! Some of these places may soon come under the persecution of Communism and terrorism. Will some of our songs be on the hearts and lips of brothers and sisters who will give their lives for our Savior?
What about here in the United States? What songs will be sung in the prison cells and the jailhouses as Christians are imprisoned for simply proclaiming the truth of the Word of God?
So fellow songwriters, let us ply our craft to the best of our ability! Let us infuse our hymns with the love of Christ and the grace of God so that our spiritual heirs will have songs to sing as they walk through the fire. Let us wrap up encouragements within our new hymns for our younger brothers and sisters coming behind us so they can feel fellowship with us, and with our God, when everyone else turns on them with hatred.
- Make songs that matter. Why waste our talent on anything else?
- Make songs that are singable. I realize the technological age in which we live makes it possible for us to do amazing things with our music. I enjoy this, too! But if you take all the electronic equipment away, does the song still sing as well?
- Make songs that are biblical. Songs of testimony are fine, if they are connected to biblical truth. So, you’re feeling lost and alone? What is the answer? Make it more than platitudes set to a tune. Make it biblical!
- Make it genuine. To the best of our ability, let’s steer away from the clichés, the overused phrases, and the cheap pop tricks. Let’s write from our hearts in such a way that will stand the test of time.