We have to be so careful about which songs we choose for our worship of God. Today’s contemporary Christian music encompasses songs that offer praise and worship to God but then turn the focus inward to ourselves. Whoa! What is that about?
2 Timothy 3:1-3 says this: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good… Wow!
We can sing songs with a more inward focus in the car or around the house, but I don’t believe they are appropriate for a church worship service. That’s my personal opinion. One example of what I’m talking about is the song Goodness of God by Bethel Music. It begins with a clear focus on God and His goodness. It’s a wonderful song. But at the bridge, it turns inward, shifting the focus to us: “Your goodness is running after me.” There’s nothing wrong with this song per sé, but for a worship service, I would skip over the bridge. Again, that’s my opinion.
Psalm 150 puts it this way: Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength! Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him for his surpassing greatness! Praise him with the blast of the horn! Praise him with the lyre and the harp! Praise him with the tambourine and with dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and the flute! Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with clanging cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Psalm 98:1 says Sing to the LORD a new song, for he performs amazing deeds! His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance.
It’s so important to understand the focus of our worship: is it God and his mighty character, or is it really about me? Good question to ponder.