Corporate worship is an industry. With worship leaders, songwriters, and churches releasing new music to radio, going on tour, and selling tens of thousands of records. With the rise of an industry, there is also something of a hybrid - the worship artist. A blend of contemporary christian music sensibilities, corporate worship production, and singer-songwriter confessionals. For me, artists such as United, Maverick City Music, and several Bethel artists would fall into this category. Much of this music I enjoy, and find personally beneficial. But something that gives me pause is how undiscerning worship leaders can be about introducing - what I would call - songs of personal devotion - into the corporate worship space.
I do not believe that there is anything wrong or heretical about singing songs of personal devotion in the corporate gathering. Songs of personal devotion like, ‘I Love You Lord,’ and, ‘Give Me Jesus,’ have their place in the life of the Church. And clearly we see in the Psalms (the song and prayer book of the people of God) very personal pleas, confessions, prayers and celebrations from the Psalmist - intended for corporate use. What I am primarily contending for here is best practice - bringing songs to the congregation that will serve the people well in the corporate gathering and daily life.
Here are some filters for consideration when a song connects with you personally, or is being suggested by someone in the congregation, as to whether it may fall into a category of corporate worship, or personal devotion:
True.
Everything we put in the mouths of our congregations should be true. Not just truth adjacent, but true true. Can you trace every concept, idea, and even lyric back to Scripture? The lyrics should reveal what God has first revealed to be true of Himself - His heart, and His character. The content of the song should also be universally true for the life of every believer - not just telling a story of personal experience. An example of this kind of song of personal devotion is a song like ‘Talking to Jesus’ from Brandon Lake - ‘Grandma used to pray out loud by her bed every night. To me it sounded like mumbling like she was out of her mind. She said, ‘Boy, this kind of praying is what saved my life you outta try it sometime,’ and now I know she was right.’ - Clearly, this is a lyric that is personally meaningfully, but not necessarily universally true.
We Over Me.
Corporate sung worship is corporate. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of changing all personal pronouns in corporate worship songs to plural pronouns (I have known of churches who have done this), but our corporate worship songs should be filled with more ‘we’s than ‘me’s.
Accessible.
Melodies and lyrics should be accessible to the congregation. Songs that contain multiple parts lyrically or melodically can make learning and ‘entering into that song’ difficult for the average congregation. Choose lyrics that are poetic, thoughtful, unique and unfold with meaning the more they are sung, absolutely! But will what you are singing make sense without any explanation, or if someone walks in halfway through a song? Songs of personal devotion can often have compelling melodies, that change from verse to verse, or never come back to repeat specific parts - this can be especially difficult to teach, let alone grasp in the corporate worship gathering.
Regardless of whether a song leans more corporate worship, or personal devotion, choosing songs for your congregation should be something done with a critical ear, and a discerning heart. One that is familiar with your congregation specifically - what do they need to sing right now? What will we need to sing a year from now? What songs will they need to sing over their crying baby in the evening? What songs will they need to sing in celebration of the care and provision of God? What songs will they need to sing around the gravesite? Whatever songs we choose, may they be ones that are good, beautiful and true.