Would this be appropriate to sing in the worship services: Lonely tombs?
The songs that are appropriate to sing in the worship services are songs that could rightfully be considered “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). These “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” must contain “teaching and admonishing” about spiritual matters as well as glorify God (Colossians 3:16; Revelation 15:3-4). As such, then, singing in worship should not have as its primary or overriding function to entertain either the singers or others who may be present.
These “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” by lexical definition are “psalms” meaning “a sacred ode,” “hymns” meaning “a religious ode,” and “spiritual songs” meaning “non-carnal” or “religious” for the word “spiritual” and “chant” or “ode” for the word “songs” (Strong’s). The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia says of “ode” that it “…originally meant any lyrical piece adapted to be sung.” Doubtless our four part harmony in even what we consider traditional hymns is far different from the chants that passed for singing in first century worship; the mere difference between singing in the first century and singing traditional hymns would certainly shock a first century Christian. Contemporary or praise songs that are lately popular often make modern-day brethren (and likewise would make first century brethren) at least a little uncomfortable (I personally much prefer our traditional hymns).
Therefore, psalms, hymns and spiritual songs sung in our worship assemblies are governed by Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 and as well need to be composed of singing with which the singers are comfortable (not entertained). Few if any of our worship songs are divinely inspired and all of them take some so-called literary license. Grandpa Jones from the Grand Ole Opry used to sing a religious song, “There’s a Hole in the Ground for You and Me.” That song contained some blunt but thought-provoking messages, though I’m just not ready to begin wafting that melody from my lips Sunday morning. I am not familiar with the song, “Lonely Tombs,” but I imagine it is lively and appeals to lively Christians. If it is appropriate, some Christians may not be ready to make the adjustment required to waft its airs in corporate worship. At the same time, if it is appropriate as are some other praise songs with which some of us are uncomfortable, we need to bend as much as we desire others to bend when we sing loudly those traditional hymns.
Works Cited
McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2000.
Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft and International Bible Translators.
