talks about it needing to be comforting . Every service needs to be brimming with revelations and life strategies and commitments made , but no one ’ s trying to ensure its brimming with soothing , harmonious serenity . And for those who claim to follow the Prince of Peace , you have to admit , that ’ s kind of weird .
Our songs have the potential to meet this moment , and to minister the very peace which is lacking .
Our songs have the power to make us still , and to bring us to rest . To make us smile more .
When the early church is first spoken of in Acts , there ’ s an element of their reception that is typically ignored — even by people leading a Bible study centered around the passage .
“ Now all the believers were together and held all things in common . They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all , as any had need . Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple , and broke bread from house to house . They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts , praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people . Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved .” ( Acts 2:44-47 )
The lives they lived , and the way they worshipped God , brought them favor with the people . Their way of being felt like life and not death to those around them . They weren ’ t hiding away , looking down on the world and telling themselves that they were being persecuted . They weren ’ t gathering to put on a show for God , or to marinate in their shame
while cultivating scrupulosity in one another . They were living boldly in that they lived with simplicity , caring for each other , and their number was growing .
… And people actually liked them .
I often wonder if we haven ’ t grown too cynical to recognize the potential for that same testimony in the church today . When we accept the volatility of our time as inevitable , and add to the stress and contentiousness surrounding us , we become a people who make division rather than peace . We hide within our four walls and dream smaller than we were meant to .
Instead , we could be idealistic . We could be hopeful . We could meet our moment — by aiming to make peace , as ministers of reconciliation ( 2 Cor . 5:18 ).
And we would need new songs as a part of doing that .
“ Blessed are the peacemakers ” is the only one of the eight beatitudes which carries a promise for how we ’ re perceived by others in embodying it . “ Blessed are the peacemakers , for they will be called children of God ,” Jesus says ( Mt . 5:9 ).
Because radical peacemaking is powerful .
If we ’ re to be regarded as children of God , we must make peace .
That includes our songs .
AUTHOR ’ S NOTE : I am aware of Jesus ’ statement in Matthew 10:34-36 , but I find it problematic when used to diminish the testimony of scripture taken in its entirety . Jesus speaks there of the division he will cause , but in context he is speaking specifically of the Jewish people in his time . He quotes Micah 7 in that very same breath because his primary implication is Israel . Mt . 10:34 doesn ’ t cause the proclamation of Isaiah 9:6 (“ His name shall be called … Prince of Peace ”) or the birth announcement of Luke 2:14 (“ Peace on earth , goodwill to people ”) to suddenly disappear . It is most sensible to take that one statement in its context rather than using it to ignore so many others that carry broader application . And as much as this may feel like an aside to the column , it ’ s crucial for me to say it . These sorts of theological conversations are necessary for anyone presuming to write songs of worship for congregational use .
In the interest of a potential prompt that might inspire a song , consider the following passages in your own times of meditation :
Luke 1:76-79 Romans 8:6 Romans 12:18 Romans 14:19 Galatians 5:22 , 23 Philippians 4:7 Colossians 3:15 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Kevin MacDougall Worship leader , published and recorded songwriter , musician and podcast producer . macdougall . k @ gmail . com