SONGWRITING
PROPHETIC WORSHIP PART 1 : A BRIDGE HOME | Kevin MacDougall
When we talk about songwriting , there are certain aspects of songs we discuss more often than others : Melody and chord voicings . Progressions , lyrical phrases and formatted sections . What a “ hook ” is . Where it should go . And while these technical elements represent the what of our songwriting , there is also the why .
The why is something we tackle less often .
Outside of the main sessions at conferences , it ’ s not a topic writers bring up a lot when we ’ re collaborating or sharing our work . But the topic itself is essential . The why is like the engine powering our craft . The compass . The why is every bit as important for us to focus on and discuss . What drives us ? What role do we see our music playing in the overarching story of faith ? Where do we find ourselves going when we seek to return to the deeper well ?
Why do we write songs ?
Of course , the simple answer is “ to honor and glorify God ,” but that ’ s meant to be true of literally everything we do in life . Thus , it ’ s not an answer exclusive to those who write music for worship . I ’ m talking about something more specific than that . And in this article , I want to peel that answer back a layer to explore our particular dimension of why .
This subject is one I ’ ve wanted to cover in the space of this column for quite a while . It ’ s a dense and daunting subject , but a crucial one . I think I may have been hesitant to write about it until now because its relationship to songwriting may not be immediately apparent ... but stick with me . I believe this is the sort of thing we who write music for worship would do well to be more focused on . Think of it as a discussion of our domain as poets and artists of faith . It ’ s not a domain we ’ ve done much to occupy in our modern context , and this makes it a difficult subject to articulate , because few examples exist which can be pointed to for inspiration . Still , I find myself struck by this : As poet-theologians , it was our domain for thousands of years . And , in order for us to see the possibilities and potential of returning to that domain , we ’ ll need to reestablish a connection which has been lost .
We tend to think of writers of sacred music as an extension of the priesthood , but on this side of the cross , the priesthood belongs to everyone ( 1 Pet . 2:9 ). The divide between “ clergy ” and “ laity ” no longer exists . So , again , that understanding of our songwriting is broad and unspecific . But there remains a more specific lineage we are a part of . An office our role serves , or has served historically .
Consider this : The writings from Isaiah to Malachi , which we call “ the prophets ”, make up about 1 / 4 of a standard Protestant Bible . They are mostly poetic in form , and were often
memorized for public recitation in ancient times . Whether people were suffering injustice or enacting injustice themselves , the prophets served as a stark reminder of God advocating for the victims . They spoke truth to power . They encouraged hope that the toxic and abusive systems of the world and its empires would be brought to ruin . They mourned with those who mourned . And they clung to the promise of a better way to come - a way of equity and peace .
Today , these same books are some of the least read texts in all of scripture . Which is not only tragic , but particularly interesting because , if Jesus ’ speech and actions elevate the lineage of any of those who shaped the Old Testament , it ’ s these same prophets .
Keeping all of that in mind , let ’ s also consider this : If Jesus himself ever defines worship , it ’ s as " whatever you did for the least of these , my brothers and sisters ” ( Mt . 25:34-40 ). That ’ s how Jesus himself says he is served and honored - by how we take care of the hungry , the thirsty , the alien , the unclothed and unhoused , the sick , and the imprisoned .
You cannot serve Jesus directly , so you serve Jesus in the place He dwells . People .
To put it another way , Jesus never once defines worship or service to God as people singing in a room together , but he does say , “ Peter , do