The songs we sing really matter. By that I mean – they matter to our soul. The content, lyrics, and theology of the songs we sing and listen to act as a rudder for our hearts & minds for better or worse. At FBC we aim to sing songs during our worship services that unite us in the truth of who God is, that point our hearts and minds to affection for Jesus and a desire to be in alignment with the ways of the Kingdom of God.
Over the next several weeks we will sing songs that recount the gospel. Take note of lyrics that specifically help us remember the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.
One of the songs we sing at FBC that captures this well is Man of Sorrows:
Man of sorrows, Lamb of God, by His own betrayed
The sin of man and wrath of God has been on Jesus laid
Silent as He stood accused, beaten, mocked and scorned
Bowing to the Father’s will He took a crown of thorns
Man of sorrows, Lamb of God, by His own betrayed
The sin of man and wrath of God has been on Jesus laid
Silent as He stood accused, beaten, mocked and scorned
Bowing to the Father’s will He took a crown of thorns
Sent of heaven, God’s own Son, to purchase and redeem
And reconcile the very ones who nailed Him to that tree
As the bridge and chorus of that song proclaim, Jesus ultimately paid for our salvation through His suffering for our sin:
Now my debt is paid, it is paid in full by the precious blood that my Jesus spilled
Now the curse of sin has no hold on me, whom the Son sets free, oh is free indeed
Oh that rugged cross, my salvation, where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out “Hallelujah! Praise and honor unto Thee!”
Singing about Christ’s suffering as he lived, served, bled and died on this earth, is an active way we can turn to Him in our own suffering. Our aim as a church body when we gather is to collectively sing reminders of who God is, to recount both his suffering on our behalf, where we turn in our suffering, and ultimately hope in the victory He has accomplished over sin, suffering and death itself.
To help us reflect independently in this season I’ve curated a Spotify playlist full of songs that act as rudders for our hearts and minds.