Many churches have rather rigid ideas about the proper way to conduct a song service. If a leader deviates form the norm, objections arise. Objectors will either bluntly state or at least imply that deviations from propriety are unscriptural. Many Christians have not yet been trained in the art of differentiating between culture and Biblical revelation. It is the very nature of culture to be invisible to insiders while being extremely visible to outsiders. The invisible nature of culture makes its standards seem normal and proper and (therefore) scriptural. Deviations from the norm produce culture shock (a feeling of dislike for that which is different), and culture shock inspires many naive brethren to cry out '"That's unscriptural!"
Most song leaders are not educators. They lack the opportunity to teach their brethren to differentiate between culture and Biblical revelation. Their responsibility is to direct singing. But the cultural rigidity of the church limits a leader's options in creative and effective song leading.
What is a leader to do? One simple answer is to work around church traditions in creative ways that do not generate objections from traditionalists.
Many church members feel it is wrong to sing during the moments when the Lord's Supper is being served. The Bible does not prohibit singing during the Lord's Supper, but tradition asserts that we must have absolute silence when we are partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine. Is there some way we might insert a song or two during the Lord's Supper without stimulating the wrath of the traditionalists? Yes. After the loaf has been served many churches need about 60 seconds to get ready for the serving of the fruit of the vine. The song leader might fill that minute with a spontaneous hymn. Most people will not object to singing a song between the serving of the bread and the serving of the cup.
Most church members feel it is wrong to conclude a sermon without an invitation song. The Bible never did "authorize" an invitation song. Invitation songs were invented about 200 years ago and we have been enslaved to them since then. Is there any way we might break the monotony of singing songs like "Just As I Am", "O Why Not Tonight", or "Trust And Obey" every week? Yes. Most brethren do not care which song we sing just as long as we sing an invitation song. Why not lead a song of praise for an invitation song? In fact, every song in the hymnal might be considered a possible invitation song. Widen your repertory of invitation songs and we might rejuvenate an old worn-out custom.
Most churches demand that the service end with a closing song and a closing prayer. The Bible does not require such an ending, but tradition does. Is there any way we might be creative with the closing of a service without inciting the wrath of traditionalists? Yes, there are several things we could do. We might reverse the order: Present the closing prayer before the closing song. We might abbreviate the closing song (sing only the chorus to a hymn) or we might extend the closing song by singing one stanza from two different songs.
The suggestions presented in this article have not been comprehensive. Our purpose has been to offer a few suggestions that may inspire additional creative thinking on the part of song leaders. Creative thinking can open doors to song service options that will bring freshness and variety into a traditional service without causing unnecessary controversy.
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