I have written quite a few Christmas gospel songs. One July, I was busily pitching a song called “Oh, How the Angels Sang!” when I heard back from a man who had asked to hear the song. His e-mail told me that the song was nice but nowhere in Scripture does it speak of angels singing. I was devastated. My first concern was that I had written a song that was Biblically inaccurate, when I strive very hard to keep my songs true to the Scriptures. Secondly, I was upset because of all of the Christmas songs I had written, this was my favorite, my husband’s favorite and a favorite of many congregations with whom we had shared it. My third thought was about all of the other Christmas gospel songs out there that were now called into question because of this statement.
I asked the pastor of the church I attend if there was a Bible verse that he knew of to support the idea of angels singing. He said, “No.” I felt miserable to think that I, and all of the writers who have ever written songs about angels singing, were in error.
Then one morning when I was having my devotional and prayer time, I read a passage in Job 38:
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
I thought, “That’s it!” But to be sure, I consulted all of my trusted commentaries and the pastor. All agreed that it seems to refer to angels.
As it is true that gospel song writers must adhere to “the gospel,” so it is equally true of artists when selecting songs to sing, because it is ultimately they who present the truth, or error, contained in songs to congregations and audiences. It is best for both to heed the advice given in II Timothy 2:15—“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Though it might be tempting to bend the gospel just a little to make a catchy rhyme or to pick a song that will please audiences or that we hope will chart, it is best to remember that at the core of what we do is the gospel and God Who wants our obedience to Him.
We must take our call seriously, for not only are we writers and artists, the medium we use does teach people. Though not written specifically to gospel song writers and artists, like it or not, gospel songs are teaching tools for people and we are wise to heed the Biblical admonition to teachers:
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement.
James 3:1
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