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Singing a New Song
Jason Coghill
I suppose you could say that my ministry is essentially a ministry of the Word of God sung, and the Word of God preached. Is it a youth ministry? Yes! Is it an adult ministry? Yes! Is it an elderly people’s ministry? Yes! Is it a children’s ministry? Yes! It is a ministry for every part of the body of Jesus Christ, because God’s Word is for the six year-old, the sixteen year-old, and the 96 year-old (see Psalm 148, esp. vs. 11 &12).
I started putting music to the psalms back in the early 90’s, when I became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia. One of the aspects I love about our church is its wonderful tradition of singing unaccompanied psalms in public worship. Exposure to the psalms sung in this way motivated me, along with Matthew Jacoby, to explore composing music to the psalms as they are written in the English text, using mainly the NIV. We found a third musician, Rod Gear and eventually formed the band Sons of Korah. Around this time I also successfully completed my Diploma of Theology at the Reformed Theological College of Geelong.
I played with Sons of Korah for a few years then eventually made a solo album titled Songs of Deliverance – ten psalms set to contemporary, acoustic guitar-based music. My aim was (and still is) to put appropriate musical arrangements to the biblical text as found in our translations, without letting the music determine the word structure. Having the words rhyme and fit into a standard verse/chorus arrangement is not important to me. I want people to be able to sing, and more importantly, remember the Word of God verse for verse in both whole psalms and portions. It’s an amazing advantage to your Christian walk when you can have the Word of God stored in your heart and head ready for use in the battle (see Psalm 119:11).
It was while ministering with Songs of Deliverance at a Presbyterian Church in Melbourne that Mark and Niki Tulk introduced themselves. They were really blessed by the ministry and wanted to help in some way, both having been convicted for several years of the need for a different approach to Christian music and ministry, a conviction that eventuated in the creation of Small House Records Australia. We started recording some songs that I had recently arranged and some that I’d arranged six or seven years ago. I signed with the Small House Label and then things really started moving quickly. At this time, my wife Jane and I were just about to leave for the USA on a tour to promote Songs of Deliverance, so the recording at Small House had to wait six weeks. The tour went really well. We ministered in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Denver, Colorado Springs, Phoenix, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Diego, getting four or five days to wind down in Southern California before flying back to Australia. Meanwhile, Small House had organised an Australian tour of capital cities and regional areas that would start in July and finish in November! Jane and I prayed, took a deep breath and said, “Let’s do it!”
But first it was back in the studio to finish the album before the fast approaching release date. By God’s grace and a lot of hard work, Wells of Salvation was released on June 26th. It features nine psalms (one taken from Isaiah 12) and the hymn, Crown Him with Many Crowns.
As I have already explained, the ministry I lead is a ministry of songs, the words of which are the most holy and powerful words known to man because they are the Words of God. To my mind, they are the most appropriate, and beneficial words a Christian can listen to and sing: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16).
At a typical ministry event I will sing through about ten psalms. Everyone in the congregation will have their Bibles open and follow along as I sing, (or they’ll sing as well if they know the tune). Before each psalm is sung, an explanation is given of a particular point of the psalm, and related to the gospel of Jesus Christ and living the Christian life. At an appropriate time, a short gospel sermon is preached from a particular psalm.
It is a very simple set up. Either just myself on guitar, or accompanied by my wife on flute. This is so there will be more focus on the song and less focus on the singer. There is no dimmed lighting or stage effects, and if the congregation wants to show their appreciation, they are encouraged to do so at the end, rather than applauding after every song. This fosters an atmosphere of reflection and meditation after the Word is sung.
I should add here that the CD itself is filled with harmonies, cello, bass, piano and other instruments, so that the effect is to really bring the psalms to life in a melodic, musically more elaborate way. I feel comfortable with the difference that exists, arrangement-wise, between my live and recorded music. When listening to the CD, it is the psalms themselves that are ‘up front’ – again, the song and not the singer being the focus.
I suppose I keep doing what I do because I feel so strongly about the need for holiness in the music we hear and play within the church. In fact, the more I read the Bible and other Christian books, (especially the older ones), and the more I travel and sit in different churches, the more I am convinced that our churches need major reforming; particularly in the area of music and song both in private listening and public worship.
It seems a tragic pattern of the ‘world’ that so many young people are becoming more distanced, even separated from parents and authority figures, and largely through the influence and fashions of the mass media, particularly the music culture. It is even more tragic to think that the evangelical church could actually be fostering this same pattern by conforming to it. I’m convinced, to a large degree, that this is actually happening.1
One of the easiest ways to promote false (unsound)
doctrine and unholy teaching is to wrap it up in a pop song. The nature
of music is such that it can easily bypass the mind and stir us up only
on an emotional level, to the point where we don’t discern the unsound
doctrine or unholy teaching that is wrapped up in the music. One example
I noted from a radio station whose official music policy states “100%
Christian music.” This song actually refers to Jesus Christ as a U.F.O:
He’s an unidentified flying object you will see him in the air
He’s an unidentified flying object and you will drop your hands
and stare2
At best, the content of many songs I hear that pass for “Christian” is flippant and worldly; at worst, they take the name of the Lord in vain (see Exodus 20:7). I believe it is a mockery to the Lord Jesus Christ and in no way a holy witness to the world, the way so many “Christian” songs are so wrapped up and fashioned to sound no different to the pop music of the world. Though they may include the name Jesus and contain ‘holy’ words, they are of such a style that is inconsistent with the holiness of those words.
If you want to be thoroughly equipped for every good work, listen to and sing the Word of God! Not only will it transform you and conform you to holiness individually; your family will be thoroughly equipped if you make the Word of God the content of your songs; your church will be thoroughly equipped if it makes the Word of God the content of its songs.
Equal to the importance of having righteous content in Christian singing, is that of having the appropriate form or style of music to fit the words. For at least two reasons this is important.
Firstly, the medium must not betray the message. The music must fit the mood and context of what is expressed in the words. If you’re singing Psalm 51 or the first 3 verses of Psalm 6, it would be inappropriate to use an upbeat, major key melody. Conversely, Psalm 117 would sound very strange sung as a dirge.
This relates especially to congregational singing, where the music must be such that all can sing and appreciate it. The arrangements on Songs of Deliverance and Wells of Salvation are not primarily for public worship (although some people do sing along). They are more for private listening and meditation. I do however, usually at one point in the ministry, lead the congregation in singing together. When it comes to congregational worship however, we must ask a question, and the question is not, “What will certain people (mainly youth and young adult) like?” But rather, “What will the whole body of Christ be able to sing and appreciate, whether 18 or 98 or 8 years old?” I choose my words carefully – it is appreciation and appropriateness that is vital, not personal choice and pragmatism.3
Pastors and elders, please don’t fall for the objection that “young people need a style of music that suits them, that they can relate to in order to worship; they need the popular sounds of today.” This is simply not true. There are many young people singing psalms and hymns to tunes that have stood the test of time for centuries, and they sing them alongside brothers, sisters, mums, dads, grandpas and grandmas. Psalm 148 says, "Both young men and maidens, old men and children; let them praise the name of the Lord."
Travelling with this ministry, I hear more and more elderly people tell me how sad and frustrated they feel because they seem forced into a style of worship that is not inclusive but exclusive. The holiness, simplicity and inclusive (all-age) worship they grew up with has changed. Some stop coming to worship. Others feel intimidated into silence, feeling they can’t “compete with a group of gifted, microphoned vocalists blasting a melody from the stage, especially with an accompanying rock band.”4
So how do we choose appropriate tunes? What words should we sing? Is there a theology behind what we do? Who should sing? I can’t sing! Do we need a band? These and other questions are considered in the worship workshops that I conduct at various churches.
After a brief introduction considering the biblical justification and implication of public worship in song – we sing! – together, all ages, young and old, and teenagers! It is a rewarding experience for those who are new to singing in 4-part harmony. For those who were once used to such worship in song, it is a holy breath of fresh air. The aim of the workshops is to encourage reformation in our worship – worship, not according to the fashions of man, but according to the precepts and principles of Holy Scripture.
I am thankful to God, that through the music ministry, I am able to promote and encourage a different approach to worship; a different mindset; a holy mindset and a holy approach. We once had it. May God again reform our worship to His glory and our good.
Jason Coghill’s
new album ‘Wells of Salvation’ and the re-issue of ‘Songs of
Deliverance’ are both available through Small House Records Australia,
www.smallhouserecords.com.au and WORD bookstores in all
capital cities. Jason and Jane are currently touring most states – for
dates & venues visit the Small House Records website.
1 See “Suggestions To Reclaim Biblical, Holy, Church
Worship” www.reformationsongs.com (articles)
2 “U.F.O” by Larry Norman.
3 See “The Danger of Pragmatism” www.reformationsongs.com (articles)
4 Dan Lucarini, Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement –
Confessions of a former worship leader, Evangelical Press, 2002 p. 114.
I highly recommend this book to pastors & elders, esp. if your church is
considering conforming to a more “contemporary” style.
5 For more information, go to www.reformationsongs.com (articles;
“Introduction To The Worship Workshop” Or contact Jason Coghill
info@reformationsong.com
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