TWO CENTS

Here is a very important axiom - a truth, if you will - that not many of us remember, practice or even realize...

Opinion in no way dictates the validity or quality of art.

Now, somewhere, someone is nodding their head in agreement.  And you should! But the reality is that all of, now and again, forget how true this is.

We forget it when we make a face of disgust over a music style we don't like, or an artistic performance that we don't ebrace, or a film script we consider weak... and with that air of disagreement comes the added inference that the work itself is "not good."  I mean, how could it be good if, clearly, I don't care for it?  (You and I both know people like this... maybe us!) 

I happen to have a very low regard for the artwork of Jackson Pollock.  I'm sure he was a creative genius and his works of art carried great meaning.  I just happen to not like them.  My opinion is that they do nothing for me.  On the other hand, the work of Dali or Picasso holds great interest for me. My opinion is that these artist's works are wonderful, certainly better than Pollock.  

I feel the same way about Mozart. I could listen to his musical works forever.  Not so much the musical compositions of Brahms.  My opinion is that Mozart's music is better than the music of Brahms.

But, is it?  Is Mozart "better" than Brahms?  Is Picasso or Dali "better" than Pollock?  What weight does my opinion carry regarding the quality or validity of any one art form over another?

Bringing this into the realm of church music - where opinions are as varied as the individuals who hold them... if someone's opinion is that modern praise songs are pointless, or that traditional hymns are irrelevant, does that opinion validate the quality of the art?  Most people who disdain a hymn or a modern song of praise share their opinion with an air of superiority - as if THEY have been selected by God Himself to dictate what type of music is "correct" for worship to the exclusion of whatever music form they find less worthy of inclusion - - based on their opinion.

Friends - that is nothing less than pure arrogance.

On the other hand, a theologian might consider the lyrical content of a song (hymn, praise song, etc.) and determine that, based on the language of the text, the song in question does not line up with Christian doctrine and, therefore, probably should not be sung as a "worship song."  This is not an opinion - this is based on education and study of scripture.  They may have an opinion that the continuous repetition of a song is monotonous but that opinion has nothing to do with the truth of the lyrical content.  If they base their decision to eliminate a song on their opinion, then they have completely side-stepped the truth in deference to their personal agenda.  

Of course, sadly, there are some songs from our hymn traditions as well as from our modern collection that simply rub up against theological truth and, therefore, probably should not be included in a worship service regardless of how well-loved they are or how easy it is to tap our toes and clap our hands to the beat.  And if that decision is based on theology then we're good to go. 

We need to be very careful with how much weight we give our opinions of the creative art forms God has blessed us with.  There are some songs that will never be included on the Air-1 or K-Love playlist and that is most likely because they are not "hooky" enough to earn money.  In no way, however, does that mean such a song has no place in a worship service.  My opinion might be that the song "doesn't go anywhere" or "is boring" or "sounds the same as other songs."  And, to be honest, it probably will!  That's part of the unfortunate "Contemporary Christian Worship Song" machine that has been developed and applauded over the past several decades.  But if that song speaks of loving Jesus, calling Him my Lord and Savior, and glorifying Him, then that song has value - no matter what my opinion of it might be.

All of this to say - perhaps it's time to put our two-cents into the offering plate - where it belongs.