Have you every walked past a store or restaurant and heard a familiar song? You may have never patronized either establishment, but you where drawn to look or at least sing along. It's amazing how we can be drawn by that familiarity.
What if you where walking by a church and you heard one of your favorite songs? Would you be intrigued? Would you at least sing along? Would you be drawn to see what's going on?
Let me just start by saying, that in no way shape or form do I believe that secular music can ever replace heart felt, God inspired praise and worship music. I do believe that secular music can have a place in church.
Not Everyone Knows Christian Music
I remember back when I first started going to church, I didn't know the songs they were singing. I didn't know the difference from songs of praise, worship, or a hymn. I felt out of place. People were raising their hands some were clapping some where crying... I was like... what?
I remember getting excited when I sang part of a song that i had heard on some late night worship CD. Then they started singing the verses and I was lost again.
It's hard for the unchurched to fit in with well churched people when it comes to worshiping through music... It's hard for them to fit in anyway. We play songs they don't know and pray prayers they don't understand, and we preach in a way that they won't comprehend.
So what if we played a song that was familiar to the churched and unchurched alike; we know that churched folk don't only listen to christian music. Ok, we must be smart about what we choose and I would run it through a few filters just to make sure the secular songs are not blasphemes or offensive.
Here are a few that we have chosen over the past ...
My Hero _ Foo Fighters
Lost - Cold Play
Come Alive - Foo Fighters
Can't Buy Me Love - Beatles
Love Stinks -J Giles Band
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
Most of the songs are lighthearted and fun, some are not. But they are relative to the sermon and they are not offensive, to God or anyone else.
Where do you stand?
