"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth."    Psalm 96:1

Recently, Worship Leader Magazine asked me (among others) to respond to two questions that they will be focusing on in an upcoming issue.  The questions they posed were quite thought-provoking and, upon further reflection, essential for the worship leader.  I look forward to the January 2010 issue and what others have to say.  Meanwhile, here are their questions and my extended response to them.

WL:  What is New Song?

Before I came to Christ, there were three kinds of songs I typically wrote: “I love you” songs, “You left me” songs, and “You can leave now” songs.   (I think I wrote a song about the circus once too.)  But then I came to Christ in the eighties, and my perspective on my music began to change.  Unfortunately, I mistakenly thought that, in order for my faith to reflect in my art, I had to write a certain kind of song.  I thought I had to write “Jesus” songs: “Jesus loves you,” “Jesus won’t leave you,” and “Why did you leave Jesus?” 

Thankfully, I think I’ve grown up a little since then.  I no longer feel compelled to write message-oriented (and somewhat propagandized) lyrics that fit a certain format or formula.  In fact, it is only necessary for me to be real in my art—to write or paint or compose consistent with who I am—as I authentically live out God’s saving grace before Him and the world.

And I think that’s what New Song is.  Whenever the psalmist uses the term, New Song, he is referring to an act of worship that is a response to redemption, rescue, deliverance, salvation.  If we are real with our lyrics, our compositions, our art, then invariably who we are and what we believe will emanate from it.  And that includes the redemptive grace of God in our lives. New Song is a response to the amazing Truth that God rescued us and loves us.  So when we express Christ’s redemption in our lives and our response to it—whether it is in music or dance or on the written page or simply with our lives—we sing a New Song.

WL:  Where do you see New Song emerging?

Psalm 33:3 encourages us to “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”  As a creative arts pastor for a local church, I see the New Song whenever I see someone honestly expressing their faith through the arts with skill and passion.  These days, I am encouraged to see artists of all kinds—not just musicians, but also painters, filmmakers, dancers, graphic designers, writers, and others—finding their voice and making a New Song to the glory of God.  And doing it with authenticity, skill, and passion. 

If anyone has a song worth expressing, it is the Christ following artist.  May we be a constant expression of the New Song that God has inspired in us.