What are We to Do With Hymns That Go Against Our Conscience?

At the recent Freed-Hardeman University lectures, a question was raised in the Open Forum that did not get much discussion. It is one that is close to my heart, because I love singing praises to God, so I thought I would expand on it a little bit.

I don’t remember the exact wording of the question, but it was basically asking what we should do with songs in church hymn books that are unscriptural. Dr. Ralph Gilmore, moderator of the forum, made a good observation about how nearly every song we sing is poetry; thus, we need to give a little grace. After all, much poetry is symbolic and the writers take some liberties that do not necessarily mean they are violating Scripture.

For example, several songs talk about having a mansion, robe, and crown in heaven (one song has that title, and “Pearly White City” and “Mansions Over the Hilltop” speak of it as well). Is that literal? Of course not, but it does not change the concept that heaven is, in part, a place of remarkable reward. So those songs are not unscriptural, but we may need to explain at times what they mean–and what they do not mean.

However, is there a chance that some songs that may or may not be unscriptural might still violate my conscience? I think so, and I’d like to talk about that for a moment. I believe this, more often that not, is the issue; not a song being directly unscriptural.

One example of a song that violates my conscience is “Get Right Church.” (Now, before you get angry at me, just keep reading.)

The song contains verses that say such things as “I’m going home on the morning train,” “That evening train might be too late,” and “So back, back train and get your load.”

When I read those lyrics or hear the song sung, I cannot help but get a picture of the so-called “Rapture” in my mind. And, since the Rapture–with more than one Second Coming of our Lord–is wholly unscriptural, I cannot in good conscience sing that song.

So, do I then say that no one can sing “Get Right Church?” Absolutely not, and here is why.

The song, like most others we sing, is poetry. I understand that. When I read those lyrics, the false idea of the Rapture is how I interpret the lyrics and I struggle to interpret it any other way. You, however, may have a perfectly scriptural way you interpret the lyrics to that song. If so, sing it!

But since this is an issue of my conscience (and, I might add, it could additionally be an issue with my spiritual maturity or immaturity), I am not going to claim that someone else who sings or leads that song is sinning. I choose not to sing that particular song when it is led, and I simply pass when asked to lead it. I do not even take the time to explain why, and I have even asked someone else to lead it before, because I know a lot of people like it and have no such violation of their conscience from it.

That is just one personal example. There are many others for many people. I know some congregations “stamp” or put stickers on songs they request not to be lead. That is strictly up to the elders of that congregation, but I would ask them to carefully evaluate those songs before doing that. It is easy to get so literal with our reading of hymns that we fail to account for some poetic license.

As I grow in my faith, I may come to struggle with other songs, or some that I struggle with now may no longer violate my conscience. I really think that is more the question that needs to be asked than a question about “unscriptural” songs. Personally, I feel that the editors of most song books do a remarkable work in selecting songs that are Biblical and true. Maybe one or two per book “slip through” that I struggle with on a level that is important (in other words, on a Biblical, not just a conscience, level).

The point of this article is not to scare us away from every song or to make us skeptical of every lyric. Instead, it is to remind us that we must be totally invested in what we do in worship, in both mind and emotion. Think about what you are singing. Sing truth, and remember to not sing something that might violate your conscience. Then, study and grow and you might just realize that you can now sing a certain song.

After all, the idea is to “get right church” so we can “go home!”

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