As I’ve said before, I take singing seriously. I don’t believe in singing to get the congregation quiet. I don’t believe that talking during a song is any more acceptable than holding a conversation during a prayer. (especially since many songs are prayers)

I try to pay attention to the words when I sing. I do my best to avoid singing things I don’t really believe or agree with. I don’t hold anybody else to my choices; I’m not offended if someone wants to sing something I choose not to (unlike the producers of Sacred Selections of the Church, who saw it necessary to “correct” the words to many hymns. My friends in college used to call that hymnal “Scared Selections”)

For example, our Spanish hymnal at church has two hymns that talk about the new Jerusalem having streets of gold and a sea of crystal. Problem is, in Revelation, those two things are mutually exclusive. That is, when the new Jerusalem appears with its streets of gold, the sea no longer exists. I prefer not to sing that one.

There’s another one in Spanish that talks about Christians always smiling, even when bad things happen. I’m a believer in consistent joy, but that doesn’t mean we’re always smiling. There is room for “weep with those who weep” in the Christian life.

Here’s a few others:

• “I want a mansion, a robe and a crown…”—The whole “Mansion Over The Hilltop” has questionable lyrics, but that line really gets me. That’s not where my focus is. I want to be in the presence of God; anything He chooses to give me beyond that won’t really matter at that point.
• “The Evergreen Valley”—Maybe someone can point me to something in the Bible about such a place. Until then, I’ll just smile and listen.
• “May Your kingdom be established in our praises”—Sorry, I don’t even know what that line is supposed to mean. I’d just as soon not sing it.

There are others, but I guess you get the drift. What about you? Any lyrics that you are uncomfortable singing?