‘Christians need to sing theologically rich songs in their churches’: Keith Getty

Church leaders should be ensuring their congregations are singing theologically and doctrinally rich songs, award-winning Christian songwriter Keith Getty believes.

In an interview with The Christian Institute, Getty talked about his ‘Sing! Hymnal’, the biblical mandate for singing a range of edifying psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and the need for scriptural truth to be woven into songs in a way that people want to sing.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Keith and his wife Kristyn live in Nashville, Tennessee, and are performing in Glasgow, London and Belfast for their Home for Christmas concerts this week and next.

‘Every emotion of the soul’

The songwriter lamented that there are “so few churches who have got a healthy singing church” when the Bible demonstrates how “crucial it is to Christian health and Christian integrity”.

He highlighted that 20 per cent of the Bible comprises “songs, poetry and hymns, so that is how important singing is to the Lord, singing is the second most common command in Scripture”.

Getty warned that while Christians may be tempted to only sing songs that appeal to their personality, the Psalms contain “every emotion of the soul”.

He explained that the ‘Sing! Hymnal’ is intended to reflect this variety, including hymns for each part of the church service, the Christian life from childhood to death, and the life of Christ.

‘Beauty’

Getty also noted the importance of musicality in worship, remarking that “it doesn’t matter how much theology is in a song, if it’s a bad song, no one wants to sing it”.

He emphasised that “deep congregations” are built by “going through the door of beauty”.

Using the example of Charles Wesley’s ‘And Can it Be, That I Should Gain?’, he explained that the hymn uses “growing speed” and “all the human senses”, in addition to language and pictures.

“He doesn’t go ‘I used to be black as night, and now I’m white as snow.’ He doesn’t say ‘I used to be a sinner, and now I am saved.’

“He says ‘Long my imprisoned spirit lay / fast bound in sin and nature’s night / Thine eye diffused a quickening ray / I woke the dungeon flamed with light / My chains fell off, my heart was free / I rose, went forth and followed thee.'”