To most people music is a mysterious thing and so are musicians. If you’re serious about your ministry as a musician, serious to the point that you sometimes space out or forget to eat, you’ve probably discovered that your friends and folks worry about you. They don’t understand exactly what it is you do. As a Christian songwriter, especially a worship songwriter, what you do is lead people in expressing their love and worship to the Lord—honoring, adoring and venerating Him. You have the holy privilege of putting words into the mouths of God’s people—wonderful words that they might not have thought of saying to the Lord before. Or perhaps saying ancient words in a new way. It’s a precious privilege, to be valued and taken seriously. A songwriter can be a soul doctor, a healer. We’re handling nuclear, life-impacting material. So let’s handle it with awe, with reverence, with care, with thankfulness, with humility, and with joy.

As we write, let’s hope among other things that our songs will:
Magnify the worth of God and bring Him pleasure. Teach the doctrinal truths of scripture. Evoke a whole-hearted response to the revelation of God’s love and character. Inspire others to live their lives for the glory of God. Motivate others to know Him and enjoy Him.  Help others become more aware of His presence in their lives. If we’re going to suggest that the church, with its rich heritage of great music, should use our songs in its holy mission, we had better make sure ours are as empowered as those we would have them replace.