Accessing Worship Songs

I recently did an exercise that Constance Cherry presents in her book, The Worship Architect, that runs worship songs through a filter of sorts. I chose three songs that have been impactful in my worship experience as well as being ones that I love or wish to lead. I found it encouraging that two of the songs were mostly in the "very strong" category. However, I was surprised by how much the third song, What Can I Do, varied theologically. It is still, I believe, a worth while song to sing about our human dependence on God, but it does not speak to these categories that Cherry presented.

The Worship Architect – Rubric for Songs Constance Cherry

Name of song: Lord of Lords by Hillsong

Theological Strength	Weak	Average	Strong	Very Strong	How important is this to me now?
Is the text utterly true?				X	Very
Is the text true for my theological tradition?				X	Very
Does the text represent biblical ideas of Christian experience?				X	Very
Does the text contain obvious scriptural allusions?				X	Very
Does the text represent a fair picture of biblical teaching?				X	Very
Does the text consistently use biblical names and titles for God?				X	Very
Does the text include reference to the fullness of God’s divine nature?				X	Very
Does the text represent a fully developed theological idea, or does it only provide “thought bites” of theological ideas?				X	Very
Lyrical Strength
Is the text well constructed?				X	Very
Does the text use complete sentences?				X	Mostly
Does the text employ poetic devices effectively?			X		Mostly
Will the poetry connect with the congregation’s imagination?				X	Very
Does the text use understandable words?				X	Very
Is there logical flow of thought?			X		Very
Are the lyrics clear or vague?				X	Very
Does the text inspire and edify?				X	Very
Do the words fit the music?				X	Very
Musical Strength
Are the musical phrases well constructed?				X	Mostly
Is the melody line memorable?				X	Very
Is the melody accessible to the average singer?			X		Mostly
Is the tune interesting enough to sustain the participation of the singers?				X	Very
Does the tune fit the text?				X	Very

Name of song: Before the Throne of God Above

Theological Strength	Weak	Average	Strong	Very Strong	How important is this to me now?
Is the text utterly true?				X	Very
Is the text true for my theological tradition?				X	Very
Does the text represent biblical ideas of Christian experience?				X	Very
Does the text contain obvious scriptural allusions?				X	Very
Does the text represent a fair picture of biblical teaching?				X	Very
Does the text consistently use biblical names and titles for God?				X	Very
Does the text include reference to the fullness of God’s divine nature?				X	Very
Does the text represent a fully developed theological idea, or does it only provide “thought bites” of theological ideas?				X	Very
Lyrical Strength
Is the text well constructed?				X	Very
Does the text use complete sentences?				X	Mostly
Does the text employ poetic devices effectively?				X	Mostly
Will the poetry connect with the congregation’s imagination?				X	Very
Does the text use understandable words?			X		Very
Is there logical flow of thought?				X	Very
Are the lyrics clear or vague?				X	Very
Does the text inspire and edify?				X	Very
Do the words fit the music?				X	Very
Musical Strength
Are the musical phrases well constructed?				X	Mostly
Is the melody line memorable?				X	Very
Is the melody accessible to the average singer?				X	Mostly
Is the tune interesting enough to sustain the participation of the singers?				X	Very
Does the tune fit the text?				X	Very

Name of song: What Can I Do by Tye Tribbett

Theological Strength	Weak	Average	Strong	Very Strong	How important is this to me now?
Is the text utterly true?				X	Very
Is the text true for my theological tradition?			X		Very
Does the text represent biblical ideas of Christian experience?				X	Very
Does the text contain obvious scriptural allusions?			X		Very
Does the text represent a fair picture of biblical teaching?		X			Very
Does the text consistently use biblical names and titles for God?	X				Very
Does the text include reference to the fullness of God’s divine nature?		X			Very
Does the text represent a fully developed theological idea, or does it only provide “thought bites” of theological ideas?		X			Very
Lyrical Strength
Is the text well constructed?				X	Very
Does the text use complete sentences?			X		Mostly
Does the text employ poetic devices effectively?			X		Mostly
Will the poetry connect with the congregation’s imagination?			X		Very
Does the text use understandable words?				X	Very
Is there logical flow of thought?				X	Very
Are the lyrics clear or vague?				X	Very
Does the text inspire and edify?				X	Very
Do the words fit the music?				X	Very
Musical Strength
Are the musical phrases well constructed?				X	Mostly
Is the melody line memorable?				X	Very
Is the melody accessible to the average singer?				X	Mostly
Is the tune interesting enough to sustain the participation of the singers?				X	Very
Does the tune fit the text?				X	Very