Ongoing discussion

What makes a song gospel?

I have been in the gospel music ministry for a period of years since infancy. I owe this to my Dad who introduced me to the ministry at a tender age. For a number of years I have been exposed to gospel music but never have I asked myself this question, “What makes a song gospel?” I was asked this question by a humble friend, who is also in the music ministry. I thought of this question as a deep one.

This question was based on the fact that now in Ghana, individuals in the secular music circle are approaching an evolutionary trend where they do songs which seem to talk about God.

 If you ask me I will say what they are doing is not totally wrong. But I will continue to ask whether they are only doing it for the money and fame or they really want to spread the good news?

Now back to the question “what makes a song gospel?” Upon consulting some friends in the ministry I have come out with two possible factors that makes a song gospel.

1.      The message the song carries.

The holy bible makes us (Christians) understand that the gospel is good news. For a song to qualify as gospel or good news, I believe it should preach of the existence of God and his son Jesus Christ, so that whoever believes, may have everlasting life

The gospel of Christ and the kingdom of God is the message that every song that profess the gospel genre should possess.

The gospel of Christ is powerful and hence its presence in the gospel is not anything that should be overlooked.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. KJV

 Romans1:16 explicitly puts it in ways that makes it staggeringly concrete in our understanding of what the gospel music should be.

The power that the gospel of Christ and his kingdom should hence not be underemphasized in any song that should be identified as a gospel song

2.      The vessel or Messenger of the gospel.

Rom 12:112:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. KJV

In presenting our service through music to God, I believe strongly the vessel doing so should be one who very own life is as well service to God, a holy being that is acceptable to God.

What we may fail to understand here is that this music should carry inspiration and from who do the carry this inspiration?

When we begin to draw the lines as to the source of this inspiration then we begin to understand what is behind them.

Jesus in addressing HIS disciples informs them of the work of the Holy Spirit that is to be sent

John 15:26-27But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. KJV

A vessel without Christ and hence lacking the Holy Spirit will be lagging in that essence of the word of God that comes from the Holy Spirit.

2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good work. KJV

Still on vessels, in Paul’s second letter to timothy

2 Tim 2:19-20 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

Paul clearly says that everyone that calls on the name of Christ should thence depart from sin.

Thus we can say for all that stand to sing a gospel that individual should have Christ.

And hence as a friend rightly puts it, “how do you give me apples if you have none” the gospel ministers should have Christ and hence should be the voice that sends out the ‘gospel’ of Christ.

Scripture tells us (Christians) that, the Lord has ordered that those who preach the gospel should live of lives that conforms with the gospel.

 If an individual preaches the gospel but does not live a life that conforms to the gospel, the individual disobeys the gospel.

It is no error that ministers of the gospel music live from their ministration. For even scriptures say “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

People who do secular music are only interested in getting their music across the world to gain money and fame and will stop at nothing to achieve this aim even if it means doing something related to the gospel. Most often such people are able to put on their music albums a lovely song containing a gospel message and tend to lure Christians into buying their album.

And definitely when you get the album you may not only listen to the song with the gospel message but you are tempted to listen to the numerous worldly songs on it which may drag your attention to the worldly things that may be said in the other songs.

In order to avoid the temptation of listening to the worldly songs that can cause you to backslide as a Christian it is advisable to listen to gospel songs by people who live by the gospel. People who live by the gospel are the true gospel preachers and provide the true gospel music.

God bless you.

Kofie Nii Philip

niiquophie@gmail.com