It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of modern church music. What do I define as modern? Certainly the current decade, and the decade before it. How far back it goes I don’t know.

I’m not stuck in the 1970s music era, however. I find Christian songs I like in all decades. It’s just that they are harder to come by nowadays. I don’t make claims that I hear others making. “Modern songs don’t include doctrine.” “Modern songs are too repetitive.” “Modern choruses focus too much on us and not on God in the person of Jesus Christ.”

All of those, to me, aren’t good arguments. If you don’t like a style of music you don’t like it. You don’t have to defend your position or come up with a theology of songs. There’s no arguing about tastes. I don’t like rap, most 1990s popular music, and most disco. No one can argue about that. You like what you like.

Still, patterns seem to emerge as music styles change over the years. Modern choruses do seem to have a lot of repetition. I disagree that they are us-centered rather than God-centered. It’s mostly a matter of music style with me. I’m not a fan of current music styles, including current church music.

So when I find a current song I really like, it’s an event. That’s the case with “So Will I“, a song by Hillsong United. This is inspired by Jesus’ words in , during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Pharisees object to all the adulation He is receiving and tell him to rebuke his disciples. Instead He says, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” [Luke 19:40 NIV]  Meaning, He will receive worship. If mankind doesn’t do it, Creation will.

I won’t quote the lyrics from the song, as they are certainly copyrighted. The idea is that Creation will worship God, and so will I. If a hundred billion galaxies can sing Your praises so will I. If a hundred billion creatures still obey You so will I. If creation worships You so will I.

The song has enough doctrine to satisfy the staunchest believer in hymns only. It is God-centered, but joins man and God in a relationship. It has worship coming from every line.

I hope to find more of this kind of song as the years pass.