In Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, he instructs the believers there, and by proxy the church today, to teach each other the wisdom of the Lord and the words of Christ. The manner in which this is to be accomplished is through “singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Col 3:16, ESV) If this is the case, then the question becomes, how does the local church ensure that what is taught is correct?
This paper will argue for the development of a canon of songs which emphasizes a biblical view of God as a pedagogical tool. This canon will be held up against more pragmatic approaches, such as simply choosing from the most popular songs from CCLI. Utilizing a canon of songs helps a congregation maintain a proper understanding of the gospel and provides songs for worship in every season of Christian life. The paper will look specifically at the context of Southern Baptist churches in which the responsibility for this task falls to leaders in the local church.
In order to establish a pedagogical canon, this paper will begin with a brief exegetical study of Col 3:16 and its parallel verse, Eph 5:19, to establish the pedagogical importance of singing in the context of the gathered church. The paper will then move to define a canon of songs and demonstrate how a canon of songs can reinforce theological concepts. Next, this paper will suggest what theological concepts need to be emphasized for evangelical churches and offer a model for how worship pastors can work to curate a canon of songs for their local congregation. Finally, the paper will consider practical steps toward implementing a canon of songs for a local congregation and opportunities for further research.