I am a big fan of Southern Gospel music. I grew up on Southern Gospel, and before I went to seminary I was a Southern Gospel D.J. I love the sound and excitement of Southern Gospel music, but more importantly I love the message: the gospel of Jesus Christ. My wife, my mother, and I recently attended both the National Quartet Convention and The Booth Brothers and Triumphant Quartet concert. Before going to the National Quartet Convention (NQC) I was talking with one of my friends at Southern Seminary about Southern Gospel music. I was surprised that she enjoyed Southern Gospel as well. We got to talking about our favorite songs then the conversation turned to songs that we disliked. As the conversation continued I kept track of the songs; more specifically, the topic of the songs that we did not like. The common theme of the songs that we did not like had to do with heaven. The problem that I found was that when we sing about heaven, and not just in Southern Gospel music, often we sing about what makes us feel good. I am not trying to offend anyone, but one song that sticks out in my mind is one whose chorus contains this phrase, “I’m gonna put on a crown and walk around all over God’s promised land.” Does this song really hit at what we are going to be doing when we reach heaven? Are we really going to put on crowns and parade ourselves up and down the streets of gold?
Another problem with the songs about heaven is that we talk about seeing loved ones as if that is the main focus of going to heaven. Heaven is about spending eternity in the presence of the One who died for us, the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, when we get there I am sure that we will see those who have gone on before us, but if that is why we want to go to heaven, then we have missed the point. Christ died to redeem so that we could be reconciled to God, not so we could see loved ones in heaven. In our songs about heaven and even in our preaching it is as if we are trying to persuade people to accept Christ as Savior by sweetening the pot and selling them on what’s in heaven. For example, I have heard people witness and ask if someone wants to see their dead grandparents and parents. Of course they do, but should we use that line of reasoning to get someone to give his life for Christ? We are not salesmen trying to sell a product; we are children of God sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
I know that I have been focusing on the music about heaven, but the problem is that preachers are not preaching enough about heaven or are preaching wrongly about heaven. Christians do not have correct attitudes about heaven because they have not been taught. Some view heaven as a big choir practice, which they are dreading. Others view heaven as a place full of earthly pleasures that make them happy. I heard a preacher preach a funeral say, “I believe that whatever makes you happy will be in heaven. If you like puppies, they will be there.” Heaven is not about our happiness, but is about our holiness. Just because it makes us happy on this earth doesn’t mean that it will be in heaven. I will say that the man was partially right, what makes me happy will be in heaven, because the One who died for me, Jesus Christ, will be there, and I will get to see Him face to face. We as Christians, especially ministers of the gospel, must preach about heaven and help our fellow believers to have the proper attitude and thoughts about heaven. We need to be discerning and weed out bad theology about heaven (and everything else) in our pulpits and in our music, as well as other areas of our lives. We ask our teenagers to be careful what they listen to music wise, but we allow misguided songs into our lives everyday. Songs like, “When I Get Where I’m Going,” “I’m Gonna Put on a Crown,” and other songs that speak about heaven are just a few examples. Just because something has a good beat or has good music doesn’t mean that it belongs in our churches or lives. Songs that are half-truths are worse than blatant lies. Heaven is a reward for believers, but we were not saved just to go to heaven, but to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to serve Him, and to be more like Him.
