Below is a statement from our Elders, regarding some of the music we sing at CFLM. 

Before we choose a song that will be included in a CFLM worship service, it is first filtered through the lyrics/doctrine of the song. Does it match up with what the Bible says and what we believe? There are a number of songs that may be very uplifting, but it has a line or phrase (or more) that simply does not meet with what the Bible says. In that case, a word or line has been altered to reflect a correct Biblical view, or these songs have not been included in worship at all. There have been songs that people in our church have suggested we sing, however after evaluating and listening to the lyrics of the song, we chose not to use them – not because we didn’t like the song but because they did not meet the criteria in some way.

But what about the beliefs of the writers of the songs that we use? If we were to evaluate the lifestyle, beliefs, etc., of each person who wrote the hymns and songs that we sing, we probably would not be able to sing anything written by man – because we are all sinners. Some of the most beloved hymns were written by men who fell away from the faith or who didn’t believe what we believe.

Almost, if not all hymns were written by men and women who come from other church denominations and belief systems. If we were to only pull songs from writers who believe in exactly what we believe, we would be very limited in the song selection – AND – we would miss out on the opportunity of praising our God with fabulous lyrics that DO agree with Scripture.

Instead of choosing songs based on the author themselves, songs are picked based upon what a song says: songs that speak beautifully about our Lord, our relationship with Him and our relationship to one another.

God uses very imperfect people to communicate His truth. Each  individual song should be evaluated on the truth conveyed as well as its ‘singability,’ not on the individual who originally wrote it or the church they attend.

We may not be familiar enough with all the doctrinal positions of those who produce worship and praise music to comment on their orthodoxy. Regardless of the source, we think it is wise for worship leaders to examine the lyrics of every song to ensure it is doctrinally sound and worthy of congregational participation.

At CFLM, you will hear a wide array of genres all the way from Old Testament Psalms set to music, traditional Hymns, including up to recently authored worship compositions. While occasionally you may hear us sing a song from a group or person any one of us may or may not be aligned with, be assured the song has been filtered through Biblical Criteria first. 

We do not and shall not defend the doctrine of any denomination, author, originator, or any owner to even the rights of a song you may hear us play. 

While music can stir up many emotions in many directions, we are exhorted in Ephesians 5:19 “…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…” 

Ps 19:14 also says:   Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Should anyone have further questions or comments, we ask that you bring them to any one of the Elders, as we would love to discuss this further with you.

We worship an infinite and Holy God but still do so from earthen vessels – lowly jars of clay.