I remember many years ago a Christian songwriter said that they believed their music was inspired by God. This statement caused quite a fuss among some of the Christians I knew. How could anyone claim inspiration when God’s Word was complete?
As evangelical Christians we believe that God’s Word is uniquely inspired by God. God breathed out His Word through His selected authors and it is this Word and only this Word that we believe is the infallible and firm source for our faith. But is it possible that God also breathes out His thoughts through other sources?
Although I agree that God’s special revelation in the Bible is all we need for our faith, I also believe God continues to speak through each of us. We are all part of the body of Christ and are His hands, feet and even mouthpiece to this world and each other.
It is in this sense that I believe God can inspire us to be His tools to the world. I don’t believe that we are inspired in the same sense as the Bible. We cannot claim our words or actions are infallible. But we can claim that the Holy Spirit lives in us and our artistic expressions can be imperfect expressions of our God.
In fact, I would go even further and say that your life as a whole should always be inspired by God. In is only as we submit ourselves to God and allow the Spirit to work through us that we become what we are called to be. Our lives should reflect Christ in all we do.
As worship artists our craft should always be inspired by the Holy Spirit and our knowledge of God. Our art should allow God to shine through us to those around us.
by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory
Worship Director at Crosspointe Church.