Keith and Kristyn Getty on Purpose of Worship: ‘A Witness to the World’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Modern hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty joined Kirk Cameron to discuss the importance of truth-filled worship music and the impact it can have on a congregation.
“You know, I would encourage everybody out there: choose well, you know, the songs that you sing in your church,” he said. “Choose songs that you can carry for lifetimes, that you can pass on and take it seriously.”
Kristyn added, “I think that something incredible happens when we sing. Yes, it is an expression of praise to the Lord and to honor Him. But there’s something about what it means to be the church. It means to be together. And so, I think when we’re talking about what is the sound of worship music—what should that be? Well, it’s the sound of the congregation singing together. And that is a witness to the world, a witness to the next generation looking on.”
She explained that she and her husband ask themselves, “How are people singing, and what are they singing?” as opposed to “Is it a good vibe? Is it a good sign? How does it feel?”—questions many worship leaders ask instead.
Kristyn continued, “It’s more, ‘Are the people singing? And are they singing stuff that’s going to build them up and keep them up for the next week, months, years?’ I think that’s where our hearts go first.”
On their Instagram page, Getty Music, the couple posted Psalm 29:1-2, which says, “Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”
The couple captioned the photo of the verse, explaining why Christians worship:
“We are made to worship. In a world vying for our praise and attention, God’s glory demands all our awe and affection. One of the greatest dangers in our corporate worship is how often we begin to place ourselves at the center. Church services may slowly become more about our preferences, our accomplishments, and our traditions than God’s glory. This pitfall is especially dangerous for those of us who stand in front of the church and have to fight our own pride every moment.”
As modern hymn writers, “Keith and Kristyn Getty have created a catalogue of songs teaching Christian doctrine and crossing the genres of traditional, classical, folk and contemporary composition which are sung the world over,” their website reads.
One of the couple’s greatest hymns ever written is “In Christ Alone,” which churches around the world continue to sing.
Movieguide® previously reported on “In Christ Alone”:
Composed in 2001 by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, “In Christ Alone” has become one of the most well-known praise songs in churches across the world.
Getty said that when he first scrawled the melody on the back of an electric bill in Northern Ireland, he had little hope for the song.
However, Getty decided to send it to Townend regardless, with the prospect that the English songwriter could put lyrics to the melody and create a serviceable hymn…
The two artists decided that the new tune would recount the information in a church creed and tell the story of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.
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