Q&A Home > S > Songs of Worship

• During the "Are you drifting?"lecture, you mentioned the remedies against drifting and you said to "expect to go against the tide," which included liberalism in the church. I wasn't sure if you meant in our own Coptic Orthodox Church, but I assumed so, and I was wondering if the "worship songs" that are becoming more prevalent now in our Coptic community would be under this category. I am very mixed on this topic of "Protestant" songs, and I have talked to quite a few people concerning it; I've heard arguments from across the spectrum of opinion, from those completely for it to those totally against it. I have much to say about it, but ultimately I know that these so called "Protestant" songs can never--in no way, shape, or form--allow us to delve spiritually deeper into a life of prayer and worship as our church's beautiful hymns can. I wanted to know Your Grace’s opinion on this issue; and I know that on the surface it might seem trivial, but I feel it has started to make our church divisive and it has been on my mind for more than one year now.
• I was looking to prepare some spiritual songs for the children in Sunday school. I am having a hard time finding nice songs for children in English—something like the Arabic ones that we learned when we were growing up (e.g., 3an2ood 3enab, etc.). I see a lot of resources on some children's songs that are very nice, but I am concerned that they did not originate by the Coptic Church (e.g., originated from a Methodist, Baptist, etc. church in the U.S.). I screened some of them to see if there would be any hidden meanings that are unorthodox, but even so, I am worried that if we teach them these songs and they become familiar with them, then if they hear the song outside of the church that it would be familiar to their ears, and then they would feel that it is permitted to go to that other church because we share the same songs, etc. Am I over thinking it? I am comparing this to some songs that we learned when we were growing up that are protestant (e.g., rambo fel madrassa). If I go to one of those "concerts" by the protestant community, I would feel familiar with them and maybe if I were to be invited by them to join their meetings, I would not feel like it is a big deal. That is what I am trying to avoid. These children are around 8-9 years old. Maybe this would be more dangerous in the teenager age when they can actually go to other churches and be lead to attend there, but I am not sure.
• I was looking to prepare some spiritual songs for the children in Sunday school. I am having a hard time finding nice songs for children in English—something like the Arabic ones that we learned when we were growing up (e.g., 3an2ood 3enab, etc.). I see a lot of resources on some children's songs that are very nice, but I am concerned that they did not originate by the Coptic Church (e.g., originated from a Methodist, Baptist, etc. church in the U.S.). I screened some of them to see if there would be any hidden meanings that are unorthodox, but even so, I am worried that if we teach them these songs and they become familiar with them, then if they hear the song outside of the church that it would be familiar to their ears, and then they would feel that it is permitted to go to that other church because we share the same songs, etc. Am I over thinking it? I am comparing this to some songs that we learned when we were growing up that are protestant (e.g., rambo fel madrassa). If I go to one of those "concerts" by the protestant community, I would feel familiar with them and maybe if I were to be invited by them to join their meetings, I would not feel like it is a big deal. That is what I am trying to avoid. These children are around 8-9 years old. Maybe this would be more dangerous in the teenager age when they can actually go to other churches and be lead to attend there, but I am not sure.
• What does Your Grace think about singing spiritual songs during communion? Do we have to stick to our traditional hymns or is it ok to sing spiritual songs not related to the body and the blood of Christ?