I have. Some Pastors use this term to define a song that has a lot of repetition, i.e. 7 words repeated 11 times. This is usually used in a derogatory sense but as you will see, repetition is an important part of our faith and our worship. Let’s investigate!
How about Psalm 130, written by Israel’s sacred song writer himself, the one after God’s own heart, King David; and inspired by God. This is actually a 4/26 song because the words “His love endures forever” are repeated 26 times throughout the Psalm (song).
Or, how about Rev 4:8, those angels sure know how to sing a good 7/11 song. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” I guess we would call this a 16/infinity song (or spoken word as the case may be).
I have been a member of a WELS church for 25 years and I rarely miss a worship service. Therefore, in 25 years I have recited the Lord’s Prayer at least 25 x 52 = 1,300 times. I have recited the Nicene Creed 650 times and the Apostles creed 650 times as well. I have sung about the gospel and have heard it preached and expressed in enough different and creative ways to save all the people in China. I know the Sanctus, Agnus Dei, the Nunc Dimittis and the Benediction by heart as a result of similar repetitions. These are all good things. Other examples of repetition used throughout Liturgical worship would be statements like “Amen, Amen, Amen” , “The Lord be with you – and also with you” and “Praise Be to You O Lord”.
Repetition, particularly in a simple song can be powerful in that people will take it home with them after worship and might find themselves singing it during the week. Consider adding one of these gems to your worship services. “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” by Rick Founds is a good example.
Finally, I realize that 7/11 stores might only exist in the North East. The graphic is an image of a slurpee drink from a 7/11 store in case you were wondering.
Steve Soukup said
Amen! You put into words perfectly what I have been thinking for some time. What is wrong with repetitive songs? I agree that sometimes it can be over done. Frankly, in my opinion doing the same liturgy over so often you don’t even think about it is overdone as well. Why do people use arguments against modern worship music that they don’t apply to the psalms or the CW hymnal? Some of the most dearly loved hymns in CW have repetitive chorus and lines. Or another example is the argument that all worship songs have complete law and gospel. Have you ever applied that same standard to the psalms and our CW hymns?
The argument I usually get is that repetition is just designed to get an emotional response, but is it? No doubt this is abused in some circles, but is it all bad to desire an emotional response in worship. There are certain old songs in CW that always bring an emotional response for me. Please forgive this weakness of mine. It is almost as bad as my weakness for sarcasm.
As a musician I find songs that repeat are benefical for other reasons as well. Repetition is a great teaching tool. What a delight when parents tell us that little Sally was singing that Sunday School song all week long. Repetitious songs seem also are more quickly learned. Modern Christian music often gets a rap for being so simple lyrically and musically, but often the most dearly loved songs are the simplest ones. Good Lutherans love to sing, to participate in worship, and simple repetitive songs make that easy.
Nancy Nethercott said
Steve, we have 7-11 stores in Japan, but they do not sell Slurpees! They have really great rice balls with seaweed wrapped around them ;-)
What about the well-loved hymn “It is Well with my Soul”? If you were to sing all the verses and refrains of the song, you would have sung the words “it is well” 19 times (plus hearing it another 8 times when the echo is sung in the refrain). I have NEVER heard anyone complain about the meaningful repetition in that song! And it certainly brings an emotional response from my heart.
sjbrown58 said
Nancy,
“It is Well”, is such a great hymn and I’ve sung it several times but was always so wrapped up in it that I didn’t realize all the repitition. Thanks for sharing.
Steve
martinguitar said
I have heard the term 7-11 used several times in regard to some CCM songs. I think that it is referring to CCM songs that consist in using the same phrase over and over again and that’s it. A 7-11 song keeps repeating a praise phrase, but it doesn’t tell us what God did for us that we praise Him.
I wouldn’t consider Psalm 136 as an example of a 7-11 song, but rather a verse (explaining what God did for us) and a refrain (for His mercy endures forever) — verse/refrain, verse/refrain, verse/refrain etc for 26 verses. (Psalm 136 doesn’t just say “His mercy endures forever, His mercy endures forever, His mercy endures forever for 26 times.) I like refrains and think that they are useful, as long as they have a good message for us to remember.
Here are some links that I found that seem to address this subject:
1. http://blendedworshipresource.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/praise-in-the-psalms/ This article from WELS Topical Q&A (from seminary professors) discusses the different types of Psalms and their uses.
2. I think that Pastor Strey has a good article on this subject, encouraging us to seek songs with substance, songs that proclaim the gospel, God’s grace, or some message from God’s Word. http://pastorstrey.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/its-about-substance/
3. If you wish to start a discussion on this very relevant subject, you can go to James Waddell’s downbeatcafe to start a dialogue. http://downbeatcafe.wordpress.com/
Some of the “praise and worship” songs are fun to sing and fun to play on the guitar, but they often don’t say too much. Many “praise and worship” songs do not proclaim a Gospel message or feed us with a message from God’s Word.
I do not think that all CCM songs are 7-11 songs, but some CCM songs are “7-11” songs, and I think that people have a legitimate concern with such songs, as they may lack the substance and content that we find in our Lutheran hymns.
Here are some examples of what I might consider 7-11 CCM songs:
“Oh, Magnify the Lord” by Dick Tunney (Lappy 222)
Oh, magnify, oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt his name together!
Oh, magnify the Lord, Oh, magnify the Lord,
and may his name be lifted high forever!
Oh, worship him, oh, worship Christ the Lord with me,
And let us exalt his name together!
Oh, worship Christ the Lord; Oh, worship Christ the Lord;
And may his name be lifted high forever!
King of kings and Lord of lords,
May his name be lifted high forever!
“How Majestic Is Your Name” by Michael W. Smith (Lappy 124)
Chorus 1
Oh Lord our Lord how majestic is
Your name in all the earth
Oh Lord our Lord how majestic is
Your name in all the earth
Oh Lord we praise Your name
Oh Lord we magnify Your name
Prince of Peace Mighty God
Oh Lord God Almighty
Oh Lord our Lord how majestic is
Your name in all the earth
Oh Lord our Lord how majestic is
Your name in all the earth
Oh Lord we praise Your name
Oh Lord we magnify Your name
Prince of Peace Mighty God
Oh Lord God Almighty
“He Is Exalted” by Twila Paris
Chorus 1
He is the Lord
Forever His truth shall reign
Heaven and earth
Rejoice in His holy name
He is exalted
The King is exalted on high
Verse 1
He is exalted
The King is exalted on high
I will praise Him
He is exalted forever exalted
And I will praise His name
Misc 1
(BRIDGE)
He is exalted
He is exalted
(REPEAT 3X)
steve bauer said
Ok, first of all, 7/11 stores are almost ubiquitous. I grew up with them in MT. And I found them in most of the half a dozen other states I have lived in.
I commend “martinguitar” for his post. Very well spoken.
The issue isn’t the repetition per se. The question is ‘what is the repetition used for?’ If it is repetition to say very little (doctrinally) for a long time, that’s not a good thing. If it’s repetition to introduce a wrong doctrine or doctrinal emphasis, that’s not good (e.g. Our God is and Awesome God–mostly law with a little bit of gospel sprinkled in.) However, if it’s repetition to teach, introduce, sing a scriptural truth, that’s a really, really good use (e.g. psalm 118!).
Kevin Boone said
The people I have talked to in rural Baptist churches believe that repetition is silly or useless, even with verses that glorify God and teach doctrine, followed by a refrain (repetitious). I find the view on this by many to be determined, like most things, by their cultural upbringing or geographical context than biblical teaching itself. The greatest thing small rural churches struggle with is having a worship leader who can biblically instruct the congregation about such things and also be called to lead them in approaching God in worship through music. Most large churches have this asset while the smaller ones struggle for leadership. I don’t know all the reasons why, but I could list a few. The lack of understanding will not likely be quenched with a sermon series only, but would have to be quenched by a called worship leader leading a misinformed congregation to worship biblically on a consistent, habitual basis. I enjoyed the discussion as I prepare for a sermon series about songs and musical instruments . Grace to you, Pastor Kevin Boone (Enon Baptist Church, W. North Carolina).