Eventually, someone probably should point out that "The Word" set to music is called gospel. There is certainly an enormous amount of music that is spiritual that isn't gospel, but when the phrase "The Word" is used the connection to Christ saying "I am the Word," is the first thing that would come to mind for Christians. If you're not talking about the "Word," what do you mean by the word?

The phrase "spirituals" also has a very specific meaning, referring to black songs from the time of slavery that aluded to escaping to freedom.

Words. They'll mess you up, every time.

Jerry