Sing and Make Music: What About the Music?

For more thoughts about church music and Ephesians 5:19-20, see the other articles in this series.

• Sing and Make Music: An Introduction
• Sing and Make Music: What its All About
• Sing and Make Music: 3 Types of Songs and Common Criticisms of Contemporary Christian Music
• Sing and Make Music: More Common Criticisms of Contemporary Christian Music

Perhaps some who read this series of articles will acknowledge that contemporary Christian music and modern praise and worship songs have valuable lyrics, but they will struggle with the accompanying music. Many people have made statements like, “They are using all the same instruments that rock bands use,” or “They are using music to manipulate people’s emotions.”

Rock music uses drums, guitars, keyboards, and many other instruments. Does that mean that those instruments cannot be used in Christian music? Believers cannot retreat from something just because the world is using it; they must take the same tools that are being used for evil and use them for good. For instance, years ago, bars used pianos and organs to entertain customers, but that does not exclude them from use in worship. Saying that instruments are not appropriate for worship because they are used by satan to deceive people is like saying that Christian radio is a bad idea because satan uses secular stations to deceive people. If the church stopped using everything that the satanic system of the world uses, she would have to put away televisions, computers and the Internet, camera’s, cell phones, credit cards, and even money.

The church cannot allow the world and satan to be the only ones using instruments designed to praise the Lord. In fact, Psalm 150, commands the use of a variety of instruments in praise and worship. Many of the instruments listed are similar to instruments used by modern bands such as the cymbals, a lyre, and the strings. Furthermore, the statement, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,” (Psalm 150:6) further implies that every instrument, not just those specifically listed, should be used to praise the Lord.

One might read Psalm 150 and agree that God allows and even commands the use of many different instruments, but they might wonder, “what about the way the instruments are played? Doesn’t modern praise and worship manipulate people’s emotions?” Music, as a friend of mine once commented, does have a voice. Notes and melodies certainly interact with our God given emotions to produce excitement, sadness, peace, pride, and even anger. The hymn writers knew this when they wrote classics like “Up from the Grave He Arose,” and “It is Well with My Soul.” Both of those songs, along with many other hymns, are arranged in such a way that human emotions are engaged to add to the worship experience.

As I write this section of the article, I am listening to, “It is Finished” by the Gaither Vocal Band. This Southern Gospel song so engages my emotions that God once used it to inspire a sermon. All Christian musicians, including contemporary Christian artists, must be aware of the power of notes and melodies and use them for the glory of God. Like the instruments mentioned above, the church should use powerful melodies, notes, and arrangements to elicit appropriate emotional responses through worship.

What About Criticism of Traditional Music?

Contemporary Christian music is not the only genre of church music to receive unfair criticism. Many proponents of modern praise and worship and contemporary Christian music make statements like, “the old stuff is so boring,” and “the hymns have no passion.” Those statements display ignorance about the content of hymns and the heart of the hymns writers.

There have been some bad hymns written over the years just like there have been some bad “spiritual songs” written in recent years. Most of the bad hymns, however, have passed away with time. The hymns that remain are powerful songs written with passion from an intimate relationship with Jesus. Some of the most important points of evangelical theology were purposefully written into hymns for theological education. Songs like, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” “Be Thou My Vision,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” and “My Jesus, I Love Thee” are powerful songs testifying to the gospel of Jesus Christ written by believers addressing timeless themes. Just because a song has been sung in a dry, dull way does not mean that it is a dry, dull song. Those who criticize hymns as a genre are ignorant to God’s work throughout the ages.

Conclusion

Music is a powerful tool for praise and worship in the church, but music also has the potential to divide churches and Christians. Paul’s command in Ephesians 5:19-20 will guide believers to consider the proper purpose, dual audience, and different types of songs to be used by the church. Church leaders must be very careful to glorify God and edify the body of Christ as they direct others to “sing and make music.”

Why is music such a decisive issue in churches? How does this impact the witness of the church? How can those who like each style oblige others? Can you worship to a variety of styles? If not, what prevents you from doing so?