Only a crazy person in this day and age would write on the subject of music.  There are more differences of opinion on this subject with regard to the Worship Service Proper, personal preference, Christian Liberty and so on than on just about any other.  If one had the desire to step on the toes of the faithful, he would find his path full of them unshod in this area.  So why write, you ask?  Well, maybe this is as close to thrill-seeking as I get.  My idea of exciting is a good game of Chess – with a clock!  That is living on the edge!  Joking aside, I feel somewhat obligated to give just a few thoughts on the subject seeing as I have played music for more than twenty years; both in the Worship context and most definitely out of it.

Quick background:  Simple, I had hopes to be a rock star.  Not the pop star in the tabloids, but a guitar icon, i.e. Hendrix and Clapton.  Was at one point considered (not by the folks that made a difference apparently) good enough to do just that.  I made quite a good side living as well.  Now, where would you expect someone like that to land on the subject of Church music?  Would you expect to have a smooth transfer from worldly to godly?  I assure you the opposite has happened.  I have wrestled with music my entire Christian life – especially since entering the ministry.  I would even admit I am unable to be objective on the subject.  I have been unable to take something I did for the flesh so long and simply turn it into an offering – both in personal listening and worship.  Having said that, I would like to give what may be considered my position on Church (Worship) music and in the process offer helpful ideas that could give the reader some Scriptural basis for developing their own convictions.

First, I pose a question.  Where did you learn what you know about music?  If the answer is what I guess it is, the answer is not from a professionally trained music teacher.  If my assumption carries itself out further, you learned the way most do in the past few decades – Radio, Television or Entertainment Industry.  In short, you learned the same place I did.  You went to the World’s School of Music.  I now continue with this assumption.  This being the case, is it also possible that if our music knowledge comes from this less than accredited school that we quite possibly would not know good music if we heard it?  Only someone familiar with Poison Oak for example would be able to instruct us not to touch it if we’ve never heard of it or seen it.  Well, what if we not only hadn’t heard of it, but had been told all along it was great for the skin and used it as a lotion.  And those that told us this loved us dearly.  We might be wondering where the rash is from and not realize it was the Poison Oak.  I believe this is a very fitting analogy for music.  If you need Scriptural support James’ two wisdoms fits well. 

We have a rash that we love to scratch called flesh.  Is this a stretch?  Doesn’t Scripture teach about itching ears?  Did you think that is only in areas of doctrine?  Well, music is doctrinal – good or bad.  We have developed this rash from constant exposure to the world’s music and for that matter, whatever else they are pushing on the consuming public (and us).  Now instead of removing the cause of the rash, we look for itch relief which takes the form of “Christian Music.”  The quotations here are very much intentional.  It is my conviction that much of what is given this label is misnomer.  It is neither Christian nor is it in some cases music.  So, follow this progression:  First, we are born sinners (and continue to practice sin very proficiently), we are introduced to music, we seek music that we “like or prefer”, we live however long in this world of musical gratification (scratching the itch), we are saved by God, now we reach a fork in this road.  What about this music?  Discard, alter, replace, keep in tact… what do I do?  Do I have the rash and not know it?  Does the Great Physician have a prescription and do I even want it?

In conservative circles like ours we have Scripture lifted very high in our Ecclesiology.  We fight for the Five Solas of the Reformation.  One of which of course is Sola Scriptura.  In short, it is taught and believed by this writer that Scripture alone, apart from any private interpretation, without any confirmation of an organization (Rome), is the inspired and inerrant Word of God.  As such, it is the supreme authority over the people of God.  A quick experiment:  If you wanted to teach me that my salvation is eternal and I cannot be taken from the Father’s hand, which verses would you show me?  If you wanted to teach me how to be a good husband, that I’m saved by grace, that I am to bear fruit, that Christ will never leave me, how to pray, how to find comfort… you get the idea, I think.  Even if it meant a quick turn to the concordance in the back of your Bible, you could help me quickly to find these verses.

Now the question is; how do I know which music I should be listening to and which kind should be brought to the worship service?  Which verses can you come up with?  Now if the times I’ve asked this of people are typical, common responses are, ‘Make a joyful noise, something involving cymbals and stringed instruments’ and every once in a while a Psalm here and there.  If you can sense a disappointment or critical tone here, it is accurate, but be confident that it is first with me for lack of diligence in this area.  Now, having given it some time, I’m amazed at how much God has said on this mine-field subject we tip-toe through.  And just as those areas previously mentioned, I feel obligated and think you should to, that we are required to have a conviction in this area.  The following will be an attempt from Scripture to outline some of what it says regarding music.  It is what I believe the clear teaching of Scripture on this subject.  I make no distinction here about whether instruction regarding music is for listening away from Church or the Worship Service Proper although worship is the primary focus here.  There may be such a distinction, but it is not my goal to teach Christian Liberty.  It is my intention to point to the fact that God has spoken on music.  Specifically as it pertains to music used for His worship.  The reader must answer for themselves whether or not God would require something from His people in one context and not another.

We here use primarily Paul’s instruction to the churches in Ephesus and Colossae.  Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 have nearly identical lists for Church Music.  We will assume here that there are not any fringe hermeneuticians reading who would argue that this is not perfectly straight-forward instruction to Churches.  Or that these are exclusively first century mandates (as the case is with the female Pastor argument).  This is not intended as a commentary on the passages.  Rather a practical look at music used in a Church context for teaching, admonition, worship, encouragement and so forth from a very clear text on that subject.

Ephesians 5:19
…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Both lists contain three similar elements.  We ought not neglect this clear repetition in two of Paul’s letters.  They are assuredly not incidental.  The three elements are Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs.  From these terms and their usage (on which you should study further) we infer the following:

1. Music is to be Scriptural – There is very little doubt of which Psalms Paul speaks.  Psalms were inspired and at the same time meant to be sung.  It is elementary as to why.  We learn through singing.  Our alphabet, Sunday School Songs and National Anthem are only a few examples.  At the risk of dating myself I’ll not mention any advertising jingles, but I’m sure you can come up with some you know.

Music in a Church context like everything else is to bring us closer to God that we might serve and glorify Him.  The most obvious thing that can make this possible is Scripture.  Not everyone is called or qualified to preach the Word.  Everyone is commanded by Scripture to sing the Word.

What is the antithesis to Scriptural?  Simply anything that’s not.  Frankly, you only need tune in to “Christian Radio” to hear music that is all about our relationship to God without any Scriptural content.  I challenge the reader to find a Scripture reference for the following Chorus from a person who may be the chief of Contemporary Worship music.

And I say I believe in You now,  A new light is showing me how I
used to walk in the shadows of doubt,  But I believe in you now

As an aside, if you’re counting, there are five personal pronouns and only two references to God.  Church Music is not only Scripture-Like – meaning having Christian terminology (saved, believe, love), but actually the content therein should be Scripture.  The above has neither.

2. Secondly, music is to be Sacred (Hymns).  This is music that glorifies God.  It is holy.  It is something consecrated for His worship.  In the above Chorus we see the main subject of this piece is the recipient of light or the believer.  Recipient maybe isn’t strong enough.  As in many cases, it is someone who has taken the gift.  This is quite typical in Modern Evangelicalism.  Open the Eyes of My Heart (I want to see You) for example.  There often seems lacking any notion of whether or not God wants this, just my desire.  This is not intended to be a wholesale critique of the modern.  Remember, that all music was contemporary at some point.  We are not suggesting old is good.  Actually there are some Hymns in our Hymnal I would remove if it were mine to do so.

Rather, it is being said that in order for God to receive honor in Corporate Worship, He must be the center of attention.  A song or hymn that spends all of its content focusing on the subjects or recipients of blessing surely cannot be spending adequate energy on its Source.  Remember the chilling Words of Jesus in Matthew 7 that even those who are doing things in the name of the Lord can be unknown to Him.  How much more is that for those who sing only of what they receive and not who God is?

One oft overlooked aspect of music is its teaching and admonition function.  And if the Worship Music lacks an exalted view of God and revolves around sentiment, there is no growth.  In fact, there could be atrophy.  To continue on a low level or sub-sacred diet of music is to be a starving flock.  In short, if the music is not explicitly the words of the Bible (Psalms/Scripture), it should still imply the content of it (Hymns/Sacred Music) – namely, an exalted God who saves a people for the Glory of the Triune Godhead.

3. Thirdly, music is to be Spiritual.  This one is somewhat elementary.  With Hymns there is a question as to their meaning historically and so forth.  Here however, there is no question.  Spiritual is the opposite of carnal or fleshly.  There are plenty of references in Scripture to which we can find this, e.g. Romans 8:6, For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

There is also a maturity factor in being Spiritual.  It means to no longer walk as a child.  This has a direct impact on music.  It is my contention that we have been fed a steady diet of immature music from the world.  Here I believe I can speak somewhat authoritatively.  When you learn one blues song for instance, you have learned them all.  And frankly worship music is often the same.  Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, ad infinitum.  Those conservatives reading will no doubt notice I’ve implicated Hymns in that description as well.  There is a difference I believe though.  It is in the composition of the music (notes/tones), not the structure.  Three guitar chords and some emotional lyrics is common practice.  It’s possible (believe me) to write a song like this in minutes.

For an interesting connection, the Colossian reference begins with letting the word of Christ dwell within.  Connect that with idea of growing in grace and knowledge of Christ.  It is no stretch then to suggest that our Spiritual Songs are to be mature or at least to spur maturity in the hearer.  It flows then that simplistic or childish songs that are no more than toe-tapping songs taken from a Children’s Sunday School Class do not qualify as Spiritual Songs in general.  I recognize that Father Abraham Was Justified By Faith does not have the same ring as the Hokey Pokey version we now sing, but to be called Spiritual their must be a level of maturity both in the lyrics and the music

So, regarding what measures up to the Scripture’s standard of music, we can at least say it is to be Scriptural – and more specifically, Scripture, it is to be Sacred – or fitting for the subject matter which is the glory of God and it is to be Spiritual – meaning promoting growth to maturity and not an exercise in fulfilling our fleshly or emotional desires.  It is not Anthropocentric (Man Centered), it is Theocentric (God Centered).  The Church gathers to worship first and to be fed second.  And Worship is to be done in Spirit (according to God’s Spirit, not our feeling spiritual) and Truth (Contained in the Bible).  Music that is for our feelings and is not clearly pulled from Scripture does neither.  We are to do Church Music the same way we do Preaching.  With all diligences and all attention paid to what God has spoken regarding Himself.

Much could be said regarding the meaning of terms in the Old Testament as well, but space is not permitting.  Suffice it to say, that if you are going to do what so many have in trying to make a direct application from phrases like joyful noise to upbeat modern music, or stringed instruments being modern guitars, or cymbals being modern drumsets, you should know wherever you stand you are not likely rightly dividing truth.  If I want drums in the modern service I may not find the allies I think are in the Old Testament.  I am not condemning drums here so much as imploring the Church of Christ to do diligence to the study of Scripture and not merely do what so many do and twist it to say what we want.

Further, when you observe the historical context surrounding many of these passages you’ll find words like Chief Musician (not guy who can play a little) and skill (not the best I can do with a week’s notice).  I am not saying only professionals should minister in music, but I am saying that those who do should be prepared to give their best (Col 3:23) and not throw up a strange offering.  Ask Aaron’s boys how that worked out (Lev 10).  Talk about walking into a Mine Field!