The sound of worship has hit a sour note. In many congregations, changing styles of music have become a source of conflict. ¶ Some church members miss the loss of doctrinally rich hymns. On the other side of the aisle is a generation that seems to thrive on new songs, more volume, and repetitive lyrics. ¶ Over the years, I’ve been on both sides of the fence. Sometimes I’ve been insensitive to those who are my senior. At other times I’ve felt that the music of the young has crossed boundaries of reverence and good taste. At this point, I think I understand less about music than I did 30 years ago.
What I’m sure about, however, is that none of us can afford the high cost of bitter dissension. Regardless of whether we sing praise songs or hymns, accompanied by piano, synthesizer, recorded music, or live orchestra, everyone loses if the reputation of Christ is damaged by church people who become embittered toward one another.
Furthermore, we can’t afford to let our differences cause us to lose confidence in God’s gift of music. The Scriptures make it clear that God Himself has given us music for a number of important reasons.
The gift of music is a way of lifting heavy hearts.
In a well-known Old Testament story, a shepherd musician named David used the sounds of strings to relieve fitful episodes of depression that sidelined the sitting king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:23). Certainly the biblical account is not saying that music is a cure-all for depression. But David’s use of his instrument does show that skillfully presented music can have a powerful, if temporary, effect on the emotions of our heart.
The gift of music is a way of teaching one another.
The longest book in the Bible shows the value our God puts on music. The book of Psalms was given to help us express praise and worship with the sounds of music. According to the New Testament, though, the Psalms are also part of a musical strategy to teach the Word of God. The apostle Paul wrote, “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” (Colossians 3:16).
The gift of music is a way of expressing a Spirit-filled heart.
The same apostle also called for the use of music as he taught fellow believers how to live a life filled with the Spirit of Christ. In his letter to the Ephesians he wrote, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:17-21).
The gift of music is a way of showing our love for one another.
Because all Scripture throbs with the principle of love, we can be sure that Spirit-filled expressions of music and Spirit-filled responses to music will be marked by sensitivity and concern for others.
I’ve been impressed over the past couple of decades as I’ve watched members of my parents’ generation endure the music of a younger set. I’ve watched mature men and women who would have preferred singing more familiar hymns graciously tolerate the songs of the young. I knew it was their spiritual maturity and deep love for their children and grandchildren that made them willing to put up with music and volume that grated on their nerves. I could see that nothing was more important to these parents and grandparents than that their children learn to know and love Christ with all their hearts.
I wish at times that younger people could be as sensitive to their parents and grandparents. Certainly there are times and occasions to adjust volumes and modify style out of respect for those who have brought us to this point. Expectation of maturity, however, should not be wasted on the young. It is when “we are old,” according to the apostle Paul, that we put away childish thinking and learn the self-sacrificing meaning of love (1 Corinthians 13).
The gift of music is a way of expressing grateful hearts.
Several times the Psalms call for a “new song” (for example, Psalm 40:3). The reason is clear. New mercies call for new expressions of praise. Does this mean God doesn’t want us to sing old songs? No. Old songs, and even old psalms can be wonderful ways of renewing our appreciation of our God. But the heart attitude is the issue. Our Lord wants songs in our hearts in an ongoing way. The point is not only what happens in the order of service of our public meetings, but in the silent melodies that run through our hearts in the course of a week. The music He calls for is not an end in itself, but is rather a means of helping us to express to one another and to Him the wonder of who He is and what He has done for us. Songs of the heart are an important means of helping us to realize that our God is always far better and far closer than we think He is. (Try it. Hum one of your favorite songs, in your heart, to the Lord right now).
Let’s not let our disagreements over music rob us of the music that God has given to lift our hearts to one another and to Him. If we must disagree, let’s make sure that it is a gracious disagreement that doesn’t stop the music.
Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of music. Please give us wisdom and love for one another as together with our parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren, we cross the rough waters of changing culture.
Don’t let us turn Your gift into an argument that will divide us. Give us a song in our own heart even when the music around us seems too fast or too slow, too new or too old. —Mart De Haan
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