Sound familiar? It is the typical response I hear from people of high degree in the church. Most of them are still hung up on rock music in the church, or use of it. Many people still believe it is the “Devil’s music,” and they can use Scripture to prove they are right. Then there are some who accept the style of rock, but refuse to allow it in the church because worship music is supposed to be reverent, not raucous. Maybe they have a point, but they miss something vital in their arguments.
Perhaps it would be necessary to share my own experiences in worship music. I grew up in the church over the course of my lifetime, and I have grown accustomed to different worship styles. There is contemplative, classic style of what is called “high church” with organs and the like, and clapping is out of the question. There is the Southern Gospel style, with an occasional twang, and clapping is optional. Finally, there is the modern style, where everyone sings praises to God with acoustic or electric instruments, and some songs were just made for clapping.
When I entered the university level of education, there was always this thing about “holy music” and what should be sung in the church. I was often at odds with certain professors because they believed that the only type of music for church should be the anthems with the organs. Southern sounds were considered uneducated and modern praise and worship wasn’t holy because of the instruments. (One particular professor even squirmed at the fact that some churches have drums! Interesting that his views on God were more humanistic while his church music views were strictly old-fashioned.)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines worship as “love and devotion to a deity.” When we worship God, we desire his presence. Whether we sing with church organs or electric guitars, we want to feel that He is there with us. When one thinks about it, there really is no difference except in what appeals to the age of believers. Many times, if believers cannot relate to a style of music, they feel alienated, like they don’t belong to this mentality. Take for example, a church that considers anthems the only form of worship music. Not only have they alienated a younger crowd with the stiff, awkward “thee and thou” music, but the older ones may also feel stiffed because they have grown up with “The Old Rugged Cross,” or “Amazing Grace.” The same concept would apply to a church that wants to attract the younger crowd by singing only modern songs, because many older people grew up with their favorite hymns. (That’s one reason why I purposefully sang “In the Garden” at my grandmother’s funeral, because it was appropriate for people her age.
Consider, what Martin Luther, the reformer, said in his own day:
“I wish to see all arts, principally music, in the service of Him who gave and created them. I would not, for the world, forgo my humble share of music. Singers are never sorrowful, but are merry, and smile through their troubles in song. Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid, and reasonable. I am strongly persuaded that after theology, there is no art that can be placed on a level with music; for beside theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart . . . the devil flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God.
Consider, also, that Luther, (who coined the phrase, “Why should the devil have all the good music,” long before Larry Norman did) liked the idea of using tunes from the reviled operas, thus turning them into worship songs. Should it surprise anyone at the time that the church was in need of a revival? Even in the music scene of his time, Luther realized just how much believers needed to be able to understand worship, and why they were worshiping in the first place.
Years later, composers like Bach and Händel turned the heads of church people by using the operatic style in oratorio work. Opera houses, not churches were usually where these works were performed. Can someone imagine how “unholy” that was considered to be? Today, Händel’s Messiah and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion are seen as truly works of art. Back then, opera houses weren’t exactly places known for “church taste,” because they were more like nightclubs.
While the church constantly bickers about what worship is, it has forgotten Who to worship. Isaiah, in decrying the Children of Israel told them, “Wherefore, the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their lips do they honor me, but have removed their heart from me, and their fear of me is taught by the precept of men” (Isaiah 29:13, KJV). In other words, what good is our music sung if it has become a ritual? What good does it serve the Lord? If we cannot feel as if we are serving Him with our music, we cannot say we are in worship, church organs or otherwise.
This is not to say that one worship style should be preferable over another. If “Lord, I Lift Your Name” can reach some people in the deepest part of their souls, then so can “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.” There is a lot more to worship than simply playing music that sounds good. Some songs are almost danceable, while other songs lend themselves to quiet meditation. All of us, old and young, should be able to learn from each other, not tear each other down because of what we prefer in worship. The Lord definitely wants our hearts, and THAT should be why we worship. -LAM
*Revised from a Campus Baptist Church statement about worship from some notes from my resume for a possible position as leader. I didn’t get the position, but I think I made my point well.
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