Churches in Galesburg, Illinois, come in many different denominations and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is sacred music. Music has
specific purposes according to the Bible. When you’re visiting or choosing a church, one aspect that you may want to pay attention to is the use of music, and whether the choices the church makes regarding music reflect those Biblical purposes. This goes beyond mere preference; if a church is careful and thoughtful in how they apply Biblical direction to their musical choices, that can be an early visible indication that the church is careful and thoughtful in applying Biblical principles to other areas as well. As an overt visible example of a church’s priorities and values, music is a great starting point to consider.
Be Filled With the Spirit: Ephesians 5:18
In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he presents an either/or choice for believers: drunkenness and debauchery, or being filled with the Holy Spirit. In our modern culture, some musical styles are commonly associated with the first option. According to Paul, being filled with worldly things prevents us from being filled with the Spirit.
Academic experts agree that there is a correlation between certain musical styles and lifestyles focused on excess and lust. However, Paul implies that other types of music can help us focus our minds and hearts on the Holy Spirit, which enables us to be filled by His presence. Modern musical styles are not directly addressed in Biblical texts, so it’s wise to ask: what musical styles are associated with sinful lifestyles? If you asked a hundred people what they thought of this question, you’d get one hundred different answers, but there would be enough agreement and overlap among their answers that you’d come away with some good general principles to follow. Next time you’re singing in a church service, focus for a few minutes on just the sound of the music, not on the song lyrics. Think about the vocal sound, the instruments, the beat, and the melody. Would this musical sound be part of the scene or out of place in a bar or nightclub? If it would fit in there, it’s likely not fulfilling the biblical purpose of church music.
Is this a nightclub or a church?
While there’s nothing inherently “good” about older church music, or inherently “bad” about newer music, there’s a tendency for some contemporary church musicians to adopt the musical styles of the world. However, this isn’t always the case, and some Christian songwriters today are producing music that’s distinctly different from the world’s. We should never simply assume that styles from the past should be continued forever, but we also shouldn’t reject traditional styles just because of their age. Biblical principles should always be our guide.
Speak to One Another: Ephesians 5:19
One important purpose of singing together as a congregation is simply to speak to each other, according to verse 19. When believers speak to one another, what should we be saying? The Bible gives several distinct directives on this topic. One is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, where believers are told to encourage one another and build each other up with their speech. We can do this through song lyrics when we sing together on Sunday morning. Music has a powerful impact on our emotions. Therefore, speaking uplifting biblical truths to one another through music has unique power to bring us hope and spiritual refreshment.
In Galatians 6:1, we’re given another specific command about our speech towards other believers. When another believer sins, we should confront that sin lovingly, also considering our own sinfulness and examining our own hearts. The principle here is that believers are responsible to remind one another, and ourselves, of our sinfulness, God’s holiness, and our need for forgiveness. Church music gives us the opportunity to do this. While energetic, cheerful songs can help us encourage one another, sobering songs that direct our thoughts inward can also serve an important spiritual purpose. When we speak to one another through music about our spiritual needs and Christ’s ability to meet them, we’re obeying Galatians 6:1.
Of course, in order to speak to one another through music, we must be able to clearly hear one another. It’s important that the whole congregation is involved in church music, and that their voices are not always being drowned out by an instrument or a lead singer. It’s also important that we’re singing substantial, meaningful words to one another. Many Christian songs being written today consist of just a few words or phrases, repeated over and over. However, if we’re “speaking to one another” with lyrics that are overly repetitive and shallow, we’re missing an opportunity to speak deep spiritual truths to one another through music.
Make Music To the Lord: Ephesians 5:19-20
Ephesians 5:19 tells us more about where church music should begin and where it should go: it should originate in our hearts and be directed towards God. This means that the most important thing about church music isn’t how artistic, new or creative it is, or how loud and impressive it sounds. In fact, the purpose of church music isn’t to attract people looking for a particular “sound,” genre, instrument or style to visit on Sunday mornings. Church music is biblical when it’s offered directly from the heart as a form of worship towards God. This sets church music apart from a concert or recital, where music is directed outward towards the audience.
Verse 20 tells us that our music should offer thanks to God. This gives us another helpful principle to consider. When we sing during congregational worship, we should be telling God who He is and what He has done for us, and expressing our gratitude and praise. Church music shouldn’t be overly
focused on ourselves and our own thoughts and feelings. It’s our opportunity to sing to God, about God.
Church Music is For All Believers
Whether you’re a professional musician or you quit piano lessons many years ago and never looked back, the Bible makes it clear that God loves to hear your voice in musical worship with other believers. We’d love to see you at Harmony Baptist Church this Sunday! Visit our Contact page to find out how to join us.
