Day Thirteen: Worship Music
Ephesians 5:19,
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.
Ok… ok… ok… I know what you’re thinking. Just the title of “Worship Music” insights so many emotions in people. Let me put your mind at peace by letting you know up front that my agenda is not to state that one form or style is more godly than another.
Many years ago, when leading worship to many young believers, I sang my favorite hymn… How Great Thou Art. However, because these believers didn’t speak the King’s English, I sang How Great You Are. Well, that incited the wrath of one individual who was fairly indignant at my lapse in judgment. She went to visit with the pastor who sat down and explained my side of it. He asked “do you speak in the old king’s English when you pray?” She answered, “no.” “Did he defile the meaning of the song?” Again, “no.” “Then why does it upset you so much?” She answered, “Because that is not how it is written in the hymnal.” The pastor answered, “You know the hymnal is not the Bible right?” Which really got her thinking.
Music and musical style can be a very divisive and polarizing issue in the church. Dr. James Dobson once stated that of all the issues discussed on his radio program, Focus on the Family, worship is the most controversial. Even over issues such as abortion or pornography. Breaks my heart, really. In our culture, it always comes down to where you stand or what camp you are in, traditional or contemporary. As if to say, what team do you play for? It doesn’t take long for a student of the Bible to see that music played a huge role in the life of worship throughout the Bible. I even think it’s a heart language of God and his people. He created music, and I could preach longer on this topic. I want to avoid the issue of what instruments are acceptable, what about the tempo, or what style because I don’t think it’s about that. Ephesians 5:19 gives us latitude. The important thing is whether it is theologically correct and does it honor God.
Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21; Colossians 3:15-17; James 5:13; Psalm 33:1-5