We began this lesson with a story of conflict over worship music. If you are a pastor who faces this type of conflict, realize that this is not a new problem! In every generation, the church has struggled to determine the type of music that is appropriate for worship. For many churches, music has become a source of conflict rather than a means of true worship.

Music is central in worship services. In many churches, half the service involves music: prelude music, congregational singing, special songs, a postlude, and soft music during prayer. Because music is important in worship, conflict about music becomes serious.

People have strong preferences for music styles. Many people do not want to tolerate styles of music that they do not enjoy.

Conflict comes from differences of opinion about the morality of music styles. Here are three common perspectives:

1. Some people believe that certain music styles are evil. They choose to use music styles that they believe to be pure.

2. Some believe that music styles cannot be good or evil, and therefore every style is acceptable. These people usually want to use the music styles of culture for worship.

3. Some believe that music styles are morally neutral yet have emotional and cultural associations that affect their usefulness for worship. These people evaluate each style to consider whether it will help the congregation worship in a way that honors God.

In this section, we will look at biblical principles that address the music in our worship.

The Text of Worship Music Must Clearly Communicate Truth

The primary focus of scripture is on the content of song text, not on the style of the music.

[1]Regardless of the musical style, songs with a false message (or no message) are inappropriate for worship. Warren Wiersbe warns that many texts are “vague and sentimental, not theological.”[2] One test for our musical message is, “Could a deist, Hindu, or Muslim sing this text without changing the words?” If you can substitute the name Buddha without changing the song’s message, it is inappropriate for worship. If a song does not speak truth clearly, we should question its value in worship. Our songs should express our faith. If they do not, our songs will not point worshippers to God.

Listen to a song from scripture:

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

Praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels;

Praise him, all his hosts!

Praise him, sun and moon,

Praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens,

And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord!

For he commanded and they were created.

And he established them forever and ever… (Psalm 148).

Compare this to a recent popular song:

“It's alright to dance when you dance in Jesus' name
It’s alright to dance when you’re dancing for the Lord…”[3]

Which song proclaims God’s Word? Paul warned against worship that is unintelligible. He said, “I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also” (1 Corinthians 14:15). When we study the songs of scripture, we find that they teach with clarity. The text of our worship music must communicate biblical truth.

Song Evaluation Form[4]

	Weak	Average	Strong
Is the text doctrinally true?
Is the text faithful to Christian experience?
Will the congregation understand the text?
Does the style of the music fit the words?
Is the tune easy for the congregation to sing?

Checkup

Are your worship songs truly biblical? Would a new believer recognize the God of the Bible in the songs at your church?

Styles of Worship Music May Differ

God is a God of infinite variety. He inspired four Gospel records in the New Testament, not one. He spoke through the unique personalities of each writer. He created thousands of species of fish, not one. He created the human eye with the ability to distinguish between 8 million color differences. Creation displays God’s glory in its variety and beauty. He created unique individuals, not just one personality type. God shows infinite variety.

Our music should reflect the creative variety of the God we worship. In Colossians 3:16 Paul lists three types of songs that should be used for worship: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. (See also Ephesians 5:19.) Paul did not give definitions of these three styles. Many writers have defined them like this:

Psalms probably refers to the book of Psalms.
Hymns are probably humanly composed songs. Many writers limit this term to songs sung to God or about God. This may include biblical songs other than the book of Psalms.
Spiritual songs are the most difficult to define. Some writers define these as informal songs; others consider spiritual songs to be songs about the Christian life and songs of personal testimony.

Regardless of the definition, these verses show that the church sang a variety of music from its earliest days.

Warren Wiersbe speaks of the principle of authenticity. He writes, “Expressions of worship must be authentic, revealing the cultural distinctions of the people.”[5] Authentic worship speaks the living Word of God in the language of each culture. In every generation, Christians have written songs that communicate praise to God in the musical style of their culture. We should not assume that the music of our culture is the only authentic sacred music. Instead, unless a style contradicts clear principles of scripture, we must allow each culture and each generation to praise God in their language.

Checkup

Does the music of your church show the creative variety of our God?

Not Every Style Is Appropriate for Every Situation

Though many people have attempted to define a biblical music style, the Bible does not command a specific music style. After studying the philosophy behind music styles, Francis Schaeffer wrote, “Let me say firmly that there is no such thing as a godly style…”[6]

Musical sounds do not communicate ethical content. A musical chord is neither godly nor ungodly. Does this mean that every music style is appropriate for worship? No. Some styles are so associated with sinful culture that they will not communicate a godly message in worship.

Musicians and missionaries have found the same thing: people respond to musical sounds in different ways. If two people are listening to the same music, one may begin to cry because of how they are affected by the song. The other person may feel nothing in response to the music.[7]

The ultimate test for worship music cannot be, “Do I like it?” or “Does it inspire me?” The ultimate test is the glory of God. This means that we must evaluate what a musical style communicates within our cultural context. We must ask, “In my cultural context, does this musical style glorify God?”

Even if all things are lawful, not all things build up (1 Corinthians 10:23). If one goal of worship music is to edify believers, the style we use must not hinder this purpose. The same music may be a help to worship in one culture, and a hindrance in another culture. A careful worship leader will choose music that is appropriate for the people he leads.

How do we determine if a particular style of music is appropriate? As a leader, you are responsible to help your people work through this question in your cultural setting. What is appropriate in one culture may not be appropriate in another. Because of the religious connotations of a particular style or because a style has become associated with sinful practices of the surrounding culture, a musical style may not be appropriate for worship. You must evaluate music in terms of its appropriateness for your situation.

Paul commanded us to test everything and then to hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We must accept nothing without testing and proving it. This includes the music we sing.

Checkup

Do you sing songs that are inappropriate within your cultural setting? Does the music communicate a sensual or worldly style in your culture? Does the message of the music contradict the message of the text?

There Should Be Balance in our Worship Music

The book of Psalms shows that God values variety in worship. The book of Psalms contains praise, laments, cries for help, and thanksgiving for deliverance. Psalms speak to the worship needs of all worshippers.

One mark of maturity in the church is diversity (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). The body of Christ includes different cultures, different languages, different personalities, and different gifts. Our worship, including our music, should speak to all members of the body of Christ. In fact, our worship should speak beyond the church itself to give the gospel to unbelievers. Songs in the Bible speak to three audiences.[8]

Music should proclaim praise to God: “Singing and making melody to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

► Read Psalm 92:1-4.

Psalm 92 shows that we sing to the Lord. Music should express praise to God. From the song of praise in Exodus 15 to the heavenly songs in Revelation, biblical songs praise God for his greatness. The primary theme of music in the Bible is praise. Psalms of lament, request, or praise are often addressed to God.

Sing through the book of Psalms and you will sing:

“I cried aloud to the Lord…”
“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!”
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.”
“I will sing to the Lord.”
“I love you, O Lord.”

Music should proclaim truth to the church: “Teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16).

Many worship leaders have said, “We shouldn’t sing to other audiences; we sing only to God.” However, many of the psalms sing to Israel. While it is true that many biblical songs speak to God, it is also true that many biblical songs speak to the congregation.

Ephesians 5:19 instructs believers to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Colossians 3:16 is more specific regarding the purpose of our singing: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Paul shows that the word of Christ is proclaimed through the church’s singing. As we sing, we speak God’s truth to our fellow worshippers. Through song, the church teaches one another. Through song, believers are built up and the body of Christ is edified.

Music should proclaim the gospel to the world: “Declare his glory among the nations…” (Psalm 96:3).

The psalmist called us to sing as a testimony to the nations:

Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! (Psalm 96:1-3).

► Read 1 Kings 8:41-43.

When God is praised, the gospel is proclaimed to the nations. At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon prayed that even foreigners would worship at the Temple; he prayed that the name of the Lord would be known to all the peoples of the earth. As we worship, the gospel is proclaimed to a watching world.

Our worship music should speak to God and about God; our worship music should speak to the church; our worship music should proclaim the gospel to the world.

When we forget one of these audiences, our worship fails to achieve God’s full purpose for the church. When we forget that God is the ultimate audience for worship, our worship fails to speak primarily to God. When we forget that the church is an audience for worship, we fail to teach and admonish one another in worship. When we forget that worship should proclaim the gospel to the world, we fail to evangelize and to fulfill the Great Commission.

Checkup

In your songs do you speak to God, to the church, and to unbelievers? Not every song speaks to each of these; but throughout the service, we should speak to each of these audiences.

Putting It into Practice

We have seen why music is important in worship. We have examined biblical principles for music in worship. We will finish this lesson by looking at practical ideas for music in worship. You can adapt these to fit your congregation and church setting.

In response to the principles listed above, a student asked, “If styles of worship music differ and if music styles are not inherently good or bad, are there any guidelines that can help us in choosing music for our church?”

Yes, there are practical guidelines that can help us. You must determine how to apply these to your particular situation, but some basic principles should guide our decisions about church music.

The Most Important Music of the Church Is Congregational Singing

Since the music of the church expresses the unity of the church and the priesthood of believers, our most important music is the singing of the congregation. While choirs, solos, praise teams, instrumental groups and other special music are valuable, congregational music is the most important music in Christian worship. There are some practical steps we can take to develop congregational song.

Remember:

1. The accompaniment should not be so elaborate or loud that it draws attention from the singing. In the New Testament, singing is the primary music of the church. Organists, pianists, guitarists, and drummers are not the primary music of the church. Let the church sing!

2. Some songs are best sung with no instruments. Prayer songs can sometimes be best expressed with quiet singing and no instruments. This allows the congregation to focus on the message of the text with no distraction.

3. The music should not be so difficult or new that the congregation cannot participate. New songs are good, but we should allow the congregation time to learn a new song well before adding more new songs. A constant diet of new songs becomes overwhelming until we cannot absorb the message. A good general approach is to add the new while keeping the familiar.

4. Pastors must sing with the congregation. If congregational singing is worship, you must worship. When the pastor does other things during congregational singing, his actions say, “Only my sermon is important in the worship service.” Pastors should model worship for the rest of the congregation.

The Music Must Serve the Text

Since worship music is intended to proclaim praise to God, to speak truth to the congregation, and to proclaim the gospel to the world, the text is the most important element. Regardless of the style of the music, if the music hinders the communication of the text, we are not addressing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

This does not mean that instrumental music is unimportant. Instruments can help us concentrate our minds, emotions, and will on worship. Instrumental music can be valuable in worship, but in congregational song the primary focus should be the text.

The leader must help the congregation focus on the meaning of the text.

Leaders can make the text more meaningful by how they lead. Two examples will show how a leader influences the message of the song.

Amos does not think carefully about the message of congregational song. Last week, Amos led two songs that speak of the Trinity. First the congregation sang, “Come, Thou Almighty King.” Amos said, “We will sing stanzas 1, 2, and 4.”

What is wrong with leaving out stanza 3 of this hymn? Look at the text; it is a hymn about the Trinity. The message is weakened if you leave out a stanza about one of the three persons of the Trinity.

Stanza 1: Come, Thou Almighty King….. (about the Father)
Stanza 2: Come, Thou Incarnate Word…. (about the Son)
Stanza 3: Come, Holy Comforter…. (about the Spirit)
Stanza 4: To Thee, great One in Three…. (about the Trinity)

The next song was the praise song, “Glorify Thy Name.” Each stanza was worship and praise to a specific person of the Trinity. Amos said, “Let’s sing two stanzas.” Again, Amos forgot that a song to the Trinity must include all three persons. Leaving out stanzas of a hymn without considering the text hinders congregational worship.

Seth knows that the singing of the congregation is important in worship. On Sunday, he led an unfamiliar hymn. He began by saying, “This song is new to us. Listen to Psalm 150, the psalm on which this hymn is based.” With a few words, Seth helped the congregation focus on the meaning of a new song.

Later in the service, Seth led the contemporary chorus, “How Great Is Our God.” Before they sang, Seth read 1 Timothy 1:17; “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” A song that the congregation had sung many times was made fresh as the worshippers heard the scripture that inspired the song. Connecting a hymn to its biblical foundation encourages congregational worship.

► Look through a collection of hymns and choruses. Choose a song and a scripture passage that could introduce it.

If you use a projector, the person in charge of the projector is part of the worship leadership.

The words on the screen can help worshippers focus on the text or can distract from the text. The person in charge of the projection should be careful in their leadership. Here are some problems to avoid:

Misspelling words
Punctuating the text incorrectly
Dividing the lines of the lyrics in the middle of phrases instead of between phrases
Putting the slides in the wrong sequence
Not changing the slides at the right time

All of these problems distract from worship. When there are mistakes, people will be thinking about them, instead of being able to focus on worship. The appearance of the words on the screen affects the congregation’s singing.

In worship music, the music serves the text. Since this is true, worship leaders must help the congregation sing with meaning. None of this creates worship; worship is from the heart. However, eliminating distractions encourages the worshippers to focus on the true object of worship, God.

[1]

The Twenty-Year Rule

“If someone grew up singing our songs for twenty years, how well would they know God? Would they know that God is holy, wise, omnipotent, and sovereign? Would they understand the glory and centrality of the gospel?”

- Bob Kauflin
Worship Matters

[2]Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), 137

[3]James Roberson, “Everybody Dance!” Accessed January 10, 2023. https://genius.com/James-roberson-everybody-dance-lyrics

[4]Adapted from Constance M. Cherry, The Worship Architect. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010), 202-203.

[5]Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), 139

[6]Francis Schaeffer, Art and the Bible (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 51

[7]Gerardo Marti, Worship across the Racial Divide: Religious Music and the Multiracial Congregation. (England: Oxford University Press, 2012)

[8]This is adapted from Herbert Bateman, editor. Authentic Worship (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2002), 150-155.