By Dr. Dana F. Everson
With so many opinions about worship methodologies and music styles being championed today, how can the believer know which approach is right, especially with an issue as volatile as the music we use for worship?
Scripture Demands Discernment
The book of Psalms is a book of musical worship. The psalmists constantly connect music with prayer and praise to God. In Psalm 28:7, David writes: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” If music is part of our praise to a holy God, then we must ask some heart-searching questions regarding our musical choices:
- Is music only a fringe issue, or does God have something to say about musical styles and functions?
- How are music and worship interrelated?
- Is music wholly subjective, or are there some absolutes to be considered?
These questions indicate the need for serious study and the production of a biblical theology of music that goes beyond preferences, traditions, and tastes.
5 Practical Reasons for Developing a Theology of Music
In addition to Scripture’s requirement that we present ourselves as holy and acceptable sacrifices unto God (Romans 12:1), the practical reasons for generating a biblical theology of music are five-fold:
- To assist the pastor (or any believer) in recognizing the potential influence of music in both individual lives and corporate worship.
- To clarify the believer’s position regarding biblical music standards.
- To enable believers to recognize and reject music that may reflect anti-Christian values.
- To encourage genuine creativity among Christian musicians.
- To assist believers in applying biblical principles of character and behavior to music choices.
Two Assumptions
Undergirding these five practical reasons are two assumptions:
- That a Christian desires to please God in all things, including music (I Cor. 10:31) and that he desires to know how God wants to be worshiped with music.
- That God’s Word includes the truths required in order to build a practical philosophy of music (II Pet. 1:3).
The pastor and other Christian leaders must be especially vigilant to identify destructive philosophies and to offer authentic creativity in the use of the arts in sacred settings. In our next post, we’ll look at how modern culture has undermined biblical teaching in the area of music and what that means for the Christian.