Music
Spirituality
The Four Needs
It has been asserted that up to half of the theology that people are exposed to and remember after worship is the music sung and played. Music has the power to uplift and exhilarate. Music can teach and reinforce the truths of the gospel. Johann Sebastian Bach has been called the “Fifth Evangelist,” reflecting music’s effectiveness in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Times of spiritual revival and renewal have always inspired Christians to write music with a style similar to secular music of its day. Music reinforces a congregation’s culture. Congregations that minister to specific ethnic groups such as Hispanics, Germans, or Russians may use traditional hymns from these cultures and perhaps even sing them in the original languages using traditional instruments. This meets people’s needs to praise God in a way that is natural and comfortable for them.
Congregations that minister to individuals from a variety of backgrounds may combine traditional and contemporary music in their worship-these are commonly referred to as blended worship services. Or congregations may have separate contemporary and traditional services, or separate services for different ethnic groups due to the languages used.
It is crucial for congregations to balance the needs of all members, keeping in mind their ages and cultural backgrounds. People worship best by singing and listening to music that speaks the language of their hearts. Any other type of music may be a stumbling block rather than a vehicle for prayer, so do not lightly make decisions about the types of music and instruments to use.
Music can be a tool for outreach. Persons who are searching for God could be unfamiliar with traditional church music. A congregation experimenting with new forms of worship and musical styles to meet the needs of people who do not yet know God may be startled by how many newcomers suddenly attend worship. But there must be a balance between inreach and outreach to nurture both congregational members and visitors.
People of all ages and degrees of musical proficiency can be encouraged to participate in a congregation’s music ministry. Choirs of children and adults, women and men, all types of instrumentalists and soloists can enhance worship. Here is one author’s description of a holy moment mediated by music on Christmas Eve:
Though the usual bedtime hour had passed, the guards were not yet on duty to tell the prisoners to go to sleep. While I was waiting in the bitter cold, suddenly, from somewhere upstairs, I heard a young soprano voice singing, at first tentatively and then boldly, the Chinese version of “Silent Night.” The prison walls resounded with her song as her clear and melodious voice floated in and out of the dark corridors. . . . The prison became Shanghai (New York: Grove Press, 1986), p. 172]
All church music must be put to this test: Is it theologically sound? Most traditional music has passed this test. Much contemporary music is based on Scripture and therefore the soundness of its theology is assured.
Music reinforces community in the congregation. Music can reveal the awesome nature of God and enhances prayer and meditation. Music opens worshipers to God’s presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to mold us into Christ’s image. Music is a gift from God to all.
