Music for Worship
In spite of what other experts might say, I say that there is no style of music that is the exclusive vehicle of worship. Some would have the music of worship limited to a particular tradition or supposed non-tradition. Whether it is some form of ancient chant, Bach chorales, traditional hymns, Gospel, revival, or contemporary "praise music," we must avoid proclaiming any of these as the only proper way to render God's praises. Any one of them or a combination will work.
My problem comes with those who would say otherwise. Popular megachurch pastor Rick Warren dismisses traditional hymnody as outdated and, hence, irrelevant or even prohibitive to church growth. In one seminar I attended, Warren had the audience in stitches when he parodied a chorus from Handel's Messiah. "We praise thee, we praise thee, we praise thee, we praise. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Aaaaaaaaa--men," he repeated oblivious to the artistry in the Baroque oratorio. A military chaplain I knew once complained that our choir sang too much "monk music," a reference to the contemplative and classical pieces the director chose as choral anthems. Instead, he queried plaintively why we couldn't just sing "The Old Rugged Cross." One is more likely to hear that the more spiritually "alive" churches sport rock bands, powerpoint projection, and powerful preaching, while the more traditional churches tend towards spiritual morbidity.
Stereotyping is easy, especially when it means not having to understand the unfamiliar. The heart of worship, Jesus tells us, is worship that is done "in spirit and in truth." By that he means that all worship done in and through his name--all worship that has as its reference point and goal the work of the Triune God in Jesus Christ--is true worship. Nothing is said about style or music. There is no call for elaborate ritual or for folksy informality. And in the context of that quotation, Jesus settled the controversy over where to worship; it is no longer necessary go to some special place to encounter God in worship.
With such a latitude left open for Christians to establish their worship forms "according to the various exigency of times and occasions" (Preface to The Book of Common Prayer), no worship style or musical genre should purport to make the claim that it alone is the only, or even the best, way to worship God. This would help keep us from becoming arrogant about our own preferences and tastes. On the other hand, one can make some judgments about whether some worship practices are worthy of the name. The danger of worship becoming entertainment always rears it head whenever the music program takes the lead, and worshipers wind up drifting from one church of choice to another based on the music.
My problem comes with those who would say otherwise. Popular megachurch pastor Rick Warren dismisses traditional hymnody as outdated and, hence, irrelevant or even prohibitive to church growth. In one seminar I attended, Warren had the audience in stitches when he parodied a chorus from Handel's Messiah. "We praise thee, we praise thee, we praise thee, we praise. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Aaaaaaaaa--men," he repeated oblivious to the artistry in the Baroque oratorio. A military chaplain I knew once complained that our choir sang too much "monk music," a reference to the contemplative and classical pieces the director chose as choral anthems. Instead, he queried plaintively why we couldn't just sing "The Old Rugged Cross." One is more likely to hear that the more spiritually "alive" churches sport rock bands, powerpoint projection, and powerful preaching, while the more traditional churches tend towards spiritual morbidity.
Stereotyping is easy, especially when it means not having to understand the unfamiliar. The heart of worship, Jesus tells us, is worship that is done "in spirit and in truth." By that he means that all worship done in and through his name--all worship that has as its reference point and goal the work of the Triune God in Jesus Christ--is true worship. Nothing is said about style or music. There is no call for elaborate ritual or for folksy informality. And in the context of that quotation, Jesus settled the controversy over where to worship; it is no longer necessary go to some special place to encounter God in worship.
With such a latitude left open for Christians to establish their worship forms "according to the various exigency of times and occasions" (Preface to The Book of Common Prayer), no worship style or musical genre should purport to make the claim that it alone is the only, or even the best, way to worship God. This would help keep us from becoming arrogant about our own preferences and tastes. On the other hand, one can make some judgments about whether some worship practices are worthy of the name. The danger of worship becoming entertainment always rears it head whenever the music program takes the lead, and worshipers wind up drifting from one church of choice to another based on the music.
I believe that music should serve the worship and not worship the music. Lead singers are not worship leaders necessarily, and the volume of the praises ought not drown out the praises of God's people. The hymns and songs must have good theological content wedded to well-composed tunes that enhance rather than detract from the lyrics. Then perhaps the words of the hymn will ring true: "When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride, it is as though the whole creation cried: 'Alleluia!' "
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