Philosophy of Music in Worship

Everything in the life of a congregation flows out of it’s worship services…Music for worship helps set an atmosphere where we as God’s people can enter into worship with heart, and soul, and mind. Music is a major element of reformed worship. From the beginning of the service with the prelude to the end with the postlude, music plays a significant role within our worship of God. 

Learn the tune.
Sing them as they are printed.
Sing all. “If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing.”
Sing lustily and with a good courage.
Sing modestly. Do not bawl.
Sing in time. Do not run before or stay behind.

Above all, sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this, attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually. (John Wesley’s singing rules)

From these tenants of worship one can define a truly Biblically based Philosophical understanding of worship.  A true understanding of the Biblical guidelines for ministry, includes all ages and generations, from children to adult; instrumental music; soloists; and all church activities such as Christian Education, bible studies and retreats should encompass the following truths:

Music is a very high priority in the worship of God:

*I Chronicles 14:16-15:22

So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.” And David gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it.  Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites:  of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his brethren;  of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren;  of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren; of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren;  of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren;  of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren.

And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.  He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.  For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.  And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.

Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.  So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;  and with them their brethren of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers;  the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze;  Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to Alamoth;  Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the Sheminith;  Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful;

Ephesians 5:19
 
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Musicians are ministers appointed by God and music for worship should not be considered mere entertainment:

I Chronicles 16:4-6
                                                                                                                       
And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD God of Israel: Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals; Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularly blew the trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God.

Leaders of music at worship are called by God to be teachers of music, soloists, leaders and motivators of choirs and congregation, guiding the process of ministering to one another through music. A part of the ministry of equipping includes the inclusion of trained persons to maximize the worship experience:

Ephesians 4:11-12

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Singing praise to God is not optional:

Psalm 66:1-2

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.

I Chronicles 16:23-35

Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.

For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.

Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength.

Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.

Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD,
For He is coming to judge the earth.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.”

Extensive use of musical instruments is commanded in the scriptures:

Psalm 98:4-6

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Sing to the LORD with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.

Psalm 81:1-4

Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.
         
Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob.

Psalm 33:1-3

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 147:7

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,

Psalm150

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
         
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
         
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!  

Musical texts should be consistent with scripture and doctrinally sound:

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.


All music must be appropriate for the occasion, inspirational, and Spirit filled:

Ephesians 4:29