Dr. Jack L. Arnold Equipping
Pastors International Questionable
Practices
Lesson 10
The
type of music a person listens to will have a great affect on who and what a
person will be. For the Christian, his sanctification process is definitely
affected by the music he listens to and the motives behind his listening.
The
philosophy of the world is expressed in their music. If Christians want to know
what the world is thinking, all they have to do is listen to their music.
Christians
need to have a philosophy of music appreciation in order to gain some
principles for evaluating music. They need to be able to discern good music
with bad content and bad music with good content. Christians must be able to
determine good secular music as well as good Christian music (for all so-called
Christian music is not good).
Christians
need to think through the whole issue of music so they will not say
categorically ÒnoÓ to some music without justification.
Instruments
accompanied all the Psalms. Praise
him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise
him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise
him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals (Psa.
150:3-5). It is
interesting that the form (rhythm, melody, harmony, etc.) of the Psalms has not
been left to us as inspired Scripture. This could be providential because form
develops and changes with manÕs creativity.
The
New Testament puts its approval on music. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs. Sing and make music in your
heart to the Lord . . . (Eph. 5:19).
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God (Col. 3:16). About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were
listening to them (Acts 16:25).
King
David was a man of music. David
ordered and organized IsraelÕs music.
The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORDÕs
musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which
were used when he gave thanks, saying, ÒHe love endures foreverÓ (2 Chron.
7:6). All the Levites who were
musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood
on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps
and lyres. They were
accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one
voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments,
they raised their voice in praise to the LORD and sang: ÒHe is good; his love
endures foreverÓ (2 Chron. 5:12-14).
David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their
might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums
and cymbals (2 Sam. 6:5). David, wearing
a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the
entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound
of trumpets (2 Sam. 6:15). King David was apparently an innovative, creative musical
radical for his day. Music was an
integral part of temple worship.
Each
person has his or her personal tastes (likes and dislikes) in music -
classical, and use of music in worship is a preference.
We
must not let our personal bias throw out or dismiss other styles of music. Music and the use of music in worship
is a matter of personal preference.
FORM AND CONTENT
Form
consists of melody, harmony and rhythm. All music has all the forms but some
music emphasizes one of the three (i.e. contemporary rock music stresses the
beat). To take out one of the three makes it impossible to have good music. If
we take out melody, we have bland harmony. If we take out harmony, we remove
color and create a hollow sound. If we take out rhythm, we take the emotion out
of music. Any three of these can
be abused to make noise not music.
Form
in and of itself is not evil but how we use or abuse
form can produce bad music (sexual overtones, etc).
Content
has to do with lyrics. Excellent music is when there is great form and great
content (people will disagree as to what is great content because of personal
moral values).
Lyrics
are often abused in all styles of music. For instance, opera is a great form of
music, but much opera is filled with themes of fornication, adultery, murder,
drunkenness, prostitution, etc. Many of the operas by great men such as Mozart,
Schumann, Verdi and Wagner are filled with vice. Often we appreciate the music
form but canÕt understand the lyrics because they are in Italian, German, etc.
Modern rock musicians may have wonderful
musical form but terrible content. Why? All men are created in the image of God
but that image has been marred because of sin. Unsaved men can be musically
creative and technically excellent but miserably corrupt in their view of life.
What then is good music? First, form and content are
aesthetically matched. Second,
truth is presented honestly. Third, form and content are not abused. What then is bad, music? First,
form and content are mismatched.
Second, falsehood is expressed. Third, form or content is abused.
We desperately need a Christian
philosophy of all music (religious and secular) so that we can evaluate and
appreciate music in a way that would glorify God.
Form. Technically any form may be
listened to if that form is not abused.
However, it becomes sin for the Christian if he or she listens with the
wrong motives.
Content. Lyrics
must be acceptable to be good music. Lyrics must be consistent with the eternal
law of God. Words make music Christian or non-Christian.
There
are guidelines for Christians to evaluate music. Does it make me think of
Christ? We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of
God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor.
10:5). Does it make me
think positive thoughts? Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent
or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philip. 4:8). Does it
present truth? Not all acceptable music has to be on religious or Christian
themes. Since God is the Creator of all things and all truth is GodÕs truth,
then songs which deal with truth but do not have Christian content are
acceptable - songs about love, relationships, war, society, etc. A
Christian, then, can enjoy some non-Christian music if the message does not
cause us to sin.
Worldliness.
All secular music, which makes the Christian sin or think of sin, is to
be avoided. Avoid every kind
(appearance) of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).
Any secular music,
which propagates a worldly philosophy, is wrong for the Christian. Worldliness
is anything that excludes Christ and brings glory to man rather than God. They exchanged the truth of God
for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the
Creator—who is forever praised.
Amen. (Rom. 1:25).
Redeeming
Music. Christians are to redeem
culture from the hand of the enemy. All form and style of music is acceptable
to God but man because of the fall, and consequently the control of Satan, has
abused the forms and styles of music. We must take all forms and styles of
music and possess them for God and His kingdom.
Contemporary
Christian music is too emotional. Answer: All music is emotional. If we eliminate
emotion, we eliminate music. God wants His peopleÕs emotions to be stirred for
Him and His kingdom, and music is the basic way to accomplish this. Beat is
designed to stir to action and Christian emotion can be moved in a positive
sense by all kinds of music. If contemporary music moves the Christian
sexually, then it is wrong but that is an abuse. We do not stop doing things
because the world abuses them. In
the area of form, there is no difference between the secular and the sacred,
but is this arouses the emotions negatively so as to cause one to sin, then the
music is to be avoided. Every
individual must solve this issue according to his own conscience.
Contemporary
music causes young people to accept the lifestyle of secular performers. Answer:
The secular lifestyles of
rock, opera, pop, country western performers are to be categorically rejected.
But their form of music should be Christianized. Young people are going to
listen to the music of their day and we need to have them put that music within
a Christian context.
Contemporary
Christian music should not be used in the worship service of the church. Answer: There is a time and place for all kinds
of music. The type of music used in church service will vary from church to
church. Obviously more contemporary, progressive churches will have more modern
Christian music. All types of music are acceptable providing it causes men to
worship the living Christ.
Contemporary
music is more entertainment than worship. Answer: Only God knows
the human heart of the performer whether he is performing contemporary or
traditional music. There is a sense in which all church music entertains the
congregation and that is O.K. as long as it encourages worship of the living
God.
Contemporary
music is more important than traditional Christian music. Answer:
The church of Jesus Christ has 2000 years of history and we should sing songs
from every era of the church. We most certainly should teach our children the
great hymns of the Faith. However, the church is always contemporary because of
its existence at any given time of history, so music ought to include the form
and content of the day to meet the needs of the people. Christianity must always be made
relevant to the culture of any given time, but the message must never
change. Both traditional and
contemporary music can honor God.
Yet, because music is liked or disliked according to oneÕs taste and
background, it becomes a matter of preference as to which form of music oneÕs
conscience can accept.
Styles of worship are a controversial issue among
Christians, and this must fall into the category of questionable practices. So much of worship style is a matter of
preference and there must be a gracious attitude towards our Christian brothers
and sisters who worship differently.
What
are the unchangeable marks of acceptable corporate worship by a local
church? According to Acts 2:42-47,
the marks are: (1) the ApostlesÕ
teaching; (2) fellowship; (3) the LordÕs Table; (4)
prayer. However, there is a fifth
mark of the local church that is offering up acceptable corporate
worship—it is the mark of praise.
ÒEvery day they
continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad
and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number
daily those who were being savedÓ Acts 2:46-47).
The New Testament church was a praising
church. Praise was an essential
part of worship for the early Christians.
We
must make a distinction between form and
function. Function has to
do with things that never change in Scripture. They are a necessity and cannot change. Form has to do with things that can and
must change if the church is to minister to its culture.
SINGING
Praise would
certainly include singing. The
Lord Jesus closed the first LordÕs Supper with a hymn (Matt. 26:30). Paul and Silas were singing while in
jail at Philippi (Acts 16:25). As
a body of believers, Christians are exhorted to sing (Col. 3:16). Corporate worship would be defunct
without music, especially singing, for music is the natural response of a redeemed
heart filled up with Christ.
Christianity
is a singing religion. Pagan
religions have their chants and dirges, but Christianity alone of all the worldÕs
religions, philosophies and ethical systems has come down through the ages
singing like a bird.
ÒCome, let us sing
for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with
thanksgiving and extol him with music and songÓ (Psa. 95:1-2).
ÒSing to the LORD a
new song, his praise in the assembly of the saintsÓ (Psa. 149:1).
While
the Christian is instructed to sing, it does not say what he should sing or how he should sing. We are told that Christians are to sing
psalms (Psalms with
musical instruments), hymns (praise directed
towards the Trinitarian God with strong theological content) and spiritual songs (a song that has
spiritual character and arises out of the human spirit of worship such as
praise songs, folk spirituals, gospel songs and folk rock).
ÒLet the word of
Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in
your hearts to GodÓ (Col. 3:16).
All
kinds of music and song can be honoring to God. There is no such thing as Christian tempo, rhythm, harmony,
melody or volume that is sacred and all others are secular. All music technique comes from
God. All rhythm, for instance,
comes from the Almighty, not from the devil, although abuse of rhythm can be
used by the devil for his own evil ends.
Music itself is neither good nor evil, but it is how it is used and why
it is used that makes it evil. The
ultimate distinguishing factor that makes songs Christian or secular are the
lyrics, not the tempo or the rhythm.
Words alone convey whether a song is sacred or secular. If so-called Christian music has wrong
theology, or feeds oneÕs lusts or causes one to get up and dance wildly in a
sensual manner, then it does not honor God.
Music
is all a matter of our individual likes and tastes. Music is a matter of preference, and it affects how and where we
like to worship. So often
Christians think and feel that the music that honors God is the music they like
themselves. Most Christians
approve music they are accustomed to hearing. Likes and dislikes in music are very subjective. A Christian song in Japanese may sound
weird to American ears, but it is sweet music to the Japanese. Loud, pulsating drum beats to accompany
singing in a worship service in the villages of Uganda may seem repulsive to a
cultured French Christian, but it is the heart of worship for the Ugandans.
It
is by divine design that the Bible makes no mention of rhythm, tempo, volume or
melody because the Bible is a trans-cultural book, and can be applied into
various cultural situations. By
holding to any one style of music as truly Christian, the Bible then could not
go across cultures and be effective.
Christian
music, therefore, must be allowed to develop within various cultures.
God has also
provided different churches with different worship forms. Each Christian can choose and pick what
style of worship he prefers in the worship service of a church, where he feels
more comfortable, but no Christian has any Biblical grounds to mock Christians
who do not accept his worship style.
There are no right or wrong worship styles as long as they are grounded
on Scripture and fall within the limits of Biblical principles.
INSTRUMENTS
In the New
Testament, there is no mention of any use of musical instruments in
worship. This does not mean they
were not used in New Testament worship.
However, the Old Testament is filled with worship accompanied by
instruments.
ÒPraise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp
and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings
and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORDÓ(Psa. 150:1-6).
Any
and every kind of instrument can be used in the worship of God. GodÕs people should praise their God
with all the familiar instruments in their particular culture. Instruments are not good or evil, but
it is how they are used that makes them sacred or secular instruments.
CHOIRS
Choirs
are not mentioned in the New Testament but were clearly used in the worship of
God in the temple and at other events in the Old Testament. Choirs were part of the Levitical
worship and this was their primary purpose (Neh. 12:17). Choirs were made up of skilled
musicians (2 Chron. 34:12; Psa. 33:3).
Choirs included men and women (1 Chron. 13:25). Choirs had skilled leaders and
directors who were appointed to their positions (1 Chron. 15:22; Neh. 12:46; 1
Chron. 6:31). Singers and
musicians were paid for their services in the temple (Neh. 13:5, 47). The use of choirs and musical
instruments in worship had much to do with the invoking the presence of the
Lord (2 Chron. 5:11-14).
Whether
a Christian likes or dislikes choirs, it is a matter of preference. Whether one sings in a choir is a
matter of personal conscience.
Whether a church has a choir, makes it neither right nor wrong.
DANCE
There is much
controversy among Christians as to whether dance should be allowed in corporate
worship of the church. Dance is
not found in the New Testament but it is spoken of in many places in the Old
Testament.
ÒLet them praise his
name with dancing, and make music to him with tambourine and harpÓ (Psa.
149:3).
ÒPraise
him with tambourine and dancingÓ (Psa. 150:4).
Dance
took many forms in the Old Testament.
Miriam, AaronÕs sister, was so excited about GodÕs deliverance from
Egypt and the destruction of Pharaoh and his army that she led a group of women
in dancing to the music of tambourines (Exo. 15:20). Israelites danced when they observed victory (1 Sam.
21:11). David danced in celebration
before the ark (2 Sam. 6:14-15).
David was so excited that he stripped to his underwear and danced
excitedly and enthusiastically before the Lord (1 Chron. 15:29).
These
dances mentioned could be free-spirited or choreographed. From the above verses we can draw some
basic conclusions: 1) danced was
an accepted part of IsraelÕs corporate worship; 2) Israel regarded dance as a
natural and valid expression of gratitude to God and a festive way to celebrate
a joyful event; 3) men danced with men or women with women or they danced
alone. No religious dancing had
anything to do with touching the opposite sex.
Dance
can be evil as well as good. When
Israel fell into unbelief, they made a golden calf and worshipped it, singing
and dancing in a lewd way (Exo. 32:18-19). This negative incident compared with other positive
incidents in the Bible indicates that dancing can either be an appropriate
exuberant response to GodÕs grace, or it can be an occasion for degenerate
revelry. It all depends on the
motivation of the heart.
The
purpose of dance is to worship and honor God with the body (1 Cor.
6:19-20). By bodily movement, the
worshipper communicates his or her emotions to God. Dance can be a very powerful form of worship if done
correctly. Liturgical dance with
proper choreography can truly honor God.
Free style dance in corporate worship can be effective if it does not
get out of control. Emotions are
very powerful whether used by God or by Satan. The Bible says there is a time to
mourn and a time to dance (Eccl. 3:4).
There is also a time to dance in a worship service and a time not to
dance. If liturgical dance is
used, it should be done skillfully.
Dance is a
worship form whereby Christians can express worship to God through bodily
movement. Most Christians do not
dance in the Spirit because they are embarrassed or are afraid of the abuses
that come from dance. Certainly no
one has to dance in worship if he or she does not want to use this form of
worship. It is a matter of conscience. There is Christian liberty in forms of
worship. However, dancing should
not be rejected because it makes us feel uncomfortable. All change is uncomfortable. We may never do religious dance
ourselves but we must not reject or despise those who do unless they are
somehow abusing dance. We are
commanded by God to correct all abuses of doctrine or practice according to the
Word of God.
DRAMA
Drama is a much
more difficult issue to deal with as it relates to corporate worship. Drama is not mentioned as a worship
form in the Old or New Testaments.
Those who believe
drama is a legitimate form of worship use the following arguments: 1) Drama is all through the Bible
– Israel crossing the Red Sea or the High Priest entering the Holy of
Holies once a year, etc.; 2) A drama that enhances the pastorÕs sermon is not
entertainment but just another sermon illustration acted out; 3) A preacher is
using dramatic illustrations and movements all the time.
Those
that reject drama as a legitimate worship form do so for the following reasons:
1) Drama is not mentioned as a worship form in the Old or New Testaments; 2)
Real drama is one person acting out the part of another character, and this
could be superficial or deceptive, both of which the Bible rejects; 3) Events
in the Old Testament like the Red Sea or the Holy of Holies are dramatic events
but they are not drama (one person acting the part of another).
There
is no clear evidence that drama should be used in a corporate worship
service. However, it is an art
form that can be used in Christian meetings other than corporate worship. Drama is neither good nor bad. It is Christian in so much as it gives
a Christian message. Christian
thespians should be encouraged to use the gift of drama to teach the gospel or some
Christian truth. For some reason,
God did not put drama as one of the forms to be used in corporate worship. We should honor this in the official
worship service of a church, and we should not use drama.
DEMONSTRATIVE FORMS OF WORSHIP
Worship is
designed to move the emotions towards God. Cerebral worship alone leaves one flat because the soul
needs to release emotions towards the living Christ. We were designed by God not only to know God and obey God
but also to love God with all our heart.
These demonstrative forms (expressive forms) are ways to release emotion
towards our God in appreciation for His matchless love and His glorious
grace. We are not speaking about emotionalism, where emotions
are unbridled, drawing attention to self and causing great confusion in the
church. We are speaking about love
towards God, releasing the emotions to praise, adore and exalt the living God
as He is manifested in Christ.
We
are focusing attention on expressive Biblical forms of corporate worship. These are forms so we are not commanded
to do these nor are we obligated in any way to do them in order to worship
God. However, these are Biblical
forms and God placed them in the Scriptures for a purpose.
POSTURES OF WORSHIP
Prayer in
corporate worship is a function that must never change. Positions in prayer are forms and can
change and do change from congregation to congregation and culture to culture.
Standing (1 Sam. 1:16;
Matt. 6:5; John 11:41).
Kneeling (Psa. 95:36; Acts
20:36).
Kneeling with hands towards heaven (1 Kings 8:54).
Face between the knees (1 Kings 18:42)
Bowed head and beating the chest (Luke 18:13).
The
only position of prayer not mentioned in the Bible is every head bowed and
every eye closed. The closing of
the eyes in prayer appears to be a western culture form that is not wrong but
it is not Biblical either.
Kneeling
is a position of humility and should be practiced by the church
corporately. It may not be done
all at once or at the ringing of a bell, but it should be done to express
submission and dependence on God, and it should be done spontaneously whenever
possible.
LIFTING OF HANDS
Lifting
of hands in prayer (1 Tim. 2:8).
Lifting of hands in praise (Psa.63:4).
STANDING FOR THE PREACHED WORD (Neh. 8:2-8)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AFTER THE SERMON (Acts 20:7-9)
We
can assume this was a worship service.
It occurred on Sunday, the LordÕs Day. They broke bread, which is a reference to the LordÕs
Table. Paul spoke to them so we
assume this was some form of preaching.
We know that Paul must have preached five or six hours because Christian
gatherings in the first century began right after dark. Surely this was not one man preaching
for six hours straight. The key is
found in the words ÒspokeÓ and Òtalked.Ó
In both cases (verses 7 and 9), the Greek word is dialogos from which we get
the English word dialogue. There was interaction with the congregation. This was two-way communication during
the sermon.
DANCING (Psa. 149:3; Psa. 150:4)
SHOUTING (Ezra 3:11-13)
Sometimes
the Christian is so overtaken by his joy in Christ, he
just has to shout for the glory of God.
Shouting can be abused and may be disturbing but there is a place for it
in corporate worship if done decently and in order.
HOLY KISS (1 Thess 5:26;
Rom. 16:16)
The
holy kiss was a Christian greeting of love and affection. Men kissed men and women kissed women
on the check.
AMEN (1 Cor. 14:16-17)
The
saying of ÒAmenÓ in unison at the end of a prayer was obviously a carry-over
from the synagogue worship. This
tradition became so strong among the New Testament
churches that they synagogue abandoned the use of the ÒAmenÓ so as not to be
identified with Christians. Saint
Jerome, in the fourth century, said that in his day the ÒAmenÓ sounded like a
clap of thunder at the end of the prayer.
FOOT WASHING (John 13:14-15)
Foot
washing is not a sacrament. The
only two sacraments (ordinances) of the church are the LordÕs Table and water
baptism. The church is not bound
by Scripture to do foot washing, but the Lord Jesus set forth this act as an
example of humility. Foot washing
is a valid form of worship for the church.
PRAYER FOR PHYSICAL HEALING (James 5:14-15)
CONCLUSION
Why donÕt we
practice these demonstrative forms of worship? We may be ignorant of them. Yet, most likely we are self-conscious and embarrassed about
what others might think of us. We
donÕt want to be radicals or thought of as weird. While no one has to avail themselves of these expressive
forms to be spiritual, they are the Biblical means God has set forth for us to
release our emotions to God. We
are not just machines; we have emotions that want to tell God in words and
actions that we love Him dearly.
Demonstrative worship does allow us to get out of our protective shell
and worship God with more enthusiasm.
Demonstrative worship is not designed to make us feel better but to release
our emotions to God which may or may not make us feel better. In fact, we may end up weeping with
conviction or shouting for joy.
Whichever, God is pleased when our love for Him is spoken and
demonstrated, being done for God and not for man.
No
one can force another person to use these demonstrative forms of worship. It is a matter of conscience. Whatever forms you choose to use, do
them for the glory of God, and not to draw attention to yourself. Only God ultimately knows the
motivation of the heart.
Because
these are forms of worship, they do not have to be used at all in corporate
worship, although God put them in the Scripture for a definite reason. Furthermore, a church might sanction
all these forms but they do not all have to be used in the morning worship
service. Some may be used in a
more informal evening or mid-week service. Others may be used only at special worship services.