And so we have come to the end of this series on church music. I hope that this series has been beneficial for you and helped you see the way that the music we sing is a vital aspect of the weekly church service. With that, let's tackle the last question on the checklist...
10. Is your church's philosophy of music based on biblical principles?
This ties everything together. By choosing music that builds up and unifies the church, by playing music with excellence, by giving careful thought to the order of the service, you are building your church's music on a foundation of solid biblical principles.
This ties everything together. By choosing music that builds up and unifies the church, by playing music with excellence, by giving careful thought to the order of the service, you are building your church's music on a foundation of solid biblical principles.
A church's music is an outpouring of the work the Spirit has done in the lives of those in the congregation. A solid biblical foundation for personal faith leads to solid, biblically grounded church music. The classic quote on this subject (though I can't remember who said it) is: "Show me a church's music, and I will show you their theology."
Part of my goal in the church music series has been to show the church's Sunday service as one cohesive whole. Separating the pieces and divorcing each part from the others is not beneficial to the church. It will not edify, it will not prepare people for the preaching of God's Word; it will only make the church service a means of entertainment. We do not come to church to be entertained, we come to glorify God and grow in maturity to be more like Christ.
So, worship leaders and pastors, seek to grow so that you can lead your local congregation more effectively. Make a concentrated effort to order the music and the service in a way that builds up and edifies the church. Pick songs that will teach theology and will give your congregation room to respond. Give your best each weekend as an offering to the Lord, not as entertainment for the masses.
In this same way, congregations, come to church each weekend prepared to worship God. Dr. Plew, the head of the Music Department at TMC, always would tell us students that "Sunday morning begins Saturday night," and it's not a bad principle to follow. Be ready and willing to hear the Word, in the preaching and the music. Engage your mind and your emotions; praise God for who He is and what He has done for you.
Central to all of this, and all other forms of worship in life, is a vibrant faith and dedication to the Lord. True obedience comes from a heart set on the ways of the Lord. If your faith is more about yourself, it will show in the way you act. Take time to assess your life, determine why you do the things you do. Let your love for the Lord cause you to love His Body, the church. Invest into time in the church, whether as a pastor, a leader, or a layperson. Let everything be founded on Christ and what we know about him from Scripture. Everything else is secondary.