Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
psalm 100:1-2
Why We Do Music The Way We Do
Most discussions of worship in our time revolve around styles of music and the feelings that music can evoke in us. God's gift of music does have tremendous power to express joy, sadness, remorse, resolve, exultation, and other emotions. Many people equate these feelings with "having a worship experience." But while true worship can be emotional, it goes beyond human emotions. It is a response to God’s revelation of who he is. To worship God acceptably, we must have a biblical understanding of worship. Worship is NOT entertainment and we must be careful not to build our worship around us. It is the sovereign God who defines how he should be worshipped. Self-styled worship is not the worship of the Holy One (Genesis 4:3-7)
Worship is not music, and music is not necessarily worship. Worship is something we do with our whole lives (Romans 12:1). Our worship together as the body of Christ includes biblical preaching, reading the Word, praying in accordance with the Word, singing biblical songs, and participating in the Lord's Supper and Baptism. (1 Timothy 4:13, Ephesians 5:19, 2 Timothy 4:2, etc.)
Biblical songs and the other elements of biblical worship renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and are an acceptable sacrifice of praise to our Savior (Hebrews 13:15). As we speak the truth to one another in song, we are built up and we build up our brothers and sisters in the faith (Ephesians 5:19-20, Jude 1:20-21). God's Word is truth that transforms us (John 17:17). Songs sung in public worship should be truth that we sing
out together. Singing the truth to melody and rhythm helps us remember it. It is also a glorious gift to recite the truth about the Holy and Living God, our Creator and Redeemer, with our fellow saints in Christ. As we do, we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord (2 Peter 3:18)
Because of this theology of worship, our main criterion for selecting songs for worship is, "Does this song accurately teach the truth of God's Word?" (Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Colossians 3:16). Songs that do not show reverence for God are rejected ("reverence" is often translated as "godliness" in the New Testament - see 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Titus 1:1, 2 Peter 3:11). After that, “singability”, appropriateness, and other factors can be considered. Songs are neither upgraded nor downgraded based on age or popularity.
Worship is not music, and music is not necessarily worship. Worship is something we do with our whole lives (Romans 12:1). Our worship together as the body of Christ includes biblical preaching, reading the Word, praying in accordance with the Word, singing biblical songs, and participating in the Lord's Supper and Baptism. (1 Timothy 4:13, Ephesians 5:19, 2 Timothy 4:2, etc.)
Biblical songs and the other elements of biblical worship renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and are an acceptable sacrifice of praise to our Savior (Hebrews 13:15). As we speak the truth to one another in song, we are built up and we build up our brothers and sisters in the faith (Ephesians 5:19-20, Jude 1:20-21). God's Word is truth that transforms us (John 17:17). Songs sung in public worship should be truth that we sing
out together. Singing the truth to melody and rhythm helps us remember it. It is also a glorious gift to recite the truth about the Holy and Living God, our Creator and Redeemer, with our fellow saints in Christ. As we do, we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord (2 Peter 3:18)
Because of this theology of worship, our main criterion for selecting songs for worship is, "Does this song accurately teach the truth of God's Word?" (Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Colossians 3:16). Songs that do not show reverence for God are rejected ("reverence" is often translated as "godliness" in the New Testament - see 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Titus 1:1, 2 Peter 3:11). After that, “singability”, appropriateness, and other factors can be considered. Songs are neither upgraded nor downgraded based on age or popularity.
