Music Wars 101

Many churches today either have experienced or continue to experience what many have termed Music Wars. Many people think that this is a new phenomenon across the land of Christendom, but it is a battle that has gone on for many generations. Since Paul instructed the early church to sing to one another in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, the church has had conflict over this simple task. Paul places this instruction in two separate letters to the church. It often makes me wonder if these two early churches were already fighting over the musical style of their worship. In both letters Paul adds these instructions in passages about living out the Christian Faith.
In Ephesians we find the instructions alongside instructions dealing with the imitation of Christ:

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. Eph 5:1-21 (NKJV)

In Colossians we find the same instructions in a similar passage:

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 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. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col 3:1-17 (NKJV)

As a student of Music History and a former teacher and adjunct music professor, I have studied this controversy as it rolled through the ages. Let me give a very brief overview of this history.

The early years of known music history date back to around 800 AD. The music of the church was confined to the Catholic Church and was what we now call Gregorian Chant. The music was sung by the priests and had only a melodic line. Toward the end of this Medieval time period, other melodic lines were added to the chant line. Controversy soon erupted over this ‘change’ in music.

From around 1420 to 1600 AD music styles changed again. This period was called the Renaissance. Intricate part singing was found in the music; yet again there arose controversy in the church. A council of church leaders got together and wrote out guidelines for composers to follow when writing music for the church. During this time period, there was little distinction between ‘secular’ and ‘sacred.’ Common practice was to borrow tunes from what we would now consider secular music. Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” for example borrowed a tune from a secular source.

From 1600 to around 1750 the period was called the Baroque period. It was during this time period that a real division between ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’ music became evident. In England laws were written that outlawed most Operas because of the secular content. Composers like George Frederick Handel wrote Oratorios which had the musical format of the Opera but had a Biblical theme. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote music for the church as did Vivaldi.

From 1750 – 1820 AD, the Classical Period, the lines between ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’ widened. Again in the Romantic period from 1820 – 1900 AD, the lines continued to diverge. Up until the end of this period, the practice of borrowing musical lines from other composers was still common. Much of the church music of this time reflected the musical styles of the period. From 1900 to the present, many musical styles have evolved. Much music written today reflects many of the different styles of music from our rich heritage of music.

Across this land, on any given Sunday, we can find a wide variety of musical styles being used in the church. Some churches use choirs, orchestras, and organs. Other churches use piano only, while some use drums and guitars. There are some denominations that only use voices and forbid the use of instruments.

I have overheard conversations on the subject of music within the church that I am sure breaks God’s heart. He wants to hear His people sing His praises regardless of the style of the song. When we do otherwise, we put our preferences above our Lord. I have heard people complain about what they see as a current trend to add verses and choruses to older familiar hymns.

This is not a current trend, but a practice that has been around for hundreds of years. There are numerous ‘old hymns’ in our hymnals that are perfect examples of this. Ralph E. Hudson the arranger of “Blessed Be the Name” took Charles Wesley’s hymn “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” altered the words and added a chorus. Both of these hymns grace the pages of hymnals in our churches today. “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks” is found in several hymnals with different choruses. These are just a few examples of this trend from over a hundred years ago.

So what does this mean for the church of today? First of all we must be aware that the controversy over musical styles has been with the church since the beginning. We must remember that Satan, our enemy, will use every tool available to damage the church. We must remember that musical style is a preference, not a Biblical mandate. The Bible does not contain written music, but does contain instructions on how our attitude must be toward one another, re-read the above passages. As Christians, we should not let our musical preferences get in the way of our worship of the Lord God Almighty. After all, worship is not about us, it is not for us. Worship is our gift to the Lord and our attitude matters to God. The Song writers, worship leaders and Ministers of Music of the church today all have one goal for our times of worship. That goal is to praise and worship the One who created us, who loved us so much that He died and rose again for us. God is not pleased when we fuss and fight over things that don’t matter. So as you come into your worship services, I plead with you to come with a new and Godly attitude in your worship. As Paul further instructs in the letter to the Colossians:

23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Col 3:23-24 (NKJV)