When you’re in charge of church music, the saying ‘you can’t please all the people all the time,’ is never truer. Everyone has an opinion! I remember one woman complaining one song was ‘an awful noise.’ What she meant was the song wasn’t to her taste, even though the truths in it were scriptural. Is it any wonder churches end up splitting over church music?
Church music is as varied as the people who attend church. When Queen Angie asked about church music on a forum she got answers that ranged from traditional and bell choirs to jazz or contemporary/pop.
Whether it’s traditional hymns or up tempo contemporary, good music is not enough. What is most important is we remember that the music is not just for entertainment or to stir our emotions but to focus our attention on God. As Janet said ‘There has to be something else to uplift you, to keep you coming back, to keep you involved.’
To this end, it is important to ensure the music is in keeping with the message. Whether they are hymns or contemporary, the words of the songs should re-enforce, build on, clarify or in some way pick up on the themes that come out in the sermon.
When I was in charge of the music in a previous church I was given the bible passage and main points of the sermon in advance. Then I prayed about what songs God would have me choose to re-enforce those truths.
Music in church should never be taken lightly. Often the truths set to music are the ones that stick with us, so we need to be sure those truths are scriptural. The woman in charge of music in our current church has the same emphasis – making sure the songs back up the truths being preached.
What is most important is the preaching of and faithfulness to God’s Word. I would never choose a church just because the music was great. But in our present church we have both, which is great for someone like me who loves to sing. I find myself singing the words over throughout the week.
Please visit these related blogs
Finding the Right Church – part 1
Why Should You Leave a Church?
How to Handle Differences of Opinion in Church.