Daryl,

You might want to pay attention to that "If" word again. Really though, the part you did not highlight explains the connection and significance. But set aside the aspect of your own personal taste, comfort zone, etc. and objectively consider the key elements of the statement - "leads people to God" and "keeps people close to God". Try to consider how either of these could possibly, even in your wildest dreams, be a bad thing. Aside from music, now consider the many ways in which God can accomplish this or ways that people have learned to accomplish these goals. How many of those ways work for you personally? How many of those ways do not work for you personally? Would you be willing to deny God or His people opportunities to penetrate the shell of a sin-hardened soul and touch that heart with the gospel in ways that don't do it for you, for the sole reason that such ways don't work for you and speak to your soul or even if you know that for you personally the exact opposite effect would be the result?

With regard to music, countless personal testimonies give evidence of the power of music to help accomplish the eternal goals of leading someone to God and helping keep a soul close to God. What if the same personal testimony came from two different people, one listening to a Fannie Crosby hymn and another listening to Handel's Messiah - would you consider a qualitative difference in the spiritual experience and result of the two individuals based on their musical preference? My own mother who is a musician would greatly prefer the former music and absolutely would not be as likely to be blessed by Handel's music as she simply doesn't like classical music. But I have sung many of the choral portions of the Messiah and am greatly blessed by that music as well as the great gospel hymns that my mother taught me to appreciate. I have also experienced the same blessing (I do recognize it as being the same because my spiritual reactions and thoughts are very much the same.) from some far more contemporary Christian music. And that is the experience of countless other Christians who have been brought closer to God and kept closer to God through contemporary Christian music. Each type of music has lead me toward God or helped me stay close to Him by focusing my mind and heart on Him. Is there a difference? Only in the musical vehicle that helped bring me into a closer relationship with God. The end result was the same. That is the point.

Tom

[ July 01, 2003, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Tom Wetmore ]

Greetings, Friends:
I want to sincerely thank Tom for calling your attention to my book "Joyful Noise." Tom, as you are well aware, your quotes are well within the boundaries of fair use. Quote away! You are representing me accurately.

I also want to thank Daryl for his kindly, conscientious reminders to people. May God bless you.

Pete P Pete, part of "Joyful Noise" is indeed based on the two articles on music I published a year ago in JATS. One very valuable thing about publishing them there first is that several thoughtful critics took the time to argue with specific aspects of what I had said. I discovered that the reason was that I had not clearly communicated my ideas. (It's not easy.) I was able to do a lot of rewriting and add many pages, with the result that most of those who didn't understand changed their minds and came to agree with me. Given that you label me a leftist (I'm a registered Republican), you probably still wouldn't agree with me, but I do hope the book is clearer than the articles.

As Tom pointed out, I love the great old hymns. I wish we spent a lot more time singing them. I've recorded a three tape album for American Cassette Ministries of me reading the lyrics of 150 hymns as poetry, so their wonderful messages can be better understood.

I believe, though, that one prominent example of FALSE WORSHIP and BLASPHEMY in our churches today (more specifically white North American and European churches) is singing HYMNS in praise to God AS IF WE DIDN'T MEAN IT. Lukewarm, Laodicean singing of hymns is not true worship and it doesn't lead people closer to God. However, that doesn't mean we need to throw out the baby with the bathwater. I urge you, if you love hymns, sing them with all your heart, as if you really believed. And teach others to love them, too.
God Bless
Ed

Good to see you back on here, Ed!

I agree that it isn't always easy conveying one's accurate thoughts on here.

I would be interested in your thoughts, and anybody else's thoughts, on the following similar topics:

http://www.maritime-sda-online.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000032;p=1#000010

http://www.maritime-sda-online.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000026;p=1#000005

Please click on the above link and, if you have any thoughts, please reply to them in those respective topics, rather than in this one.

The 4th chapter of "Joyful Noise" is entitled "Guidelines for OUR Music: Congregational Worship." In that chapter Ed Christian explains in detail 7 principles for group worship. Here are the basic principles for your edification and discussion:

"1. Music is not of itself sacred or secular, whatever its style. Classical and sacred are not synonymous. Quality of composition or performance does not make music without words suitable for the worship service. When instrumental music calls to mind sacred lyrics, it can lead to worship, though generally less efficiently than music with words. At best, from a spiritual viewpoint, music without words in the worship service provides a background for meditation. However, many listeners don’t make use of this opportunity."

"2. Any style of music can entertain. Entertainment is not in itself wrong, in its place, but the worship service is not the best place for entertainment, because the more we are being entertained, the less we are worshiping. Thus the worship service will be more spiritually profitable if we avoid music that entertains. 'Special music' in the worship service can sometimes provide an opportunity for meditation or allow God to speak to the listener, but primarily, I believe, it entertains the congregation, despite the performers’ desire to give glory to God."


"3. Everything in the worship service should encourage an intense unity of the believers, a unity of thought, feeling, and worship, preparing believers to receive God’s Word to them. Any element of the service that lowers congregational fervor or detracts from congregational unity should be changed or deleted. Silence should not be equated with true reverence or worship (though true worship is often silent, of course)."


"4. Congregational singing is the only music encouraged in the New Testament for group worship. Vigorous congregational singing has potent physiological, mental, and spiritual effects. When vigorous congregational singing continues for some time, it encourages a feeling of unity among the singers. Vigorous congregational singing is our fullest expression of corporate worship."


"5. Tepid congregational singing is false worship, a mockery of worship. It says, in effect, 'God hasn’t done much for me and doesn’t really deserve my worship.'"


"6. Vigorous congregational singing is always appropriate during the worship service, and many musical styles are acceptable for such worship, so long as those present are not offended. Music that offends some in the congregation is not acceptable, because it destroys the unity of the body of Christ."


"7. Some Christian songs are appropriate for outside the worship service, yet not for
congregational singing. Songs for congregational singing should praise God in some way or teach and admonish the congregation. They should have lyrics that are fitting for many people to sing at once, rather than focusing on individual experience. Their tunes should also be melodic, as this makes them easier to sing and remember."


Tom

Daryl,

You asked, “Does Ed Christian give any examples of vigorous and tepid congregational singing anywhere in his book?”

Yes, he discusses these points quite a bit in his book. I think that essentially he is talking about enthusiasm and feeling in our singing – singing from our heart as if we truly mean it. His use of “tepid” conveys lukewarmness, apathy or a lack of genuine feeling. Music is an expression of the heart and the way some folk sing you would think their hearts have stopped beating. Here is his description of the effects of vigorous congregational singing:

“When we sing vigorously, we breathe deeper and we exercise our chest, back, and abdominal muscles. This floods our cells with extra oxygen, making us feel alert, strong, and energetic. It also releases naturally occurring substances in our brains that relax us, decrease sensitivity to pain, give us a feeling of well-being, encourage a feeling of compassion for others, and lower our inhibitions slightly (making it easier for us to respond to the work of the Holy Spirit on our hearts).”

And in a footnote he mentions a personal experience of what he is talking about:

“One of the most memorable evenings of my life was spent in a hymn-sing led by a man who knew how to lead singing (Charles L. Brooks, an editor of the hymnal I use) and a pianist who knew how to accompany hymn-singing (his daughter). The leader took us through dozens of songs, helping us learn how to sing, how to understand the songs, how to enjoy them. As he moved us from anthems of praise to quiet songs of contrition and surrender and back again, as he gauged and controlled our enthusiasm, we coalesced. I began with a migraine headache. I ended feeling wonderful. This was my introduction, 15 years ago, to the glory of hymns and the physiological effects they can have.”

Having also experienced singing hymns with C. L. Brooks and his wonderfully rich voice and genuine enthusiasm, I understand exactly what he is saying. That spirit is contagious like the infectious laughter of a child. Even the most dour saint will at least smile a little.

Tom

Tom,

I agree with both you and Ed Christian that we need to sing from our hearts and not only from our lips (lip-service).

Daryl,

Of the seven principles of worship music that Ed proposes, three directly address unity. To say that unity in worship is a theme of his book is almost an understatement. It is a concern that Ed stresses over and over throughout the book. In the introductory paragraph to his concluding chapter, “The Church I Long to See” he sums up what is on his heart in writing this book:

“Music has divided for far too long. This book has been an attempt to show that such division is unnecessary, harmful, and in opposition to Jesus’ prayer that His followers would live together in unity. What follows is not specifically about music, but about the unity of the body of Christ, the people of God. It lays out my dreams of what the church could be if we were willing, what God longs for it to be. Compared to unity, the music wars are of little importance.”

An essential element of our group worship is to help unify the body of Christ and of all things, music should be a catalyst to help build that unity of God’s people rather than divide us. What follows is a sampling of other quotes from throughout the rest of Ed’s book regarding the importance of unity in the context of this potentially divisive issue:

“Jesus was particularly concerned for the unity of His people. The divisions within Christendom make worldwide unity difficult, but even in the local congregation there are often divisions. When we allow them to continue, we keep Christ’s prayer from being answered as He wished.”

“Whatever music we ourselves prefer, we must keep in mind the unity of God’s people. Maintaining that unity may call for compromise, for accepting what we ourselves don’t much like, for not insisting on our own musical preferences if some are offended by them.” Chapter 2 [Ed later further defines what he means by compromise – “not a compromise of principles, but a willingness to put the needs of others before our own needs.”]

“Today researchers know that vigorous singing or similar physical participation in music can release naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that ease pain or lead to a feeling of well-being. Such feelings are not in themselves spiritual, but when they accompany the spiritual they intensify it and encourage unity, joy, and care for others.” Chapter 3

“Our primary concern as we consider what music to use in the worship service should be its effect on the worshipers. Does it bring them to a unity of spirit? Does it make them more receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit? Does it help convince them of their need of a Savior, remind them there’s power in the blood, encourage them to be like Jesus, inspire them to praise God with their whole heart?” Chapter 4

“Everything in the worship service should encourage an intense unity of the believers, a unity of thought, feeling, and worship, preparing believers to receive God’s Word to them. Any element of the service that lowers congregational fervor or detracts from congregational unity should be changed or deleted. Silence should not be equated with true reverence or worship (though true worship is often silent, of course).”

“I admit that this is an unusual position. However, what most concerned Jesus as He prayed in John 17 was the unity of the believers. Three times Jesus commanded, ‘Love one another’ (John 13:34; 15:12, 17). I assume he meant it.

“It seems to me that we praise and worship God best when we do it from a position of loving unity. When we are filled with love for each other, when we come to feel open to each other, concerned about each other, connected to each other, then I think we can feel the Holy Spirit descend upon us, whether we be silent or singing, and true worship begins.” Chapter 4

“I believe that everything in the worship service needs to be subordinate to the goal of worshiping God in unity. If the organ prelude and the special music lower the spiritual temperature by drawing people away from each other and focusing on a private experience of God, replace them with congregational hymns.” Chapter 4

“True worship should come from brothers and sisters coming together in unity (Psalm 133:1).” Chapter 4

“Because congregational worship isn’t true worship unless the congregation worships as one, and because congregational singing not only helps us achieve that unity but is the primary way the church worships at one time, we need to devote more time to learning how to sing together, and we need to devote more time to singing together.”

“We need to surrender ourselves to the good of the whole body and sing with our hearts. I believe this is the worship God desires, rather than a worship that is decorous and reverent, but dead.” Chapter 4

“Unity is built when God’s people develop a relationship with each other, when they truly care for each other and carry each other’s burdens, and this is Christ’s desire for them.” Chapter 8

Tom

I am all for unity but not if it means compromising our Bible-based beliefs for the sake of unity.

That is why it important to know what the Bible and the SOP have to say about this most important subject.