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God's expectations for music
Let's look a the second of God's expectations for music:
» 1. Faithfulness to God's purpose for music
[2. Faithfulness in serving God's people]
Faithfulness in serving God's people
As with all spiritual gifts, musical gifts are given for the common good as we come together in worship:
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1Corinthians 12:4-7)
The task of the music team is to apply God’s purpose for music in faithful service of his people at church. Here's how:
» 1. Choose songs with great words and music
» 2. Play expressively
» 3. Do your best to play with skill
» 4. Don’t play to show your skill
1. Choose songs with great words and music
It’s essential that the songs we choose for church contain lyrics that match God’s purpose for music at church - faithful lyrics that move us and speak to who we are as humans under God, proclaiming his works, giving him thanks and praise, and encouraging us to give our lives to him. (Although not every song has to do all those things at once!)
Not only that, but the music written needs to match the words in a way that lifts them off the song sheet and into our hearts! We are blessed with many great songs that do this well. But there are more out there - go find them!
2. Play expressively
Why do we bother including instruments when we sing at church? After all, it’s an awful lot of work! Why not just sing unaccompanied? In Psalm 33, King David seemed to think there was something to this whole idea of using instruments:
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! (Psalm 33:2)
The ten-stringed harp, or kinnor, was rare and expensive - most kinnor in the ancient near-East had only nine strings. Its sound was described as “pleasant” and “sweet” (Psalm 81:2), and it remained silent during periods of mourning (Psalm 137:2). Beyond that, we know very little about how it was played, or what its songs sounded like. But the fact that it is mentioned throughout the Psalms as an instrument of praise brings to mind a sound that went some way in expressing the beauty and joy of knowing God.
Whether you’re playing a 10-string kinnor, or a 12-string guitar, the whole purpose for your existence at church is to help people express the words of “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” in a way they wouldn’t quite be able to with words alone.
That means your playing at church must be consciously expressive. Never just go through the motions. How would you feel if your preacher simply read out the text of his sermon in monotone? Just as a good preacher uses his voice to express the message he wants to convey, the way you play your instrument or sing should reflect the emotional content of the song lyrics. If you’re enjoying yourself when you sing at church - good! The role of the musicians is to help the congregation express those words emotionally.
Unfortunately as instrumentalists we’re often totally oblivious to the lyrics of songs we’re playing. The classic situation is the drummer who doesn’t even look at the song sheet: “How many verses? Four? OK, cool.” Encourage the musicians to engage with the lyrical content of the songs. One way to do is to pray together through the words of the songs each week.
3. Do your best to play with skill
You don’t have to be an amazing musician to play in church, but you do actually have to put some effort in! Faithfulness in service entails doing the necessary preparation to serve effectively.
There is value in skilful playing. In Psalm 33, David continues by calling on his musicians to play with skill to the Lord:
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. (Psalm 33:3)
If you know you need to practice at home beforehand, don’t turn up to the rehearsal without practising. If you’re just beginning on an instrument and want to serve by playing in church - go ahead have a go! - but also take an opportunity to get more training.
4. Don’t play to show your skill
Praise God that he’s given you a great gift for the service of his people. Keep God’s purpose for music at church in your heart, and keep praying God will keep it there.
Let's think about the second of those two problems that all church music teams face: