more on church music

For the first time in almost three years I led congregational music/singing in our church. It was quite enjoyable actually. I got to play with almost the entire original Fliesch 92fm band (Vicky, Garry, Andrew (Joel and Henry were missing!)). It’s really enjoyable to play with a group of musicians who not only are skilled musicians but have the uncanny ability to anticipate how to shape a song (arrangement). Basically, I viewed my role as filling what was required/expected of a music leader in our church – but if I would have followed my convictions about music in the church I would not have led in the same way. I likely would have played almost no music at all and encouraged people not to sing.

I am wondering if a comment I made at the beginning of the service was really understood. I expressed my hope that people would enjoy the music that was presented, even if some of it was not the type that gave them the freedom or comfort to sing along. That idea of ‘enjoying’ music seems to be a foreign concept. Enjoying seems too banal almost too carnal a word to describe what ‘should’ happen musically in church. At least that is the impression we work with right? Well, maybe not all of us. But there does seem to be this actual attempt on the part of most ‘worship’ leaders to extract their ego and pride from the equation. This is a good thing. But it is almost to the point where we are so self effacing (or intending to be so) that we don’t want to take pride in producing high quality music. There is this mentality that the worship leader is performing a sacrificial service for the church in leading music.

This idea is bunk. I’m not sure of one music leader out there who finds leading music a burden or a struggle let alone that it costs them something of significance. Truth be told most ‘worship’ leaders deeply (yet secretly) enjoy what they do. But I digress…

Church music has some unspoken assumptions attached. It must be theologically accurate. It should in most cases meet as broad of a preference style as possible with those that are gathered. There is something about singing together as a congregation which we understand to be a unique and important spiritual exercise. Actually, in most churches I would suggest singing together as a congregation is considered a requirement.

What we get out of this experience is not insignificant. We get a shared experience which is similar to almost everyone gathered. This arguably can foster unity. We also get the opportunity to teach and affirm spiritual truth. With the power that music has on memory, it can be an effective tool for teaching and storing truth.

As an art form music is one of the most varied mediums of communication. It ranges in style, lyrical content, instrumentation, and arrangement. It even has some natural compensation for the anticipated audience. Music is also one of the most powerful venues for emotional expression.

The difficulty arises when we reduce music only to the role of leading the congregation in this shared experience. It is no wonder that there is so much complaining/arguing about music in the church. In an increasingly individualistic culture our own preferences and tastes dominate our evaluation of music. So enjoyment of music becomes conditional. And when we add the stigma of this being a requirement for the spiritual gathering of God’s people – we can see where frustration can spiral out of control.

Some ways of using music in a spiritual context might be:

Background to other stuff that is going on

Personal testimony

Commissioned pieces that follow thematic directions

Performances/Recitals

Intentional teaching tools (instead of unintentional one’s like they are now)

Grand Works of Art or Showcases

I know that congregational singing will and should have a place in congregational life but I would suggest that it should take much less prominent one than what it holds currently. People in a congregation who sacrifice their own musical preferences for those of others should be praised as modeling sacrificial living. But we should also be concerned that these same people are viewing this as such a sacrifice.

Anyways…