Biblical Worship

When it comes to corporate worship issues, much of the discussion often centers on music style:  which instruments should we use in worship and what kind of songs.  The Bible does not endorse one particular style.  I think it is safe to say that the music style of Moses’ day, David’s day, and New Testament times would not have been similar; sometimes instruments were used, sometimes they were not.  Some of the songs of worship were from Scripture, but other songs that the Apostle Paul mentions seem to not be Scripture songs.  We really do not even know what these styles of music and instruments sounded like. 

One writer has said that when a person states that there is only one appropriate musical style for worship, this borders on idolatry.  When we get to that point in our thinking, it is almost as if we are worshiping a music style rather than the Creator of music.  So, what are some questions to consider when determining a music style for your local congregation?

1.  What is the makeup of those who are members and others who attend your church?  Age groups, culture of the community?

2.  What music style will be a good vehicle for communicating the truth of the Gospel for your church?  (Instruments used, new songs, old songs)

3.  What musical style will promote unity and peace in the Body of Christ that worships together week to week?

4.  What is the musical heart language  (or musical dialect) of most of your people?

5.  What musical style most authentically represents the people of your church?

6.  What musical style can be best performed by the musicians of your church?

I always find it a little interesting when a church decides to switch to a contemporary style but in their congregation they do not have anyone who can play the instruments needed for this style.  I think a good place to start when discussing change in worship is to ask the question:  what is driving this move to change the music style of the church?  I think there are times when a church needs to make some changes in its music style, but all too often the changes are made without much consideration, planning and most importantly, prayer.

In The Coming Evangelical Crisis (John Armstrong, ed., Moody Press, 1996), Dr. John MacArthur summarizes problems of worship practice in the modern church specifically focusing on the unbiblical principles some churches apply to worship.  MacArthur gives some clear instruction on the use of music in worship:

“. . . Worship should engage the intellect as well as the emotions.  By all means worship should be passionate, heartfelt, and moving.  But the point is not to stir the emotions while turning off the mind.  True worship merges heart and mind in a response of pure adoration, based on the truth revealed in the Word.

Music may sometimes move us by the sheer beauty of its sound, but such sentiment is not worship.  Music is by itself, apart from the truth contained in the lyrics, is not even a legitimate springboard for real worship.  Similarly, a poignant story may be touching or stirring, but unless the message it conveys is set in the context of biblical truth, any emotions it may stir are of no use in prompting genuine worship.  Aroused passions are not necessarily evidence that true worship is taking place.”

Our worship music should be grounded in the objective truths of the Word.  We sing to offer praise to our Great God.  We sing because of what the Lord has done for us.  We sing because of the Gospel.  We sing out of gratitude to Jesus Christ.  When we sing for these reasons, any emotions that are stirred are not caused by subjective response to the music but objective response to the Gospel.  When our emotions are not grounded in truth, we could simply just be responding to the sound of music. 

Worship leaders - help your congregation understand their emotional response to music.  Select worship songs that ground your people in the objective truth of the Word.

As worship leaders every week we must choose songs to be sung by our congregation during the main corporate worship service of the week.  We want to be thoughtful, pastoral, and sensible about this song selection.  What are some guiding principles for choosing music for the worship service?

Biblical Principles for Selecting Worship Songs

1.  Scripturally sound - 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:14-17

2.  Clear language - intelligible - I Corinthians 14:19

3.  Use a variety of songs - Colossians 3:16

4.  Sing to the Lord - Colossians 3:16

5.  Sing to one another - Colossians 3:16, I Corinthians 14:26

6.  Songs should teach and admonish - Colossians 3:16

7.  Sing as a response to the objective truths of the Gospel - Colossians 3:16 

Practical principles for selecting worship songs

1.  Choose songs that are easy to sing as a congregation

2.  Choose songs where the text and musical setting go well together

3.  Choose songs that balance the objective and subjective side of our faith

4.  Choose songs that communicate the Gospel in the language of the people

5.  Choose songs that have a purpose in your worship service

6.  Balance familiar and unfamiliar songs

Our song selection gives the congregation a picture of Almighty God.  It helps us express our gratitude to God for his saving grace through his Son.  Our songs teach us about our faith.  Probably more people leave the service singing the songs than quoting sermon points.  Let’s be thoughtful about our song selection.  It can make an eternal difference in the lives of our congregation.

Although the Apostle Paul addresses the abuse of ’speaking in tongues’ in I Corinthians 14, there are also a number of principles we can observe about how the church should conduct itself when gathered for teaching and worship. 

The chapter can be divided into three major sections: intelligible speech and seeking to build up the church (vs. 1-12), pray and sing with the spirit and with the mind (vs. 13-25), and order in Christian gatherings (26-40).  Here are a few principles we can draw from this chapter:

1.  Those sharing in the service should edify, exhort and console the body of Christ (vs. 3-4, 12, 26).

2.  All talk should be intelligible (vs. 9-11, 27-28).

3.  Pray with the spirit and with the mind.  Sing with the spirit and with the mind (vs. 15). We should sing from our hearts, but we need to also engage our minds.

4.  Your speech should instruct (vs. 3-6, 12, 26).

5.  Non-believers were present in the gathering, but it was not a seeker service.  However, the Christians should be sensitive to unbelievers who are present.  When unbelievers see the Christians sharing and worshiping, they are convicted (vs. 23-25). When is the last time this happened in one of our churches?  Perhaps when unbelievers see Christians worshiping they get a picture of some lesser ‘god.’

6.  Worship is participatory.  All believers come prepared to share a psalm, a teaching, or revelation (vs. 26).  Worship leaders need to look for ways to actively involve the congregation in the service.

7.  We should hold those teaching to account.  Is this biblical teaching? (vs. 29-33).  This is kind of hard to check when we don’t bring our Bibles to church.

8.  The gathering of Christians should be one of peace, not confusion.  All things should be done properly and orderly (vs. 37-40).

The Apostle Paul’s instruction on gatherings indicates the informality of these meetings, yet this was not a reason for confusion and chaos.  God is a God of order and peace.  There needs to be order, intelligibility, and edification in our services.  Our gatherings should reflect the great God that we worship!