Is Your Preferred Music Style a god?
A number of years ago I had an interesting discussion with another staff member of a church where I served as minister of music. The church was contemplating starting a new service that would be contemporary in style. The staff member told me that he really liked the contemporary music style for worship. In fact, he said that he really could not worship unless he had that particular music style for his worship music. I was shocked by the comment at first . . . “can’t worship unless he has a particular music style?”
A quick look through the Scripture will reveal that a number of music styles were in use in Bible days. The music style used by Moses and Miriam at that spontaneous worship service on the banks of the Red Sea was much more developed featuring skilled musicians in King David’s day. The music style of Jesus’ day was probably different from that of the early church in the Apostle Paul’s day. The culture of these different time periods I’m sure had a large influence on the style of music used in the worship of God’s people.
How is it that we have these preferences? Most often the music style we grow accustom to in our teenage years becomes our musical heart language - our preferred music style. All of us have preferences in the area of music style. Yet, if someone today “requires” a certain style of music in order to worship, it is almost as if the preferred music style becomes like a god or idol to them. They think they are hindered in worship without this style of music. Let’s be reminded that we worship God the Father through the mediation of the Son in the power of the Spirit - we need nothing else in order to seek the Father in worship. In fact, we can worship without music.
The mature worshiper can worship God in many different settings and music styles. We should choose a style of music that works best for a majority of our people. We should teach the principle of deference in our congregations - “I do not have to have my way on this music style issue - what works best for others?” As long as the content is Scriptural, focused on the Gospel and presented in an intelligible, orderly, clear way with reverance awe for our Great God - the music style is not the deciding factor on how I worship.
Yes, I have my preferences like anyone else - but I care more about what is best for my church over my personal preferences. Let’s not allow a music style to become a god or idol in worship. Let’s “tame the music” and strive for unity and peace in the Body of Christ, young and old together worshiping the Lord!