Music Discussion, Part 1: The Foundation

Thoughts on Singing and Music as it relates to the Believer, Part 1

Rarely, if ever, have I heard the subject of music addressed from a Biblical standpoint, that is, with the Bible as the place from which we get our foundation for a philosophy of music (this doesn’t mean nobody does this; I just haven’t heard it.) So, over the course of the last several months I have been pondering what a Biblical philosophy of music would involve. I think that there is a difference in what music should be done in church and what could be listened to/sung at home. Most of the time if we were asked what the purpose of music is in the church, we would say “to glorify/worship God”, but that is the purpose of our lives as a whole. What does God want specifically from our ministry in song?

The discussion below is a discussion primarily concerned with proper music/singing in the church. I have attempted to find all the relevant New Testament passages and to discern what they mean in their context and how they apply to congregational worship. Four of the passages speak directly to congregational worship while the other three are more generic.

The NT only directly addresses the issue of singing in the church in two places, Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18b-19. These two passages are roughly parallel and bear a great deal of study. Once we have laid a foundation with these two passages, we will build the other passages upon it.

In Colossians 3:16, Paul is in the middle of a small section on Christian graces. He starts verse 16 out with the words “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”; for most of us that does not sound like the beginning of a discussion on music. However, if we look at the parallel passage in Eph. 5:18b-19, we find that there Paul begins with the words “Be filled with the Spirit.” Thus, it cannot be accidental that these concepts are thrown together. The basis of our singing must be Word- and Spirit-filling; our song must overflow from our walk with the Spirit in His Word.

In the next section of Col. 3:16, Paul explains to us what the motives of congregational singing are, “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.” The motive of our singing is to be that of edifying our brothers in Christ through instruction and warning. The Greek word used for admonishing means "counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct, admonish, warn, instruct” (BDAG). Thus, our songs should have two effects on each other: we should be teaching and warning each other concerning the things of the Lord. In Eph. 5:19, it simply refers to “speaking to yourselves.” Here the details of the speech are not clearly given, but the fact that there is to be an emphasis on edifying each other is still kept in view by the “yourselves” phrase. Thus, it seems that the primary motive for singing in the church is edification.

But continue to read. The final section of Col. 3:16 says, “Singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.” The expression “with grace” could also be translated “with thanksgiving.” With grace is a fine translation, but I mention the other just to give a slightly clearly picture of what it would mean to sing “with grace” in our hearts. Thus, our singing which should be edifying the believers around us, is to flow from a heart which is thankful for and aware of the grace of God bestowed upon it. This is what might be called “praise” in the OT; we are speaking of God’s goodness and greatness to those around us. Thus, the “worship” motive of congregational singing does come into play, but it does not surpass the motive of edification, if anything it is subordinate.

This is my basic premise of singing in church: congregational singing should flow from a Word-and Spirit-filled life to edify those around while praising God from the heart.

So, a question for thought, how does the ordinary, average, pew-sitting Christian teach and admonish those around him through his singing? Choosing favorites each service? Just by sincere hearty singing?

I will plan to post Part 2 of this discussion sometime soon. That should be a discussion of all the other relevant NT passages, and a couple thoughts on the OT passages.