What Music Connects you to God?
Musical preferences are complicated and personal things. One person loves rock music, another classical, a third folk and a fourth hip-hop. And all of them might be sitting in the same pew!
Given these differences in musical preference, how should we use music in worship? Should we just standardize on one style of music and expect everyone to take part, or incorporate different styles into worship to connect with as many people as possible?
Speaking as an avid lover of music, I think that when we join a community, we need to learn to worship in the way that community worships. We need to uphold the parts of the body of Christ that are responsible for worshiping God through music, even when the style of music isn’t to our personal taste.
What about you? How do you handle the tension between your personal weekday preferences in music and what you sing on Sunday? Is it even an issue for you?
More importantly, what is it about music that connects you with God? Is it a certain style of music? Is it the words? Something else entirely? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Music is a great gift from God. Personally, I believe that all music in an of itself is amoral, meaning neither good nor bad. What matters is the message in the music. I’m a rock and roll fan, but when I became born again, I threw out almost all of my rock cd’s. I listen mostly to worship music now, still in the rock style. I like many other kinds of music, but rock has been what’s in my cd player mostly. I’ve bought a few new rock cd’s…Red, Pillar, Flyleaf, Tenth Ave North, etc. Great music, positive message. If you call yourself a Christian you should follow Christ. I don’t think you can keep all your Kiss, Nirvana, or Nickleback cd’s and say Jesus has changed your heart to desire Him. At the same time though, I’ve heard older folks say rock is the devil’s music, so they stay quiet at youth worship night and say it’s too loud, yet later at the football game they’re screaming their heads off. You shout over what you’re passionate about, so shout for Jesus, whatever the music form. Clap, sing and head bang to David Crowder, or sing and shout to old hymns…but be passionate, not for the music, but for Jesus!
I enjoy many genres of music, both Christian and non-Christian. I am naturally drawn to songs or artists by their gripping melodies; I am heavily influenced by the music and/or musicianship. Lyrics are quite powerful as well; I find myself many times seeing Christ through even the most secular lyrics. As Christ is alive in me, I see things differently than the world. Many times secular music connects me directly to God. Artists simply write about their observations in life and about what they know. Aren’t they writing about the world that our God created? They just don’t know it. I am encouraged by these reflections. I am reminded of where God has brought me from. I am able to learn how a non-believer views their surroundings. As the earlier commenter stated, music is amoral. I agree! I was raised to keep a tight reign on what was worthy to be labeled Christian and I look back now to see how I missed out. There is value in appreciating music as music; I consider it and other arts part of God’s creativity that when we enjoy, He’s pleased. Restraint has its place, but there is liberty in seeing God in more than things only carrying the Christian banner.
@Claire Good thoughts, thank you for sharing!
“Lyrics are quite powerful as well; I find myself many times seeing Christ through even the most secular lyrics.”
Any examples you’d like to share?
music is good, depends on what you listen to. im still looking up rock, pop ect ect bands the are christan any segestions?
@rebecca It probably depends on what you like? Anything in particular that you’ve run across that you really enjoy?
Music is something that touches your soul and makes you enjoy some aspect of your connectedness to creation. We all have deep within us a spot that can be reached by the beauty of nature, music, art, poetry, ect. I agree with Jason and Claire, there are many types of music that one can enjoy that touches the spiritual within us. I would say though that if the music has a negative pattern of vile or reprobate speech that it’s not something we should embrace. Scriptures tell us to dwell on that which is lovely, pure and righteous so we can’t be dwelling on words that are violent or caustic. A mind can’t hold two dominate thoughts at the same time and what we listen to does matter to our subconscious mind as well as our conscious mind.
I think we should incorporate many styles of christian music in worship . I listen to both traditional gospel and contemporary gospel music. The lyrics is what moves me. The words are defintely what moves me closer to God.
Music is something that we received from God so we must use it well and also we must use it in order to praise and please Him. And I think, whatever genre is used, it doesn’t matter as long as it is for God!
I agree with you about different tastes and styles of music. Our Fellowship has a variety of people and vast age differences. Everyone uses different styles of music to worship our Lord Jesus. We changed our order of service to include a hymn a week , some older and new contemporary songs to meet the needs of the people. We are at church for fellowship and to worship together in His name. So, why not make our time together one of meaningful praise that touches all hearts.HE smiles at our compassion for eachother and visits often when we bow and worship HIM.
I believe classical is the only way to truly worship Christ…..
ok – I’m just kidding. Anyways, I was wondering what your thoughts were on this.
I’m a worship leader at our church and yet when I’m not leading normally on a Sunday morning – I don’t sing. I just never want to. I have gotten so numb to worship songs that I rarely find myself caught up in the beauty of a song anymore. Partly probably because so many songs use the same cliches! Partly because it feels stupid staring at a screen at lyrics I have memorized (I don’t know where else to look). Partly because there is probably an issue I need to work through. Any idea on where I can start at?
PS – David Crowder is one example of someone who really knows how to write those original lyrics! Seriously, he’s good.
@Benjamin You had me going for a second…
Assuming you’re the only worship leader at the church, I have to ask the question: why are you picking songs that use so many cliches? If you’re unable to worship I’d have to think that other people in the congregation are having problems as well.
If you’re not the only worship leader, I wonder if you should talk with the other worship leaders to see if they’re experiencing the same thing.
You should TOTALLY check out Sovereign Grace music. It’s a church denomination based on the east coast. They have a huge music program and these people are legit. Here’s their main website – http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/. I don’t even go to a Sovereign Grace church but I’m in love with their music. Their songwriters use really deep, original lyrics. They’re very meaty. They’re like modern hymns in a way. Many songs are taken right out of scripture! Their songs are theological.
I’m also the worship leader at my church. I’m not quite in the same place as you but I can understand that sometimes the same songs over and over can get monotonous. Change it up and keep pointing your congregants closer to God!
The church must learn to come up with a working definition of Christian music.
Here are some criteria I think of:
1) must be well-written musically
2) must stand the test of time
3) music must be beautiful (I know that is personal taste but God’s creation is vast and includes many types of beauty)
4) words, if there are words, must be focused on God. Benjamin, I feel your pain. How many praise choruses are filled with “I” and “me”?
Don’t forget to let those who know how to play classical to play in church. Classical music, which has stood the test of time, includes 1500 years of incredible worship/sacred music!
Read “Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down” by Marva Dawn, or “All God’s Children in Blue Suede Shoes” (author’s name escapes me) Eric Routley has many excellent books on worship, as does Patrick Kavanaugh.