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Home > Articles > Resolving the Music Controversy
Resolving the Music Controversy
What's this disagreement all about.
Bob Russell

Topics:Changes in worship, Conflict, Contemporary worship, Music, Strategy, Traditional, Worship, Worship planning, Worship service
Filters:Church board, Elder, Pastor, Worship, Worship leader
Purpose:Worship
References:Psalm 96:1, Psalm 150, Colossians 3:16-17
Date Added:July 12, 2007

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Posted: April 10, 2009
Richard  (Guest)
"he set his poem, "A Mighty Fortress" to a tune from a saloon" That claim has been disproven by musicians. The reason for this faulty statement is that EIN FESTE BURG is in AAB form, which is commonly called "bar form" which refers, not to use in a saloon, but to "a medieval verse form, the Bar." (http://tinyurl.com/c96ctl) The tunes Luther did use are not at all comparable to the rock music of today. I disagree that the primary debate is about taste. I'm one who desires to "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," and that eliminates worship in my way. Amos 5 talks about worship that displeases God. God said He hates and despises those things the Israelites were doing, thinking they were worshiping Him, because they were persisting in sin. Their hearts were not right with Him. So let's pray for each other that we come before God to worship Him with "clean hands and a pure heart" because only then can our God be glorified.

Posted: March 16, 2009
Wolf  (Guest)
Have you ever watched the congreation while todays's music is blasted from elaborate sound systems? One does not feel like singing; (you can't even hear the sound of your own voice)! If you use worship leaders, are they not to try to encourage people to participate in singing and praising? Yet all I hear is a handful of people on stage trying to outdo each other with their vocal abilities! I for one miss hearing the voices of the people (without use of expensive audio equipment) and can still raises the rafters with their voices!

Posted: March 17, 2009
Monique  (Guest)
Coming from a soon to be young local minister, I have attended both or all kinds of worship services, traditional, high mass with the bishop, contemporary, and praise and worship. Some I found extremely moving and others I did not. However, I have never walked away critisizing or tearing down ones way of worship. That would be judgment, if it brings you to a place where your in the presence of God than that type of worship is for you. Wether or not it has drums, an organ, five worship leaders or a field of electronic devises. Be glad that we can and have been able to bring people to Christ through new expierences, new sounds, and yes even new atmospheres. This intolerance has got to stop our negative words and attitudes just become obstacles to grace not only ours but those who are on the outside looking in. If you don't like the worship service, I'm sure there is more around that will fit your pallet. Anger is ammo for the devil to conquer and divide.


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Be flexible

If you're not content with the style of worship in your church, I would suggest you do five things:

  1. Acknowledge that what reaches you isn't necessarily what reaches others. Just as there are different tastes in food, there are very different tastes in music.
  2. Don't demand that the entire worship service be for you. Maybe someone is being reached by the music that you don't like.
  3. Don't be divisive and spread discontent to others. The Bible doesn't say much about music styles, but it has a lot to say about church unity.
  4. Find musical fulfillment in other ways. You don't have to leave your church. Listen to tapes or attend meetings during the week where your style of music is done well.
  5. Participate in worship even if the musical style isn't your favorite. If visitors see you scowling or shaking your head, ridiculing or pouting, they'll conclude, "This isn't for me." But if they see a united church singing with joy and enthusiasm, they are impressed and convicted.

When Paul and Silas sang and prayed until midnight in the Philippian prison, the jailer overheard them. When and earthquake released them, the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" The genuine worship of God cultivated the jailer's heart to receive the word of God. You and I would not recognize any of the songs they sang or resonate with the tunes, but God used them to touch the jailer.

So, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:16-17).

Bob Russell is senior minister at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky.

* This article originally was printed in the Lookout.

Bob Russell is an accomplished preacher and author of 13 books. His latest, released in June 2002, is titled "Jesus Lord of Your Personality." His sermons are heard several times weekly on "The Living Word," a nationally syndicated radio program. He also writes a weekly column in The Lookout, a magazine printed by Standard Publishing.