The lights began to dim and the low murmur of the crowd slowly died down. In the stillness, the soft sounds of a piano emerged. The gentle strumming of a guitar joined in as lights began to illuminate the stage. A stylishly dressed female stepped forward and drew a microphone to her lips. With closed eyes she started to sing in serene passionate tones. Quiet at first, the melody began to grow louder, progressing higher and swelling with each word. The piano and guitar joined in this crescendo. At its highest point the drums suddenly burst into action with an explosion of light and sound. A new rhythm transformed the song from peaceful to powerful ushering in an atmosphere of unreserved emotion and drawing in the crowd. The spotlights were now at their full brightness revealing several musicians who had been waiting for this moment. The audience swayed to the music, enraptured in the feelings created by their masterful performance.
Where am I? The fact that this description could equally apply to a modern worship service or a Taylor Swift concert should be great cause for concern. What would the Christians in the New Testament have thought about such a production? Did the apostles ever play in a worship band? Would the early church have considered praising God in any way remotely resembling such a performance? Is this truly what God desires from His church?
As with all aspects of the church, we must remember that our goal is to please God and not men (Gal 1:10). Our worship should not be a reflection of our personal tastes or preferences, but of the will of God. What form of praise does He desire? What has He commanded?
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:17-19).
In contrast to the riotous and self-indulgent worship celebrations of the pagan world around them, Christians were expected to praise God with a passionate yet sober inward devotion. Instead of being filled by wine, they were to be filled by the Spirit. Instead of dramatic productions, sporting competitions, or clamorous reveling in honor of the gods, they were to sing to the Lord and communicate to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Instead of worshipping with the lyre, tambourine, or flute they were to make melody with their hearts. This is what our God desires. This is what is pleasing to His ears.
This type of worship doesn’t need stage lighting or expensive musical equipment. It doesn’t require professional performers or a commercial grade sound system. Paul and Silas could praise God in this way from the midst of a Macedonian prison (Acts 16:25). In houses and synagogues and fields throughout the first century, it was this union of voice and heart that genuinely brought glory to God. In the church today, God is looking for “the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15), not noisy gongs or clanging symbols. Our efforts to make worship more pleasing to our ears threaten to drown out and distract from the simple heart-felt praise that God is seeking.
But didn’t they praise God with trumpets, cymbals, harps, lyres, timbrels, and dancing in the Old Testament? (Psalm 150). Yes, they also praised Him with animal sacrifices and burning incense. Yet, these were prescribed by specific command and largely a function of temple worship (2 Chron 29:25). When we get to the New Testament, the Scriptures are conspicuously silent about the use of any musical instruments in praise to God. Historically, the Jews viewed this as a function of temple worship and excluded the practice from their synagogues[1]. The early church fathers spoke out against the use of musical accompaniment in worship and it was not introduced into Christian churches for over 600 years. The Catholic church first brought in the organ in 670 with much controversy and it did not gain any wide acceptance until the late 13th century[2].
Should this not at least give us some second thoughts about what the modern church defines as worship? Maybe we need to send Taylor Swift packing and return our focus to singing and making melody in our hearts. Maybe we need to tear down this image of worship as a stage performance with the church as an audience and recognize that God is the only audience who truly matters. Our focus needs to be on praising and glorifying Him, not catering to the musical preferences of the crowd. I challenge us all to honestly evaluate our religious commitments in light of the scriptures. May we all have the courage and resolve to follow God’s word above our own personal preferences and God’s will above the approval of men.
[1] John Price, Old Light on New Worship, (Avinger, TX: Simpson Pub., 2007), 65-66.
[2] Ibid., 79-80.