Christian Worship Music

Music Cannot Build nor Destroy Without Human Intervention

Sound is a phenomenon that travels through the air, and the ear perceives it, consequently transmitting it to the brain for interpretation. It is present in creation as the wind blows, birds sing, trees fall, ocean waves break against dry land, etc. Although sound might sometimes be emitted in specific patterns, such as bird songs, it is neutral. In other words, it lacks a conscious plan or meaning. Therefore, it does not exist with forming or deforming messages.

Unlike random and unorganized sounds, music is a unique aspect of humankind.[1] The musical arts do not occur by chance; they must be created and developed. [2] Music is a universal language communicated through the intentional organization of sounds, resulting in rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, and lyrical ideas. [3] Aaron Copland states that such a performing art can express emotions or assign a specific meaning and message behind each musical piece (or sequence of notes).[4] Consequently, if music cannot exist without human intervention, musical pieces or songs can positively or negatively affect the listener's mind, depending on the message coded within them by the composers. Therefore, worship ministry leaders and teams must understand how music is used and be aware of the implications of performing Christian worship music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTyDHwtBozE

Watch to learn about how music affects the brain and emotions

Absolute and Functional Music

There are two types of music: absolute and functional. Absolute music refers to pieces or songs created solely to entertain or delight listeners with their aesthetic.[5] Frederick Chopin’s nocturnes, Beethoven’s symphonies, and Ed Sheeran’s songs are examples of absolute music. Functional music achieves a predetermined goal beyond entertainment or pleasure.[6] In other words, functional music exists for specific purposes, such as supporting a movie scene, political or marketing campaigns, or religious services. Considering both definitions, worship music is functional for its purposes beyond enjoyment or entertainment. Therefore, the functionality of worship music in the congregational context will be discussed.

The Functionality of Worship Music in Church

  Although the genre of Christian worship music has become more creative and relevant, its purpose or function has not changed. The role or purpose of devotional worship songs is to facilitate the proclamation and celebration of God's story.[7] They are a supporting element that accompanies the actions of Christian worship and communal ministry.[8] It functions as a medium for teaching doctrine and proclaiming the Gospel message, for musical elements such as repetition, variation, and dynamics can help considerably build the congregation’s faith and help it retain what is being declared in songs. Additionally, devotional songs facilitate the God-humanity dialogue and positively influence intrinsic religiosity in the individual and congregational context.[9] Therefore, devotional music and songs have a specific role in the congregational context, complementary to worshiping God in spirit and truth. Its functionality is to enact and recite Christ's event, accomplish communal ministry, edify the congregation’s faith, exalt the Lord God through performing art and poetry, and provide the church with theological and doctrinal truths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNyz1QCMO4o

Watch to learn about the role and importance of music during worship services

Worship Music Should Be Selected with a Godly Purpose

Considering that music can influence the human mind for good or for evil, worship ministry leaders and teams must use Christian worship music with a godly purpose. Devotional songs must be selected and used according to their functionality: to proclaim the good news, lead people in connecting with God, and build the congregation’s faith and spirituality through the elements of music. Therefore, developing a canon of worship songs should not be entirely based on the local church’s musical preferences or whether the arrangement is current with contemporary trends, but rather on the ability to nurture and transform the congregation spiritually. Although musical excellence and relevance should be goals for worship ministries, the focus should be on what the congregation tends to sing so that they believe.[10] 

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[1] Jordan E. Peters, Music Theory (Seattle, WA: Amazon Publishing, 2014), 4.

[2] Harold M. Best, Music Through the Eyes of Faith (New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1993), 11.

[3] Peters, Music Theory, 5.

[4] Aaron Copland, What to Listen for in Music (New York, NY: New American Library, 1985), 10.

[5] Fernando Gros, “The Music, Worship, Performance and Leadership Thing,” Fernando Gros, last modified February 3, 2007. https://fernandogros.com/the-music-worship-performance-and-leadership-thing/.

[6] Seema A. Patil, “Functional Music,” International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, no.6 (2018), 926.

[7] Cherry, The Music Architect, 39.

[8] Ibid., 41.

[9] Alexander Park and Kyung-Hyun Suh, “Preoccupation with Devotional Songs and Spiritual Well-Being of Religious Individuals: The Mediating and Moderating Effects of Religiosity and Emotionally Adaptive Functions of Music,” Religions, no. 13 (2022): 8.

[10] Joshua A. Waggener, “Songs that Shapes Us,” Artistic Theologian, no.10 (2023): 4.