A. Worship in Spirit and in TRUTH

1. If our songs flow from the rich indwelling of the WORD of Christ in our hearts, those songs should teach that which is in harmony with that same Word: TRUTH.

a. John 4:24 – we are to worship in spirit and in TRUTH.

b. Music we sing as worship ought to be TRUE to the Word of God.

c. If a song has doctrinal error, it should not be acceptable for worship, any more than a sermon with doctrinal error.

d. Error is error—whether written, spoken, or sung.

e. We are to teach the truth, speak the truth, and sing the truth.

f. If our hearts are richly indwelt by the Word of Christ, then that which flows out of our mouth ought to reflect the truth.

g. Singing the truth is a wonderful form of learning… exhorting… challenging… encouraging… comforting…

h. John 15:3; 17:17 – truth sanctifies and cleanses us… it has a purifying effect.
• When the choir sings… or the piano plays a familiar hymn, TRUTH is being conveyed to our hearts through the medium of music.
• The message of the song can have a positive effect on our spiritual lives.
• Have you ever been convicted by the TRUTH conveyed through the words of a song? (Sweet HOUR of Prayer; Take My LIFE and Let it Be; ALL To Jesus I Surrender.)
• Have you ever been comforted… etc.? (Be Still My Soul; All Your Anxiety; etc.)
• Have you ever been challenged by music? (I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go; Thy Word Have I Hid in my Heart.)
• Have you ever been encouraged by music? (He is Able; It Will Be Worth it All.)
• God USES music in our lives to accomplish His will.
• Truth speaks to our whole being… we are not merely intellectual beings. We are emotional beings as well. Music uses the intellect and the emotions to convey truth.
• Music is a powerful medium for GOOD when coupled with the Truth.

2. Music used in worship ought to be a medium of truth… but that is not always the case. Not every “Christian” song conveys truth.

a. We would do well to have a house cleaning of the songs we sing here.

b. Some convey precious little truth. (Not bad, just weak.)

c. Others convey outright lies! These are the songs we ought to avoid.

d. Our hymnal is a wonderful hymnal… one of the best, but there are songs in it that need to be purged.
• Some of Wesley’s songs convey some of the errors of the Wesleyans! (Surprise, surprise!)
• Some entire songs ought to be blotted out.
• Some songs have verses that ought to be blotted out.
• Some songs were obviously written by one embracing Reformed Theology… and confuse the church with Israel.
• Some songs confuse the comings of Christ.
• Some promote post millennialism. (We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations.)
• Some are quite misleading about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
e. The elders started purging our hymnal years ago, but never finished. We should pick that up again.

3. I Cor. 14:15 – We should sing with our understanding… of truth.

a. Believers are fooled by doctrinal errors in music because they are unable to recognize truth vs. error.

b. We mentioned Carmen the other night. There are many other popular Christian “recording artists” (celebrities?) who sing error… and should be avoided for that reason alone!

c. But even when we sing songs that ARE true, we are to sing with our minds ENGAGED… thinking about the truth we are singing!

d. It is easy to sing songs we have sung for years and be thinking about what we are going to do in work tomorrow… or thinking about lunch… or looking out the window… zone out.

e. For it to be of any spiritual value, we are to UNDERSTAND the message we sing.

4. Many of the great old hymns of the faith were written by men and women with deep experiences with God… and with a mature understanding of the Word of God.

a. As we grow and mature, we LEARN of the depth of some of these great hymns.

b. Ex: Rock of Ages (double cure – justification and sanctification; life and growth.)

c. Ex: Once for All! (Sinner receive it; brother believe it—the cross sets the sinner free from the penalty of sin… and the believer free from the power of sin.)

d. Ex: Hark the Herald! (Every phrase is rich in Scripture—dwelling on the incarnation and deity of the Son of God.)

e. Ex: Moment by moment by death reckoned mine… (Rom. 6)

f. We could learn a lot from these hymns… IF we take the time to sing with the understanding.

g. And since we are commanded to sing with the understanding, what do we call it when we DON’T do what God tells us to do?

5. I Cor. 14:12 – spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the Body.

a. That includes teaching, preaching, speaking, AND singing the truth.

b. For a song to accomplish its God-given purpose (edification of the saints) it must be TRUE.

c. Music is to be offered to God as a spiritual sacrifice.

d. Therefore, what we sing should be TRUTH… truthful.

e. In the Old Testament, God only accepted sacrifices that were in harmony with the WORD… The right sacrifice offered the right way by the right people… and a right heart attitude.

f. Our musical offerings to God should be no different… in harmony with the truth.

g. Yet in the very act of offering it up to God, WE are edified! Worship works that way. But it requires an understanding on our part of what we are singing.

h. It can be enjoyable and edifying… AND doctrinally correct.

B. Performance

1. The music Paul describes in Col. 3:16 and Eph. 5:19 is SINGING…

a. These verses can be obeyed anywhere… in any culture… in any century.

b. They require no electricity… no amplification… no choreography…

c. In fact, singing requires no instruments other than the human voice.

d. Instrumental accompaniment adds a nice touch… but it is NOT necessary…

e. Christians living in the deep jungles of Brazil or the Congo can obey this verse… even though they don’t have a piano… or an organ… or purple microphones or amplifiers.

f. The music that really pleases God is the kind of music that emanates from a filled heart and reverberates through the vocal chords and sounds forth as a harmony of praise and thanksgiving to God!

g. Heartfelt, sincere, worshipful, reverent, music from a filled heart—that’s what pleases God.

2. Every year, Loon Mountain resorts puts on a Christian rock festival, with lots of singers and rock bands. They pay a good price for tickets to hear this music too. From what I hear, it’s quite a show.

a. I might go some year as an observer… to take pictures and notes.

b. What do you suppose would be the reaction of the crowd at a Christian rock concert if instead of their rock band… a skilled ensemble came and sang some of the great hymns of the faith?

c. What would be the reaction of a group of young people who grew up in a rock and roll church if they visited Salem Bible Church?

d. They would say, “This place is DEAD… lifeless… you don’t have the Spirit. You don’t know how to worship. You need a worship team.”

e. THINK about what they are actually saying.

f. Evidently these folks are ignorant of the fact that the words for worship (Old Testament and New Testament) mean to bow down in reverence and respect.

g. Neither the Greek nor the Hebrew term means to shake, rattle, and roll.

3. Folks in those circles talk so much about the Holy Spirit but they seem unable to recognize true spirituality…

a. Why do you suppose Paul warned us about those promoting “another spirit” in I Cor. 11:2-4?

b. We are warned of a form of godliness…

c. Our adversary comes in the outward appearance of holiness… like an angel of light… but it is phony! (I Cor. 11:14-15)

d. I am very much aware of the fact that there are some genuinely born again folks involved in that…

e. But that is the POINT! Genuinely born again people CAN be taken in by a counterfeit… counterfeit doctrines and counterfeit spirits… hence the warning to the Corinthians!

f. If you need loud, raucous music to get the congregation in the spirit… beware of WHICH spirit is in control of that congregation.

4. The HOLY Spirit is recognized by love, joy, meekness, gentleness, temperance or self control… reverence… humility…

a. The Holy Spirit does not focus our attention on the music, or a feeling, but on the Savior. (He shall glorify ME!)

b. The Holy Spirit does not get us stirred up about the MUSIC, but about the SAVIOR!

c. That results in a sense of humility, a hushed, holy reverence, a godly fear, and awe of being in God’s presence.

d. When the emphasis is on the PERFORMANCE, then it is not on the Savior.

5. PERFORMANCE vs. Ministry in Music

a. Music sung is to be done with the right inward motive and spirit.

b. It is to be an offering unto the Lord… not a show for men.

c. The local church is NOT a venue for the performing arts… although it is often degenerated to such.
• Look at the large, old churches in Boston’s Back Bay. They have become stages for classical music performances and dance troupes, and drama.
• The newer more modern, evangelical churches have become venues for other types of performances.
• It matters not WHICH type of music; it is a violation of what the church is.
• There is a place for the performing arts, but the local church is not the place!
• When a performance is put on for the pleasure of the audience, it can hardly be called worship.
• And of course this goes for ALL types of performances, from classical, to opera, to rock…

d. The new way of worship today has hopelessly confused and blurred the line between entertainment and worship… especially in the area of music.
• Is it a show or is it worship? There really isn’t much difference in many circles today.
• The musicians perform for the audience and the audience claps for the entertainment they received.
• Watch one of these so called worship services on TV… and then watch a rock concert on TV.
• They are virtually identical… (stage show; choreography; lights; the microphones; the acting and crooning of the singers; arms waving; bodies swaying; musicians with celebrity status.
• Apart from the lyrics, the SOUND, the stage performance, and the crowd reaction are virtually identical.

e. It is obvious who copied whom.
• I’ll give you a hint – the world never copies the true pattern of the church in the New Testament.
• But boy is there a tendency in carnal Christendom to copy the world—to be conformed to the world.

6. I Cor. 14:26 – The early church had a similar problem with showmanship in the local church.

a. In Corinth, God blessed this congregation with MANY wonderful gifts. (Ye are enriched by Him in all… ye come behind in no gift) (1:5-6)

b. But unfortunately, the Corinthians were using their God given gifts in the WRONG way and with WRONG motives.

c. 13:1 – some spoke in tongues, and loved to display their gifts before all, but were not demonstrating love.

d. 13:2 – some had the gift of prophecy, but did not have love. They were showing off their superior knowledge, but in God’s sight, it was nothing!

e. 13:3 – some had gift of giving, but they gave with the wrong motive.

f. 14:4 – Some had the gift of tongues and loved to display their gift before others… but without using the gift the right way, it became a show… a performance… with NO value unless it was interpreted that others might be edified. Without an understanding of the words, it was just sound.

g. 14:12 – they were zealous of spiritual gifts… they loved to think of themselves as gifted and talented… everybody was trying to take center stage…

h. They were driven by a desire to perform before an audience.
• Some folks are scared to death to stand up before a crowd.
• Others absolutely LOVE it! They thrive off the rush they receive by performance and the applause.
• THIS was error Paul was trying correct here.

• That which God intended to be used to edify the Body and glorify the Head, was instead being used to draw attention the individual… They were displaying SELF rather than Christ. This is the error Paul addresses in I Cor. 14.
• They should have used their gifts selflessly for the edification of others.
• Instead, they used their gifts to exalt themselves and show off their gifts. That’s selfish.
• Paul introduced this chapter by defining love: sacrificing self for the good of others… because their showmanship in using their gifts displayed the opposite!

7. Matt. 6:1-2 – Jesus addressed the same problem among the religious crowd in His day.

a. Whatever we do, we lose our reward if our motive is to be seen or acknowledge of men… to receive glory from men. (applause)

b. There is no reward for showmanship other than the fleeting applause of men. It is merely earthly entertainment.

c. God was not pleased. He was in fact, nauseated.

d. This is just as much a problem with GOOD music in a doctrinally sound church as it is with TERRIBLE music in a worldly church.

e. All teachers and singers—anyone who ministers before men, need to be reckoning self to be DEAD as their gifts are used in the local church… to prevent just such an error.

f. It matters HOW a song is sung and HOW it is performed.

8. Of what does our singing testify? (I Cor. 14:23-26)

a. The believers came to worship and employed various gifts in the worship service: singing, teaching, prophecy.

b. Paul was concerned for the edification of the Body, but he was also concerned about how their worship service was perceived by outsiders… by visitors… their testimony.

c. Paul did not want the worship service to be chaotic or indecent (14:40)

d. The way we conduct ourselves in the Lord’s House is one of the pieces that can influence the eternal destiny of a visitor! He could either say, “They are mad!” or “God is in you of a truth!”

e. Music is ONE of those influences Paul mentions here: a psalm!

f. Our doctrine ought to reflect truth. It ought to be an indication that God is with us of a truth!

g. Our music ought to do the same.

h. What DOES our music convey to visitors (whether it is their style or not… it conveys something…)

• If it conveys reverence, respect, order, discipline, awe, joy, enthusiasm, etc… then we are conveying the right message.

j. If it conveys adolescent rebellion, sensuality, frivolity, giddiness, immaturity, or showmanship, then we are conveying the wrong message.

k. A visitor should sense a DIFFERENT atmosphere in a church than they sense in barroom, a night club, a comedy club, or a Red Sox game. Shouldn’t the atmosphere be different? Doesn’t music play an important role in that?

l. We need to be careful with music.

9. It DOES matter HOW a song is performed.

a. The WAY a song is sung and performed can completely change the meaning of that song.

b. Amazing Grace – sung by nearly every popular singer… from George Beverly Shea… to Elvis Presley… in nearly every style… country and western; jazz; rock; symphony orchestra; rap; church choirs; moog synthesizer.

c. Ex: Jimi Hendrix playing the national anthem. He turned a song that normally evokes a sense of patriotism into a song of rebellion against the government… anti establishment.

d. Marylyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday to President Kennedy. She turned that simple tune into a song of a harlot.

e. Do you see how the WAY a song is sung and performed can completely change its meaning?

f. Beatles melodies… their music represented a lifestyle of rebellion against authority… promoted drug use… and free sex… and all the rest that went along with the message of the 60’s.
• When compared to the pop and rock of today, their music seems quite mild. But in its day – it spoke of rebellion and defiance.
• It was associated with a lifestyle… and promoted attitudes that are not conducive to holiness.
• But it was NOT the MELODY of the songs. It was a combination of (1) the lyrics and (2) the WAY the songs were sung…
• I recently heard Beatle songs performed by a symphony orchestra. It was beautiful music.
• So should we add Christian words to the Beatle songs? Some have already done that.
• Perhaps in 100 years from now.
• But today, there are many (like me) who would be distracted by such a song… because I know the connection.
• It is an area of weakness on my part – but I acknowledge that weakness. It would be a stumblingblock… and a hindrance to worship.
• It would remind me of my past… that I want to keep buried.
• Association matters. It is nearly impossible for folks who grew up with that music to disassociate it completely in their minds to be able to sing those songs without thinking of their origin.
• If enough TIME goes by… and that association is no longer made… then those melodies perhaps COULD be used… but not now.

g. A perfectly good melody or hymn can be completely transformed into something else entirely by the WAY it is sung and performed.
• Marylyn Monroe turned a good tune, “Happy Birthday” into the song of an harlot…
» By the way it was performed.
» When she sang it, it conveyed a different meaning than when your family sings it.
• Jimi Hendrix turned a good tune, “Star Spangled Banner” into a psychedelic song of a druggie… of the 1960s.
» By the way it was performed.
» When he played it, it took on a different meaning than when the Marines Band played it.
• Christian rock bands have the capacity to turn a good tune, “Amazing Grace” into the song of a drunkard… or a druggie… by the way it is performed.
» It takes on a different meaning… it conveys an addition message…
» That new meaning is not necessarily congruous with the author’s intention!
• Even if the words are good and the melody is good… the PERFORMANCE of the music can change the meaning of that song.
» Style and performance can OVERSHADOW the message of the words.
» Style and performance can convey an attitude apart from the words… and even contrary to the words.
» I’m not buying the argument that says “music and style” are neutral. They are NOT.

h. Ex. 32:17-19 – singing that stirred up the crowd to lewd behavior.
• Here was another KIND of sound.
• At first it sounded like the noise of war… loud shouting that got men stirred up and excited to go to war. (Something similar to a war dance… perhaps with loud drums)
» Some men would be afraid to go to war. They were afraid of the consequences (death). Some might be afraid as to whether they could actually kill someone in hand-to-hand combat.
» The music was designed to stir them up for war and remove their inhibitions. (Music can do that!)
» When the band of soldiers prepared for war they would play loud music and perhaps jumping up and down. The mob would get stirred up by the music.
» They would work themselves up into a frenzy… and drive out their inhibitions and fears of the consequences.
» Then when Moses got a little closer, he discovered that they were singing… It was not the music for war.
» He discovered that this kind of music got the people dancing…
» But this music was not designed to call them to war. This kind of music got them stirred up to lewd behavior! (They were dancing naked! (Vs. 25)
» Clearly, the music was instrumental in stirring up this crowd… stirring them up into a frenzy… and exciting them sexually…
» Usually young soldiers don’t need a lot of help in that department… but music can be conducive to that end.
» The music had a spirit of looseness to it… so that they forgot about Moses, forgot about God and His Word.
» It can cause folks to dismiss their inhibitions. Those who dance in nightclubs are obviously uninhibited!
• Music plays an important role in all this.
• Don’t you think that the music that stirred up these men to lewd behavior would be inappropriate music for worship in the Temple – even if they changed the words?
• What do you suppose Moses’ reaction would be if they attempted to sing those songs in a worship service? What do you suppose would be God’s reaction?