“WHAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE HAS occurred TODAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER IN TODAY’S AMERICAN CHURCH ? THE ANSWER IN ONE WORD IS - MUSIC.”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the changes and trends that have occurred as the Church of Jesus Christ marches on through the 21^st century…

Hello again listening friends and welcome to another broadcast edition of the World the Word & You! Broadcast. I'm Dennis Finnan your host and speaker coming your way today with thirty minutes of biblical commentary and of course some delightful music for your listening pleasure.  Each week the World, the Word & You! comes to you sponsored by...

... the Calvary Bible Church of Grand Junction , Colorado . Calvary Bible Church is a non-denominational independent Church, dedicated to building God's people into dynamic Christians for living in the 21st century. We meet, each Sunday for two services – mornings at 10:00 am and in the evening at 6:00 pm , for fellowship, worship and praise to our great God and king, Jesus Christ. Come join us for an in-depth study of God's Word and a worship experience that will feed your soul and spirit. Calvary Bible Church is located on 27 1/2 Road, just north of Patterson or "F" Road.

...our friends and listeners of these programs. We are always thankful for the individuals, churches and variety of people from all walks of life who share their blessings to see that this outreach ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ goes on and out to all the world. The World, the Word & You! is an international radio program literally reaching the world for Christ. Through selected programming on U.S. radio stations, two short wave broadcasts, and through a dynamic cyber-broadcast on the internet, we receive letters from folks all around the world thanking us for the Word of God and the information that helps them to know Jesus Christ and walk with Him. We are now in our 24th year of broadcasting and it has all been because of people like you who give and pray for this ministry. We are a faith ministry and trust the Lord to keep us on the air by such gifts of love and care.

... Well now, it's time to move along with our program which takes us to a pause for some delightful music, a “traditional” hymn of the church, after which I'll return with today's talk entitled: MUSIC TRENDS AND THE CHURCH, stay tuned…

Today the Church of Jesus Christ which has worshiped the Lord for over 20 centuries has experienced a significant change in the past 25 years. Perhaps the greatest change that has occurred is in its use of music in worship meetings. Of course, music has always been a transitional element of church worship now for centuries. But today, it appears that what some call “worship wars,” has enveloped many a church as they struggle with either pushing for change or resisting change that comes from utilizing traditional worship music, vs. what is often called contemporary worship music.

Today on the broadcast, I would like to address this from what I believe is a neutral and unbiased look at what has become a hot button issue. I do believe that I can be neutral, for I wonderfully enjoy traditional music, and also enjoy contemporary music as well which has been written for use in the Church of Jesus Christ. But, now let’s listen to a “contemporary” moment of music, after which I’ll share with you some relevant thoughts to consider about MUSIC TRENDS & THE CHURCH…

It appears, that the latest studies in “Music Trends and the Church,” show a surge in the use of what many call “contemporary music,” with a corresponding drop in “traditional music.” Today, churches are evenly grouped in such use as recent studies show. For instance, we discover that 37 percent of churches today have what are called “blended,” music services, while only 32 percent utilize exclusively, a “contemporary worship service, and the rest, that is 31 percent, remain strictly “traditional.”

These studies also concluded that “Churches that perform contemporary music in worship report more attendance growth in the past five years than those using the other styles. Nearly six in ten (57 percent) contemporary churches have grown in the last five years compared to 45 percent of blended and just 26 percent of traditional churches. The median Sunday morning worship attendance at contemporary churches is 187, which is slightly ahead of blended churches (177) and more than fifty percent ahead of traditional churches (121).” [1]

What do these statistics mean? Well for one thing they reflect a serious culture change in American tastes for music, which naturally filters down into what Christians desire in their worship and praise of God in their church services.  Actually, music and the instruments that play it, have always been in “transition” and a source of change, plus a solid reflection of the culture of humanity as mankind walks through time.

Now, if one looked at a timeline of trends and the origins of music, you would discover the following:

1. 4000 BC – harps and vertical flutes were introduced for music in Egypt .

2. 3000 BC – the bamboo pipe as an instrument was invented in China

3. 2000 BC – trumpets were fashioned in Denmark , and percussion instruments were added to Egyptian orchestras.

4. 800 BC  - five to seven tone scales were added to traditional music in Babylon

5. 550 BC – the diatonic scale was invented for music in Greece .

6. 50 BC – the oboe wind instrument appeared in Rome .

7. 450 AD – Alternating singing between church choirs and worshippers in church services began. Never before did worshippers participate.

8. 500 AD – Flutes, tubas and percussion instruments such as drums were used in music in Peru .

9. 1100 AD – bagpipes first appeared in Scotland .

10. 1325 AD – organ pedals were invented for this instrument.

11. 1465 AD – The first printed music appeared in Europe .

12. 1562 AD – Pope Pius IV banned the use of all instruments, except the organ as well as harmony singing and folk melodies from church services.

13. 1565 AD – Women were also banned from singing in churches.

14. 1650 AD – Modern style of harmony began to reappear in church worship.

15. 1829 AD – the accordion was invented and used in music in the church.

16. 1860 AD – Brass bands became popular in American and European life.

17. 1970 AD – popular praise and worship style of songs began in infancy.

The point of all this is to show that music continuously evolves along with the varying culture of man, and probably will continue to do so as the years and centuries go by.

As result of these and other factors of culture, the Christian Church and its music hymnals reflect many different styles of music. They all utilize a number of hymns, gospel songs and spirituals. Newer hymnals of the late 20^th century began to also reflect the newest form of music we call today “contemporary” and “praise” music. Now, why do we have so many different styles of songs and singing in the Church? The answer is to be found in the relationship between songs and religious movements. The fact is every time religious people experience a new religious movement, we also experience the birth of a new musical style of singing to match that era of time and culture.

R.J. Taylor Jr., in a speech at a Houston Texas Song Leader Conference wrote:

“Let us briefly connect the history of movements with song styles. The genesis of the Protestant Reformation movement in Germany gave birth to the modern hymn. The Reformation movement in Switzerland gave birth to the modem psalm. Many of our song styles were born in England . The rise of Dissenter Churches in England gave birth to the classic ‘gospel’ song. The dawn of the Sunday School movement gave birth to the ‘evangelistic gospel’ song. The spiritual awakening in the Anglican movement gave birth to the modern British hymn. Our American religious experiences have also contributed to the hymn styles that we include in modern hymnals. The nineteenth century evangelistic revival movement gave birth to ‘invitation’ songs. The singing convention movement in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century gave birth to the ‘Southern spiritual’ (Stamps-Baxter style songs). And now. in our age, we have seen the dawn of the modern youth movement. Youth ministries, youth camps, and regional youth meetings. This youth movement has given birth to a new generation of ‘contemporary’ songs. Some of these songs have become a part of our standard hymnal repertory.”

Indeed Taylor ’s description is accurate, as it shows the origins of what we today call traditional music verse contemporary music.

Now I’ll not get into proving the good or the bad of traditional music verse contemporary music, nor the good or bad of certain instruments over others. In fact “all” the articles and books I’ve read to either decry the use of modern instruments, or promote their use have been down right silly, or unbiblical torture of the Word of God. I say all this to say that the truth is -  God has no music He prefers, and no instruments he likes or dislikes. In studying the Bible we can only say God is interested in how we, in our hearts approach, Him in our worship, praise, prayers and lives.

Styles of music anyone can see, never had a “traditional” setting. What we call traditional today, was once contemporary and much resisted by those who adhered to former traditional music a generation before them which the older generation enjoyed and strongly stressed.

Today, we see the strong connection between religious movements and songs. This helps us to understand the newest trend in Christian music which we call "Praise and Worship" songs, or praise hymns. This newest style of music, mirrors recent trends in the church as late as the 1990's.

Taylor in his speech to song leaders at a convention in Houston , Texas ; further stated,

“In earlier times we assumed that people respected God, but we felt they primarily needed to be admonished about God's message for Christian living. So, 70% of our hymns focused on admonition and only 30% focused on praise. Times have changed. We can no longer assume that there is an adequate respect for the Lord in the land. People sense a greater need for more focus on praise. Since most hymnals are deficient in praise songs, a new praise movement has been born. New styles of praise are becoming popular. We welcome the new trend toward praise and worship.”

No I agree with him fully except for the last sentence. I do not welcome everything in the new trend toward praise worship. Why? Because much of it reflects a culture that has little respect for God, or any desire to truly praise Him. Does this mean everything in our present culture of music is evil and bad, and every form of new instrumentation follows suit? Of course not. God is not dead, nor is the Spirit of God who inhabits His children. In every generation, God can and does move to bring out of mankind that which can incite true worship and praise of the God who created us and further saved us sinful beings from our sins.

I reject today those who refuse to show any change in their patterns and ways of worship other than what pleases them. If I were a missionary in Africa , I would not attempt to make them worship with a European organ or piano singing songs by Fanny Crosby or Ira Sankey. Nor would I make them sing songs that accompanied such instruments and reflected my culture. I would carefully and selectively use the instruments of the people to whom I ministered and utilize such songs or write new ones that reflected their own culture and ways.

I think this is the hardest thing for some to see today. Not admittedly, a lot of modern music has no place in worship services. Nor does the way some instruments may be played. But to say certain instruments are godly, and others not is foolishness. There is no instrument that cannot be played in worship to God. There is no style of song sung, that cannot be genuinely a form of worship to God either. Now admittedly, some may find comfort and be able to worship through particular styles of music where others cannot. This then is the real issue.

Many of the older generation, raised on the more traditional ballad and hymnal music of the  18^th to 20^th century, find difficulty in the more modern music genre; whereas, the modern generation of young folks find similar and equal difficulty in comfort worshipping with traditional music styles. What’s the answer?

Is it to form exclusive contemporary churches and maintain strictly traditional ones? Well the answer may lie in the recent statistics that show the following. John C. LaRue, Jr. writes in a Christianity Today article:

“Today, 4 of every 10 churches offer a mix of traditional and contemporary music on Sunday mornings. The people who attend these churches represent almost half (46%) of all Sunday morning churchgoers. The type of music in these churches ranges from three-quarters traditional to three-quarters contemporary. As a result of the growing popularity of blended music services, churches are using a greater variety of musical instruments.” [2]

It appears that more and more American Churchgoers prefer attending “blended” worship services rather than purely contemporary or rigid traditional ones. Today as the number of rigid traditional churches wane, we discover that a maximum of 20% of churchgoers attend such purely traditional churches.

Now saying all this brings me to the biblical basis of music. Although Scripture has nothing to say about what styles of music God likes or dislikes, there are principles to consider when choosing music for worship in Church settings. Let me briefly give you three major principles now.

1. Music for worship should always CENTERED ON praise & THANKSGIVING TO God – David the psalmist of old declared,

Psa 33:2-3 (NIV)  Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

2. MUSIC FOR WORSHIP SHOULD REFLECT THE TRUTHS & PRINCIPLES OF THE WORD OF GOD – Now this can be either with inclusion of Scripture itself in the lyrics, or in some practical application of it in the life of man.

Col 3:16 (NIV)  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.

3. MUSIC FOR WORSHIP SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CHOSEN TO LIFT THE SPIRIT MORE THAN THE FEET – Now there is nothing  wrong with lively music that enables all of our humanity, body, soul and spirit to move in worship and adoration to God. One can lift the hand in praise, or cry “amen,” or cry “ thank you Jesus.” One can sway the body, stamp the feet, or whatever flows from the heart in worship praise. These things are not wrong nor is god against them. Our whole being should worship God, not just the mind.  However, when music becomes a hard, driving beat, with out of control percussion instruments pounding, that obviously obscures the message of the song and a good melody of music, and is a poor choice for worship times with God.

Psa 66:2 (NIV)  Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

1 Cor 14:15 (NIV) “…I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

At the wonderful Church I am privileged to serve in Grand Junction , Colorado , we are enjoying a form of a blended service. We carefully chose uplifting, God honoring contemporary music while strongly preserving older worshipful traditional music many have come to enjoy. I think it is important too, for the younger generation to hear and understand the meaning and origins of the older hymns, while not rejecting all music of the past. Although different music, instrumentation and emphasis is seen in today’s music compared to yesterdays, both can be used to beautifully lift the spirit of the believer along with their heart moving melodies and words.

The point is, worship of the Lord must be geared to meet every culture of man including that of today’s young people. However, real care must be exercised to avoid the excesses and abuse some have gone to in adopting the world of secular music to Christian circles.

Now saying all that, I want to ask you – if you’re a Christian are you open to reaching out to all people, young and old alike, red yellow black or white? Or, are you closed and filled with self only wanting to please your own personal likes and desires?

Such an attitude within the church is like demanding in the secular world that every radio station and CD sold use exclusively Benny Goodman’s  or Lawrence Welk’s music. Such a thought is intolerable not to mention selfish. The same goes for the Church and the younger generation today. So let’s explore the new music and current trends and find within them, the hand of God still potent and powerful to use it for His glory. God’s power is still with us, and when you find it, all of God’s people can come to enjoy worship and praise to our great God and King Jesus Christ. Indeed the purpose of the Church is first of all, bring together lost sinners who have found forgiveness and new life through Jesus Christ. When we come to worship, we come together to thank God for His love to send His Son Jesus Christ to save us. We sing of His life, His death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection giving thanks for saving us by being our substitute to suffer our penalty for sin. We sing songs of praise to tell the Lord how thankful we are that the new life we have gives us hope, strength, and power to live above sin. We also come to God in praise in our songs to confess our sins and failures, to tell God how much living for Him has changed our lives and brings us joy, happiness, and peace.

Say friend do you have that peace of God? You can but only one way. Not by singing songs of praise but by turning your heart over to the Lord Jesus Christ, surrendering your will to allow Him to be your God, your leader and Savior. Once you do that, then worship and praise will be the purpose of your life.

Well friends, we’ll not solve the issue of which type of music to use in your particular church or services, but be careful that you are not excluding a whole generation of those for whom Christ died. Reaching the lost entails coming along side of them and in part allowing them to express their hearts and love for Christ in their ways as we do ours. May God add His blessing to these words today for Jesus sake, Amen.

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[1] “Worship Music Trends -Current research data on churches” By John C. LaRue, Jr. Christianity Today Magazine, July August 2004.

[2] “Contemporary Worship Music Growth Slows” by John C. LaRue, Jr. Christianity Today, November / December 1999.