The Real Purpose of Music in the Church
Music is an integral part of Christianity, serving as a conduit to express our deepest emotions, desires, and reverence to God. However, while emotions may be expressed in song, this is not music’s true function for the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul outlines the crucial role of music in the body of Christ - that of teaching, admonishing, and exhorting.
In Colossians 3:16, Paul writes:
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" – Colossians 3:16
This verse frames music not as an end in itself but as a tool for instilling the word of Christ richly within us. It serves to foster wisdom, teaching, and admonition, thereby reinforcing the most important doctrines of the Christian faith.
The teaching aspect of music is multi-faceted. Through hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs, believers can learn about God's character, His grace, His promises, and His will for humanity. These melodies should carry the message of God’s abundant grace, shaping our understanding and perception of our faith. The songs we sing should lead us to a heart of gratitude, constantly acknowledging God's goodness.
Admonishing, often associated with warning or counsel, is another function of music within the Christian faith. Songs can serve as moral compasses, reminding us of God's expectations and urging us to live righteously according to our identity in Him. They can correct us when we walk according to our flesh, encouraging us to repent and align our hearts and minds with the love of Christ that constrains us (2Co 5:14).
When Paul writes about "singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord," he emphasizes the exhortation aspect of music. Music, filled with grace and truth, can inspire believers to grow in their faith, convict their slothful spirit, and stir them to praise and worship. Singing should engage our soul and the focus of singing should be the Lord, not us (Psa 138:1-2, Eph 5:19).
Similarly, in Ephesians 5:17-19, Paul further illuminates the purpose of music in the Body:
“[17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”
Additional insight is provided in 1 Corinthians 14:15 for how music should function in the church. Paul encourages singing with the spirit and understanding:
“[15] I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
This highlights the importance of comprehending the message conveyed in the songs we sing, ensuring they align with biblical truth, not just blindly repeating what we hear. We must beware of the fleshly enticement of the American entertainment production that has been the hallmark of Christian churches for the last few decades. Emotional manipulation through catchy beats, chanty songs, flashing lights, and smoke machines is not the pattern for singing nor is it “the Spirit moving”.
Good doctrine can be enforced by edifying music, but bad doctrine can be enforced with music too. Music can sound sweet to the ear and even make you “feel good” but can pollute your mind with doctrinal garbage. False doctrine in “Christian” music can truly be a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Mat 7:15). The measure for good music is not the tune or the quality of the singer’s voice, but the content of the song and the heart behind it.
Music is a gift that transcends mere emotional expression. It serves as a powerful tool for teaching, admonishing, and exhorting within the Christian community. As we lift our voices in song, let us remember its higher purpose - to instill the word of Christ within us, to counsel and correct, and to inspire growth in grace, all to the glory of God (1Co 6:20).
