So often we get caught up in the style of music when that is not what inspires worship in your heart. The tempo or type of music is not what engages your heart and sets your mind towards worship. It is the substance of the music that matters most. That substance is in the lyrics.
I was listening to a pastor on the radio recently, and he made a comment about worship. His refrain was that worship in many churches today has become like a rock concert, with the lights and loud music. He said people are responding more to the beat of the music and were not engaging in true worship. His belief was you can’t worship in that environment.
While I understand his heart and the message he was trying to convey, it led me to ask a question. Was he right? Does the volume and style of the music matter in our worship? (okay that’s two questions). Regardless, let’s explore the answer.
Let’s Talk about the Style of Music in Worship…
Some people believe it is the style of music that creates an atmosphere of worship. If you listen to most worship songs today, they tend to be slow to mid-tempo. Once the tempo of the song gets too fast, we don’t call it a worship song anymore. It now becomes a praise song. It seems like we believe that worship can only happen when the songs are slower. I'm not sure who originated this concept, but most church communities seem to accept it.
I am going to push back on this idea and tell you it is simply not true.
So often we get caught up in the style of music when that is not what inspires worship in your heart. The tempo or type of music is not what engages your heart and sets your mind towards worship. It is the substance of the music that matters most. That substance is in the lyrics.
What is the song saying? Since worship is really about directing your affection and focus on who God is, that can happen within more than one style of music. The lyrics and the truth of what you are singing is what focuses your attention on who God is. When this happens, it can cause worship to rise in your heart regardless of the tempo or style of the music.
If we are going to be totally honest, the Bible does not speak to the style or types of music that make up worship music. These are musical genres and ideas that we have created. This does not mean you won’t enjoy a certain style of worship music and that is fine. We just can’t judge the music, especially when the substance of the music is correct, because we prefer a different style.
Let’s Talk about the Volume of the Music…
There is a tendency to believe worship must be quiet and solemn. That too is not totally accurate. Worship can be loud and celebratory, but it can also be quiet and reflective. If we are doing worship correctly, then both elements are appropriate. We should not limit ourselves to one or the other because both have their place. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us there is a time and a season for everything under heaven. That means in a church service, there may be a time to shout and a time to be still. A time to open our mouths and voice our worship and a time to be quiet and think about how marvelous our God is.
Regarding the volume of the music, we must pay attention to it. Not because loud is irreverent, but because if the music is too loud, it can be a distraction or too overwhelming for some people to enjoy. This can hinder their ability to worship. So yes, the volume of the music matters, but more so you can make it comfortable for those in the audience who must listen to it.
What Is Worship Like in Heaven?
When God’s people come together and lift their voices in worship to Jesus, it can become very loud. I have been in many services where the congregation was lifting their voices in worship and let me tell you, the volume got turned up. However, there is no sweeter sound than hearing God’s people lift their voices to heaven in worship. For those who think worship should always be quiet and reflective, consider John’s descriptions of worship in heaven.
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’” (Revelation 5:11-12).
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’” (Revelation 7:9-10).
In both instances, the worshippers were crying out in a loud voice. Clearly, volume was not a concern. If the worship is loud in heaven, then it is okay for it to be loud on earth. However, this volume should be from the voices of the people, not from cranking up the music in the sound system. If those worshipping get loud as they lift their voices to God, that is perfectly okay and we should embrace it. After all, it reflects the worship in heaven.
Worship Should Appeal to People of All Ages
Let’s face it, we all have our own ideas of what we like in a worship service. We should recognize these are preferences, not dogmatic positions. We must be careful not to label something we are not used to as being sinful or not being conducive to worship. Just because it may not be what you like does not mean it is wrong. It may not work for you, but that is not what determines if it is appropriate.
In any worship service, you can have a diversity of ages and you may also have a diversity of cultures. That’s why in a church service, the music should appeal to everyone in the congregation.
I would also add, if you have never experienced worship with people from other cultures, then you are missing out. By doing so, you can appreciate the different expressions of worship and you will also realize no one has a monopoly on the way worship is supposed to be done. People from other cultures may worship in a manner that does not fit with what you are accustomed to. They may dance, sing, shout, clap, lift hands, and have many expressions of worship. It’s possible this may not appeal to you and fit your picture of worship. However, let’s not make the mistake of judging what is different as being wrong.
Final Thoughts
When we think of worship in the Bible, we don’t have guidelines on the style of music that we are supposed to play. That’s why if your complaint about the music is the style, you must recognize that is a matter of preference. As much as possible, we should avoid putting worship or worship music in a box. When you do, that is a box that you have built based on your ideas of what worship is supposed to be. That might work for you, but not for everyone else.
Yes, it is okay to like what you like and even to have a style of music you prefer. Just be certain to focus on substance over style because it is the truth of the music that will minister to your heart. As I have experienced in my life, worship can happen with many different styles of music. Let’s not assume the music we prefer is the only kind that will inspire worship.
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