This an article penned by my son, Rev Andy Foster, minister of Penticton Free Presbyterian Church, Canada.
It sets out the Biblical principles which govern our worship of God, including how it is we are required by Him to offer praise.
In the light of the present controversy within our denomination, this is an important source of reference for us all.
I trust that you will print it out and peruse it carefully and prayerfully.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
Principles of Biblical worship which affect praise and music
“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
To most Christians today the words “worship” and “praise” are synonymous. Yet the Scripture makes it very clear worship involves much more than the use of song to glorify God. However, praise and singing is an important constituent part of Biblical worship.
From the beginning of time to the extent of all eternity to come, singing the praises of God will be a feature. The Lord speaks to Job of the angels singing as the earth is created, Job 38:6-7: and Revelation 15:2-4 gives an insight into the singing of the saints in Heaven.
God’s people are commanded to sing the praises of God. It is an important part of their duty and work here on earth. But—like every other aspect of our duty—that praise is regulated by Scripture! The general principles of what God requires of men apply to our praise. We are not to suppose that we can sing whatever we wish and however we like! There is praise that is acceptable to God as worship because it conforms to what He requires, and there is praise that, because it does not so conform, is an abomination and idolatrous in His eyes.
I. THE ORIGIN OF PRAISE THAT PLEASES GOD.
1. The Scriptures. The primary and instructive role of the word of God in worship is seen in these words. This means that:
a. Biblical revelation is the sole source of our praise. It is to shape and inform every part of our singing! Praise is to be Biblical as far as its content is concerned. The theology of our praise is not to be sacrificed to the claims of poetic licence or musical appeal.
b. Praise is to spring from the Bible in its entirety. The word of Christ is a reference to all Scripture, 1Pet 1:10-11. Peter is referencing every inspired word, both by the Old Testament prophets and, by extension, the New Testament Apostles of Christ. Every word of Scripture is to produce a spirit of praise in the Christian’s heart. Every doctrine is to educate the singer in how God is to be praised. Nothing that Scripture teaches is suspended in order to sing! There is no doubt an emphasis on the doctrine of the New Testament since it, in a more obvious sense, is the word of Christ. This is an important consideration given the insistence by some that Christian praise is limited to the Old Testament content of metrical Psalms.
Further, this concept means that every instruction of God about worship applies to its individual components. We are commanded to worship the Lord, for example, in the beauty of holiness (1Chron 16:29), with reverence and in godly fear (Hebrews 12:28). These instructions apply to music and song as much as to any other part of worship.
c. The praise of the Christian is to have a particular theological perspective. The description of the Scriptures as the word of Christ presents a specific doctrinal view.. It is the view of the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, God’s anointed Redeemer, our prophet, priest and King. This is the view of the Saviour held by His apostles, See Jn 1:41, 45, 49. The majesty of His Person and work as our Redeemer is prominent. The purpose of Christian praise is not to expand upon personal emotion or trials and suffering. It is to honour the Saviour of sinners. A right view of Him as God’s Messiah and specially as the appointed Lamb of God, is critical to praise being acceptable worship. Is it possible that the believer who knows anything of the holy, heart-stirring truths of Calvary, could import typical CCM into a contemplation of the anguish of the Messiah on the cross? Is the soul not horrified by the prospect of a CCM concert under the shadow of Calvary? Is not such a thing truly a cacophony, an evil sound?
2. A rich, personal experience of the word. Biblical song emerges from the experience that the Apostle defines here as the word of Christ dwelling richly within. The language clearly implies:
a. The experience of regeneration. The true Christian has a special relationship with the word of God. James describes that relationship under the analogy of a graft, James 1:21. God’s word becomes a living, vital part of the Christian’s soul. It is that graft which conveys spiritual life to the sinner dead in sin. Peter teaches that we are born again…by the word of God, 1Peter 1:23. That is, as that word is implanted in the soul it becomes the means of the very life of God being formed there. Regeneration opens up a channel of communication between God and the soul of man. The sheep of Christ, that is the regenerate, hear His words. See John 10:27. The Saviour speaks to His sheep as One who knows them, and is known by them. Listening to Him speak through the Scriptures is the only preparation to sing the praise of God.
b. An ongoing experience of the word of Christ dwelling within. The word is to reside/dwell, in the sense of being ‘at home’, in the Christian. The term indicates a long-term, far-reaching relationship with the word of God. When the word takes up residence and we are at home with the word, we are prepared to sing! Many Christians take up an evil song in praise because they are largely strangers to the word of God. Doctrinal errors in content, mistaken ideas about music, all flow from not being ‘at home’ with the Bible.
c. A rich, full experience of God’s truth. The word Paul uses here in Col 3:16, and translated richly, indicates wealth and abundance. There is no meagre portion here! This is a heart enriched by an enlarged experience of Christ’s word. It is striking to see that it is the word which enriches the heart and not the praise! Many Christians stress praise more than preaching, and by doing so rob themselves of true spiritual wealth. Often, a sense of richness accomplished through praise that neglects the teaching of God’s word, is simply sensual and carnal.
3. Specifically, praise springs from the wisdom that the word of Christ produces. The term Paul uses is negative in its force. The etymology of the word for wisdom indicates one who is ‘not…mindless, stupid, egotistical/rash’. The word of Christ, applied to the heart produces wisdom and thoughtfulness and removes those negative characteristics which are part of the working of sin upon the mind. Paul’s words to Timothy give a specific instance of the wisdom that the Scriptures produce as they are taught, 2Timothy 3:15. Initial salvation and the ongoing deliverance from sin in the Christian’s life is in view here.
The emphasis on wisdom by Paul in Col 3:16 means that Biblical praise is a matter for spiritual discernment. As in every other aspect of Christian living, there is a dangerous counterfeit to be detected. Discernment is vital! Elsewhere Paul shows us the typical deceitful practices of the Devil to seduce saints away from the truth. See Gal 1:6-8, 2Cor 11:3-4, 13-14. Praise and song are not to be considered as exempt from such Satanic inventiveness. If the preaching and doctrine of Christ can be counterfeited and a false Christ, false gospel etc be substituted, we can expect to have “Christian” praise that involves another Jesus…another gospel…another spirit. Many Christians seem entirely unaware of such a danger when they endorse praise songs that come from sources that are suspect for various reasons. There is a striking example of this substitution in action in the area of singing in worship given to us in Ex 32:17-18. The worship of the golden calf idol, presented as a feast unto the Lord, Ex 32:5, involved singing. Yet the verdict of Scripture is that this singing was as the noise of war in the camp. It was a song, sung ostensibly in worship of God, but there was an hostility to God to be detected despite the pretence, led by Aaron, that it was part of the worship of Jehovah. In truth it was war against God and it was ab act of Egyptian idolatry, in spite of the claim by Aaron himself, that it was the worship of God.
The discernment Paul is referring to applies the truth of God and acts upon it to separate ourselves from all that is not of God. The Biblical doctrine of separation applies to music and praise as well as to every other Christian activity. This spiritual wisdom imparted by the word of God, recognizes the unclean source of CCM and refuses to touch it in obedience to the command of God, 2Cor 6:17. Some have the mistaken idea that to merely modify the musical accompaniment of a song by contemporary music artiste will render it acceptable. This is far from the case! It is unclean because of its source and original use. Written by those who evidently know little of God, whose lives are stamped by the world and its ways, such a song remains unclean even when sanitized from its more worldly elements. Surely it is obviously incompatible with the holy worship of God, to use a song in worship that is at the very moment of its presentation as an offering of praise to God, the copyrighted intellectual property of a worldly ‘Christian’ rock/pop artiste, or of one otherwise compromised by ecumenical union with apostasy and flirting with catering to the world’s appetites.
II. THE CHARACTER OF THE PRAISE WHICH IS PRODUCED BY THE WORDS OF CHRIST WORKING IN US.
1. Singing, v16. Song is a proper response to the word of God. The truth of Christ’s words tend to produce song because they gladden the heart. Song is therefore to be seen as part of an obedient, humble, believing, understanding, loving response to what the Saviour communicates in the Scriptures.
2. Grace in your heart. Biblical praise is a fruit of grace. There is vital truth to be recognized in the use of this term.
a. The heart by nature is empty of grace. We have grace only as it is supplied by the working of God’s Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29), using the means of grace, specially the word and prayer. Biblical song emerges from the resources God Himself supplies! He is the provider of the new song that comes from the heart of the redeemed. See Ps 40:1-3, 42:8. This is vitally important to grasp. If acceptable praise is produced by the grace of God – that it is, it is the product of Divine resources working in us – then that song will resemble the character of God. One has only to compare the behaviour, music, doctrine, appearance of many CCM artists and their performances, to recognize that this is not of God. Tragically, many Christians know little of the character of God and so are ready to accept the offerings of CCM as evidences of Divine grace at work.
b. Heart. When God’s grace is at work in our heart then we sing as we ought. The work of God that produces a song is not merely superficial or external! Christian praise engages the heart and not merely the emotions or a physical response. The emphasis here is that the praise of God is primarily spiritual, rather than physical.
c. An important measure. Our song becomes a measure of the spiritual state of our heart and the degree to which the grace of God has impacted our being. The style of praise adopted by any individual Christian reveals their spiritual measure. How small and undeveloped is the spiritual experience of those who adopt praise that is closely modelled on the world’s notions of God and how we are to approach Him.
3. Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. These three terms succinctly define the song of saints that emerges from the grace produced in the heart as a result of hearing the Saviour’s words.
a. Psalms. This term simply means ‘to sing’, and specifically refers to the poetic style of verse, and to music produced by plucking the strings of an instrument. It does not particularly refer to the ‘Psalms of David’ or the Old Testament book by that name. The poetic section of the Scriptures—which the Saviour calls, the Psalms in Luke 24:44 — contains 13 of the Old Testament books written in a poetic style. This section of the Old Testament is also known as ‘the writings’. Not all of the Psalms could be sung therefore. The books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, for example, are part of the section called the psalms, but clearly are not designed to be sung. It is possible that not even all of the psalms in the actual book of Psalms, were used in song. This is certainly the case for most Gentile believers, since these Psalms were Hebrew poetry and translation meant they no longer retained their original poetic structure. Likely the term, as used here by Paul, refers to what we would now refer to as metrical Psalms or paraphrases of Scripture. Again, the primary emphasis in the use of this term is that our songs of praise are to be Biblical in nature.
b. Hymns. This term, as far as the original word Paul uses is concerned, has secular and even heathen connotations. A hymn is a celebration of a hero. The pagans had their hymns in praise of their gods and champions. There is a Christian parallel to this practice that would have been familiar to these converts. In some sense there will be a similar style and structure between the hymns of the Church and the songs of the world. The rhyming language of poetic verse is an example. But the hymns of the Church will always be different to the songs of the world in content and purpose. We have a champion, the conquering hero of His people—the Saviour Himself! He is to be the theme of our praise.
c. Spiritual songs. The Greek word here is an ‘ode’. A poetic narrative. The word itself clearly applies to many different kinds of songs as the Apostle includes the defining term, spiritual. Not all songs /odes were proper to worship! Only those which were spiritual in character. The Christian does not sing praise to the Lord as the world sings.
III. OBJECTIVES IN BIBLICAL PRAISE.
1. Mutual instruction. Our praise is to have a continuous instructive effect on one another. While it is offered as worship to the Lord, it is also to have a profound effect on our knowledge. When we sing, What are we really learning?
a. Teaching. Praise is a form of teaching. It is the musical expression of Biblical truth which produces wisdom in the heart! As I sing I am teaching; but I am also being taught.
b. Admonish. ‘exhort’ – a warning tone is implied. The message of what we sing is to be ‘put into the mind’ by our singing. This is the literal sense of admonish, and is to promote a response similar as to a warning message. Biblical praise is to put us on our guard! How alarming it is then to see in the use of CCM that which, instead of warning against the spiritual dangers of the world, actively brings the world and carnal sensuality into the worship of the church and into the minds of worshippers. CCM not only actively fails to give warning against worldliness, it actively encourages and promotes it as good and beneficial. It is therefore to be doubly condemned!
c. Understanding. Biblical praise is primarily an appeal to the intellect/mind/understanding. It is NOT about an appeal to the emotions, or the sensual appeal of music. In Eph 5:19 Paul uses the verb speaking…. when referring to singing and so emphasizes the instructive nature of what is sung.
2. The glory of God. …to the Lord. Our praise is offered to Him and He is exalted as our Lord and Master. Song in worship is not about impressing an audience or exalting a performer, it is all to be directed to the Lord. Our praise in worship should sound like the praise of servants, humbly delighting in their Master’s service, rather than a bold assertion of our own power and will as so much modern praise does.
IV. BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES REGARDING THE MUSIC USED IN THE PRAISE OF GOD.
The word of God instructs God’s people in all that they need to know of Him and what He requires of them. Every issue in worship is to be decided on the basis of what the word of God teaches. The Scriptures are to be carefully consulted and practiced.
In many areas of life, however, the Bible does not give specific instructions, but instead reveals guidelines which are to be applied to specific issues using spiritual discernment and wisdom. Music is such a case. We do not need a highly technical understanding of the science of music in order to understand what God requires of us in terms of the music used in praise of Him.
The Biblical rules laid down in this text to guide us in praise are also to be applied to any musical accompaniment of that praise.
1. Music has a proper place in the Biblical worship of God.’ This has been made a controversial point by some. Yet, it is patently obvious that praise in the Bible did involve the use of musical instruments.
a. Psalms, v16. The root of this Greek word, associated with the Hebrew term translated ‘Psalm’ [Heb = mizmor], which carries the same meaning, indicates the ‘plucking’ of a stringed instrument. In Eph 5:19 the verbal form of this term is used and translated, make melody. The Apostolic directive on praise includes this implied reference to music.
b. Historical consideration. The Old Testament praise of God involved the use of music. For examples see Ps 33:2, 92:3, 144:9. The instruments used were wind, string or percussion. Obviously their use was acceptable to God as part of the praise of His people in worship. See also 1 Chron 13:8, 25:6, 2 Chron 5:11-14, 2 Chron 29:27-30, Is 38:20, Hab 3:19. Music is common to all cultures and it is interesting to see that the Scripture specifically refers to music in the worship of God involving an instrument from a heathen culture. See Psalm 8:1, 81:1, 84:1. Gittith, obviously a musical instrument, is a term derived from the name Gath. Here was an instrument that had some obvious connection to the heathen culture of the Philistines, and the city of Gath in particular. Even the instruments used by the world may be used to produce music in praise of God. Other considerations, however, may mean it is inappropriate to include particular instruments.
c. Future consideration. Heaven is filled with the musical praise of God. The following Scriptures reference the use of musical instruments in Heaven. See Rev 5:8-9, 14:2-3, 15:2-3.
2. Music is to play a secondary role in the praise of God.
a. Primary. We have already considered how this verse emphasizes that the primary characteristic of praise is the expression of Biblical truth in the form of a Psalm, hymn or spiritual song. Praise is primarily about the message which is to instruct the minds of those engaged in it. Praise that reverses this priority and makes the music preeminent, is not of God—it is not worship but an exhibition. CCM performances are often indistinguishable from the rock or pop concert performances of secular artistes.
b. Music is to promote the effect of Biblical truth upon the mind. Note carefully the language of Ps 92:3. The expression solemn sound is derived from the Hebrew for ‘meditation’ as in Ps 19:14, and in 9:16 Higgaion, or ‘meditation’. The musical component of praise is not to be negative or even neutral, but is to be a positive support to the Biblical instruction given in the song. How often this is not the case in CCM praise! The song is music driven and the music often masks the near total absence of instructive language.
3. Music used in praise is to conform to the requirement that the praise of God is to be spiritual and gracious.
a. Power. Music is a powerful manipulator of human emotion, feeling and actions. Not all such manipulation is spiritual or spiritually good. This power is used in the music employed in films, performances, advertising etc. See the therapeutic power of music in 1Sam 16:16; the mass impact of music in Dan 3:5—the music is employed to make men bend their knee to a new god!
b. Spiritual, v16. The music associated with the praise of God is to be spiritual.
i. It is an activity of the soul. See Eph 5:19. Even the melody is to be an expression of the heart! In this instance the music itself is to be regarded as part of the soul’s engagement with God. The Saviour’s words in Jn 4:24 teach that all worship, including praise and any musical accompaniment, is to be spiritual in nature. Music is to energize the heart to engage God on His terms.
ii. An implied contrast. It is to be spiritual rather than worldly. These are contrary concepts in Scripture and parallel the contrast between the new man and the old; that which is of God and that which is of the world. The Christian has been delivered from the pollutions of this age; transformed by the Spirit into the image of God, to embrace all that is of God and not of the world. See 1 Jn 2:15-17, Rom 12:2, 1 Pet 1:4. This is an across-the-board standard for the Christian and it is a leading aspect of what defines acceptable music in praise. The new song of the redeemed is radically different in every way from the songs of the pit of corruption where grace found us. When music can be defined in the terms John uses to define the world—that is, its appeal is to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life — it is decidedly not of God. Music in worship may be recognized as carnal and unspiritual when it (1) apes the music of the world—as CCM does; (2) when its effect is only on the body to produce gyration and dance, or upon the sensual emotions, rather than to produce spiritual communion with God. Such music is to be recognized as corrupted and polluted by its worldliness, 2 Pet 1:4, 2:20. These Biblical principles apply across all musical genres.
iii. The work of the Holy Spirit. Here is the ultimate consideration in this spiritual song! It is to involve the ministry of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not work in those who are of the world! The Saviour teaches this very clearly. The Holy Ghost is …the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, Jn 14:17. The worship of the world is not spiritual in this sense. Paul’s instruction about the work of the Spirit in the life of the believer in 1 Cor 2:12-13 applies to singing as well as preaching! See also his determination in 1Cor 14:15: …I will sing with the spirit. This is a reference in context to the Holy Spirit and not simply his own.
c. Worship music must also be with grace, v16. The song—again, the Greek word implies melody/music—is to be the product of grace, both in terms of its content and delivery. Grace is the work of God in the soul of man. That which is of grace, is the product of God! That which God’s grace produces will exhibit the character of God. This is why CCM is so offensive! It purports to be an exhibition of God, His grace and His Spirit, when in reality it is the product of the corruption of the world! It is idolatrous and an expression of the worship of the god of this world.
Conclusion
It is my firm conviction that the application of Biblical principles of worship to the songs and music used in the worship of God will lead believers away from CCM and not toward it. The grace of God, always and exclusively, produces distinction from the world and not likeness to it. Do not err my beloved brethren…when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:16,15) The lusts which CCM caters to will inevitably destroy the life of any church that gives it place. This is as true of the Free Presbyterian Church as it is of any other.