Music and Worship Michael Krahn on 12 Aug 2009 11:40 am
Worship Wars: How Do We Determine Musical Excellence?
In a recent Breakpoint article, Chuck Colson asks, “Is there a right and wrong kind of music for worship?”
“One expert on church music says yes, there is. Much of today’s music is of poor quality, he writes. But so was some music written centuries ago. The difference is the old hymns have endured a centuries-long weeding-out process. If we hope to identify the best new music, Williams writes, we must know ‘those marks of excellence that made the best of the past stand out and survive so long.”
If he contends (and I believe he does so correctly) that there has always been good and bad music being produced, then it follows that those who were around at the times the great hymns were written were also, during the same time, subjected to the lower quality hymns as well.
We look back at the time of great hymns and think, “It must have been nice to be around at that time!” as if the only things written at that time were home-run hymns. That was not the case.
The 4 marks of excellence he identifies are:
1. Biblical Truth. Lyrics need not to be literal Scripture, but they do have to be faithful to it.
2. Theological Profundity. Think of how the words to the great hymns encourage us to worship God with our minds. By contrast, some contemporary choruses are often “so simplistic and repetitive that theological reflection never has a chance to get started.”
3. Poetic Richness.
4. Musical Beauty. In great music, “there are certain contours, structures, and cadences that make for a singable melody.”
A case can be made that there is more poor quality music being produced now, but like the age of the great hymns, the good ones will endure and the rest will fade. And you can bet that there were people during the time of the great hymns who longed for the old days, when music wasn’t so “worldy” and “frivolous” and “repetitive”.
“Unfortunately, those in the present must always endure the good with the bad while those in the past have the privilege of passing on only the good.”
Colson wraps it up diplomatically in say that, “in the end—all sides of the music wars can agree that we want to praise God by singing hymns and spiritual songs that are biblically true, theologically profound, poetically rich, and, yes, musically beautiful.”
Michael Krahn (michael.krahn@gmail.com) is a husband, father, Pastor, writer, and recording artist who enjoys books, theology, technology and the Ottawa Senators.
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on 12 Aug 2009 at 2:30 pm # Ben
I agree that we need to strive to have excellence in our music – and that some of our songs are not that great. I would even say some of our hymns aren’t that great (they need to be put to the same “test” as our choruses).
I do disagree with you on one point. You said “some contemporary choruses are often “so simplistic and repetitive that theological reflection never has a chance to get started.”
I believe that the music we use in church has many different functions. One of the things songs can teach is how to meditate. I find that in many churches meditation is a lost art. No one knows how do it. Meditation is thinking about something deeply. It often means repeating a simple short phrase – allowing that phrase to penetrate our hearts and lives.
Some of these “simplistic and repetitive” songs may be exactly what we need.
on 12 Aug 2009 at 2:35 pm # Michael Krahn
Hey Ben,
That was one of his points, not mine. I would have to hear specific examples to know whether or not I agree with him.
In my experience people love to bash modern worship music but are usually hard-pressed to come up with examples.
on 12 Aug 2009 at 7:53 pm # Jake
Hey Mike.
Thanks for that post. I thought it was well done and I would happen to agree with what was written. Yes I know I am narrow minded – and would love all songs to be theology only, but that doesn’t mean they have to be scripture only. For myself, musical excellence is determined by the content contained within the lyrics backed by well (fitted) orchestrated music that’s catchy. And preferably distinct enough that it is unique to the Christian faith because of it’s content of the gospel.
on 18 Aug 2009 at 9:30 pm # heather
mike,
i was wondering this same question (sort of) a few weeks ago when i had to audition to be on the worship team at my new church. it was strange. i’d never auditioned before, so it took me a while to wrap my head around the concept. but having been one of those who helped to co-ordinate worship in a church, i understand the effect that bad singers (with mics, being amplified so everyone can hear whether they want to or not) can have on worship. (and yes, i’m aware of the whole “make a joyful NOISE unto the Lord” bit, but there weren’t sound systems back in the day LOL).
anyway… i agree with ben… yes, some music that’s published and sung corporately is, um, i’ll go with fluffy, but it’s true what he said about music helping us to meditate on God’s divinity and otherness. (think “be still and know that I AM God…” – which is biblical and profound, but also about as simple as they come.) often the simplest concepts and phrases – in lyrics and melody – can lead to the most profound, life-altering (and life-altaring) revelations. lyrics shouldn’t be discounted simply b/c they’re not hard-core st-anselm-ish theology (and oh, how i love anselm… wow, i’m a nerd!). the simplest lyrics/concepts can leave us in such awe of God that we are absolutely in the right frame of mind, heart and spirit to enter the throneroom of Yahweh and truly worship Him, just because He’s Him. it’s those simple truths that stick with us in times of need, that come to us when we’re hopeless and near death, and save us in some miraculous, Other kind of way.
as for hymns… a couple years ago, before asher’s major surgery when he was 6 months old, i knew in my heart he wouldn’t survive. so i was planning his funeral in my mind. and the only song i knew that i wanted sung there was “This Is My Father’s World”. it’s beautiful, and profound, and yet so simple in its message. that hymn lifted me up (or maybe brought God down to me) at a time when i was bracing myself for the worst heartbreak a mother could experience. it has lasted *because* it’s simple. and it’s not biblical, in that it doesn’t quote major passages of scripture (unlike the chorus i mentioned earlier), but it is true. that hymn is a PERFECT example of musical excellence BECAUSE of its simplicity.
and i know there are a lot of people who complain about the “rock concert” aspect to a lot of worship music, that it debases worship to use drums and electric guitars and fancy lighting and so on, but… i remember someone telling me a long time ago that a lot of the songs that came out of revivals in britain, like wales, were actually set to the tunes of popular drinking songs. it’s all part of meeting people where they’re at (like what paul did, “becoming all things to all people”) to help them find their footing on their path to God. and even now, many years into my journey, i find myself enjoying the music at my church, which is highly produced (see “fancy lighting” comment LOL). and although it may not be “musically excellent” and “theologically profound” all the time, it does its job: reminding me of Who God is and that He loves me and wants me and meets me, just as i am, so that He can change me. this is what worship is: experiencing God’s presence corporately, but also individually, and while i may not be bowled over by the quality of the music, i can still be bowled over by God. even with crappy music.
on 26 Aug 2009 at 2:35 am # Sue
How can you “ascend” to Truth when the Truth is the always the present time source and condition of everything that appears.
If the Truth is not obvious to you now in your present condition, do you really think that you will find it by ascending to some other condition.
Plus The Truth is always intrinsically related to, or an extension of the Beautiful.
Keats: “Truth Is Beauty. Beauty Is Truth”
No beauty means no truth.
True Religion is therefore a celebration of The Beautiful.
That having been said, what has the dreadful image at the top of your website got to do with The Beautiful, and therefore by intrinsic extension the Truth?
If you came across a bloodied tortured body nailed to a tree while you were walking in the woods, you would quite rightly be horrified.