Dear Saints,

Last week I pointed out two kinds of sermons. All sermons are to be “biblical” in the sense that they are to be consistent with the truth of Scripture. Expositional sermons aim to address the Bible in terms of the Bible’s own literary structure (books and sections of books, e.g., Romans) and unfolding the meaning and relevant applications. Topical sermons are to be no less “biblical” but they are not aimed at expositing a particular passage of Scripture, but rather drawing together a range of biblical truths relevant to a topic.

This week will also be a sermon which is “topical.” I want to follow up on the previous sermon and discuss more specifically the nature of Music, e.g., “Music in the Bible, Music on the Radio: A Biblical Theology of Music”  -  In this case I want to address “the sound of music” or the “style of music.” And I will take the bull by the horns in order to address the contemporary and pop music style issue vs traditional. If you did not like last week’s sermon, then I can recommend several churches for you to visit this week .

Music is commanded and commended in the life of the New Covenant People of God.

TEXT: Colossians 3:16 – “Let the Revealed Word of the Anointed [King] reside in you to the fullest measure, with all wisdom, [you should be] teaching and counseling each other, with the Book of Psalms, hymns of praise, [and] spiritually mature songs, in thankful grace singing with all your hearts to God” (GS trans.).

This command in Col. 3:16 is the final command of the “body life” prior to addressing home life (wives, husbands, children, fathers, in 3:18ff). Paul means to have their life together congregationally and their households (en-oikos) be filled with truth of God’s Word and revelation of Jesus by means of Psalms, hymns of praise, and songs that bring spiritual maturity.

It is important to remove our Western, Enlightenment goggles here as in every other area. In the biblical view of music, there is no strong dichotomy between speaking and singing. This because language generally is connected to the life of the person. “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Mt. 12:34, also Mt. 15:11-18).

Note the parallels of verbal action:

Psalm 65:13 They shout for joy, yes, they sing.
Psalm 95:2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

We should know the Old Testament Psalms through singing and chanting, if not reading. And thus we need  metrical and through-composed Psalters, as well as the liturgical reading/chanting of all the Psalms.

Historian P. Schaff says of worship in the apostolic church (1-100 A.D.) that they added to the Psalms “original, specifically Christian psalms, hymns, doxologies, and benedictions.” (Vol. I, p. 463.) These include the canticles of Simeon, the Magnificat, the Benedictus, the thanksgiving of Peter (Acts 4:24-30), songs in tongues (I Cor. 14), and the NT hymn fragments.

Certainly, we should know hymns of God’s attributes which include the great tradition of Christian hymnody. Hymns fortify doctrinal aspects of our faith and we should set them to lively music, not dead White Male Western Enlightenment, Neutered sounds.

If we do let the “I come to the garden alone” variety of “hymns” prevail then we will not like the Psalms, at all. We should sing the war songs of the Spirit such as the Song of Deborah, the Song of Myriam, etc., as well as newly composed and set hymns declaring victory, e.g., “The Son of God Goes Forth to War.”

The musical qualities of excellence, complexity, consonance, etc. are implied because all the Scripture’s teaching is in view by reference to Psalms. Music is a means for praise (Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9 [originally sung]), joy (Jm. 5:13), thanksgiving (Ps. 92:1-3), sorrow for sin (Is. 16:10), a means of prayer (I Cor. 14:15; Ps. 72:20), teaching and spiritual communication (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19), and the use of instruments (Ps. 150 and about 50 other commands).

Victor Hugo said, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”

Tender praises of our experience in Christ are comforting at times and useful, but we must also advance the gospel of the resurrected, “Anointed King.” The musical sound should not effectively deny the Lordship of Christ. Thus, we need new composers to lead in the call, “Rise Up O Men of God.”

Gregg Strawbridge, Pastor

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