Musical Integrity In The Church -- By: Kenneth Laudermilch
Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 07:1 (Winter 1998)
Article: Musical Integrity In The Church
Author: Kenneth Laudermilch
RAR 7:1 (Winter 1998) p. 79
Musical Integrity In The Church
Next to the spoken word and the corporate prayers of the saints, music is fundamental to worship. It is no doubt our most expressive vehicle of singular and corporate praise. It is the language of the soul.
David must have fallen upon this truth quite naturally as a lad on the hillsides of Judea as he sang and accompanied himself on a stringed instrument. Years later as a man he penned Psalms (poetry set to music) which are unsurpassed expressions of beauty, truth, and praise.
The Scriptures are replete with references to both vocal and instrumental music in worship. In 1 Chronicles 23:5 we read that “... 4,000 were praising the Lord with the instruments which David made for giving praise.” Psalm 33 speaks to us of praising the Lord with harp, voice and stringed instruments and playing skillfully with a loud noise. Christ and His disciples sang a hymn before leaving for the Mount of Olives on the night He was to be betrayed (Matt. 26:30). Paul counsels us to be speaking continually to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). And in Revelation 5 we read that one day the saints will sing a new song of praise in glory in heaven.
Music must occupy a special place in the heart of God. He has created it to span time and eternity and to reflect something of His own splendor, majesty, power, excellence, tenderness and beauty. How blessed are we to have been endowed with the ability to participate in His creative
RAR 7:1 (Winter 1998) p. 80
nature, returning to Him the glory while at the same time bringing encouragement and consolation to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A brief look at the history of music in the church will help us to better understand the elements that have most influenced our present musical culture.
The music of the seventeenth- and
eighteenth-century church set the artistic
standard for the music of the world. Even
today we find it to have an unmatched
freshness and deep seated joy about it.
Man saw perhaps more clearly than at any
other time in history meaning and purpose
in life, and whatever he set his mind or
hand to reflected this view. The arts
flourished and the church led the way.
The Age Of Musical Magnificence
Magnificent musical expression reached a zenith in the church in the century immediately following the Reformation with the...
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