Myth, 32

~ Music Style Determines Church Success ~

Myth  ~  Contemporary Music Will Save Your Church. 

Reality  ~  The reality is that music can be an aid or a hindrance to the true success of your church.  Today, many churches have moved from true worshipful music to more of an entertainment type of music.  In such settings music is often used to build up emotions rather than to cause the individual and corporate body to the worship of God. 

Scripture  ~  The book of Psalms has been called Israel’s Hymnbook.  The modern church can learn a lot be immersing itself in the Psalms. 

Christian History  ~  Many great Christian leaders of the past and present have warned about the misuse of music in the local church.  A few examples:

“Modern religion focuses upon filling churches with people.  The true Gospel emphasizes filling people with God.  …  Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.  … There was a day when men sang, Holy, Holy, Holy, and oh, worshipped the King and they talked objectively about the greatness of God.  Then we backslid into the gutter where we still are, where everything is about I.  I’m so happy.  “I’m so blessed.  “I’m so nice.  “I’m so good.  I’m, I, always I”  ~ A.W. Tozer

“The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view of winning them.”  ~ H.H. Spurgeon

“These first Christians did not come together to be entertained.  Nothing to me is so pathetic about the state of the church today as the entertainment that has increasingly come into our services.  …  Why did the early Christians come together?  The answer is given: ‘They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).  And this is what we must emphasize.”  ~ Martyn Lloyd Jones

“Modern church buildings are constructed like theaters (“playhouses,” Spurgeon called them).  Instead of a pulpit, the focus is a stage.  …  Worship is not music.  It is loving God.  Worship is honoring God.  Worship is knowing God for who He is, adoring Him, obeying Him, proclaiming Him as a way of life.  Music is one way we express that adoration.  …  Many people see preaching and worship as two distinct aspects of the church service, as if preaching has nothing to do with worship and vice versa.  But that is an erroneous concept.  The ministry of the Word is the platform on which all genuine worship is built.”  ~ John MacArthur  

The Bottom Line  ~  The preaching of the Word of God should be the focus of what has often been called the “Worship Service.”  While music should support that it has the danger of replacing the emphasis of the service. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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