Feb 15 2010
Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs
So my question the other day about songwriting wasn’t entirely rhetorical; I was leading up to something :). Does music — specifically music with words, songs — have a God-given purpose? Is there something we’re supposed to do with it? Obviously, song is an incredible form of expression. But is self-expression all there is to it? In my opinion, if you’re only about expressing yourself, you’re going to become self-indulgent very quickly, and self-indulgence is a sinkhole for artists of any kind.
Paul talks about song in his letters to the Ephesians and Colossians, with an interesting double emphasis:
… be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:18-19)
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. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Col 3:16-17)
There are three purposes listed for Christian song here (and by “Christian song” here I mean songs that are specifically related to our faith). One is obvious: to sing to God and express gratitude to Him. The others are maybe not so obvious: we’re supposed to use songs to “speak to ourselves” and to “teach and admonish one another.” In other words, we should sing songs of worship and praise, but we should also sing songs of doctrine and truth and exhortation. At least, that’s how I take those verses.
Looking at most of the music in the church these days, what do you think? Are we fulfilling those purposes?
I think that hymns definitely meet the Bible’s criteria, and some selected songs by Christian artists. Michal Card’s song lyrics reflect brilliantly the Biblical truths of the Old and New Testaments.
I agree with Elisabeth that hymns match “the three purposes listed for Christian song”.
In common with ALL expressions of creative art, I believe music and songs are supposed to have a purpose larger than self-expression. They’re supposed to point those who hear them to GOD. I like one of J.S. Bach’s most famous quotes: “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”