Presbyterian Worship Resources

Music has been a part of the church’s worship since the very beginning, as music has been a part of human life from the very beginning. The first sound from the human voice is the sound of song—the cry of a baby—and I think it may also be one of the last sounds we make—the lament of pain, or the hopeful song of death. Melody hummed, whistled, or la, la, la’ed gives expression to emotions so deep within us that there are no words adequate to express them. Through it great sadness as well as great joy finds expression, lament and longing, fear and the cry for comfort, and love. Song has the power to spur us on to action, draw us together in common cause, embolden and encourage us, comfort and console us, and give expression to our deepest longings, and highest hopes. It is a gracious gift which, over time, has the power to shape what we believe and consequently who we are and how we live. Someone has said that “no one ever leaves church humming the sermon,” and it is true. Far more than the spoken word alone, what we sing stays with us, lodging in our hearts and minds to be retrieved consciously and sometimes quite unconsciously when needed.

John Calvin, our forbear in the Reformed tradition, wrote in his Preface to the Psalter, 1543: “We know by experience that singing has great force and vigor to move and inflame the hearts of men to invoke and praise God with a more vehement and ardent zeal.” But by the same token, music has the power to sway the minds of men and women in other ways as well. He warns “It is true that every bad word (as St. Paul has said) perverts good manner, but when the melody is with it, it pierces the heart much more strongly, and enters into it; in a like manner as through a funnel, the wine is poured into the vessel; so also the venom and the corruption is distilled to the depths of the heart by melody.” Because it is such a powerful gift, the texts of the songs, hymns, and anthems which we choose for worship demand our most careful scrutiny. For, as Calvin notes: “If we really wish to honor the holy ordinances of our Lord, which we use in the Church, the primary thing is to know what they contain, what they mean to say, and to what end they tend, in order that their usage may be useful and salutary, and consequently rightly ruled.” (Preface to the Psalter, 1543) “Useful” and “salutary” music may be a challenge sometimes these days, not because it is unavailable, but rather because there is so much inferior music being marketed to churches. Careful scrutiny of texts is especially incumbent upon pastors and musicians. For the sake of the church, choose wisely.

The first measure of worth for a musical text for worship—hymn or anthem—is its relation to the biblical text. Is it grounded in scripture? “Scripture is the basic raw material from which hymns are produced,” write Hugh McElrath and Harry Eskew. “A hymn cannot be useful unless and until it relates closely to the revealed truth about God and his mighty acts as written in the Scriptures. Therefore, the effectiveness of any hymn is measurable in large part by the extent to which it functions as a vehicle for spiritual truth.” (Sing with Understanding, p. 45 © 1980, Broadman Press, Nashville)

Scripture is not only the “basic raw material” for musical texts, it is also the foundation upon which the Lord’s Day Service is constructed. When pastor and musician begin with the biblical texts for the day, even if there is not the opportunity to plan face-to-face, the probability of the music and the liturgy fitting with one another is far more likely than if each goes his or her own way. This is much more easily done when the pastor preaches from the lectionary. The musician then can look months, even a year ahead, in choosing anthems and service music. In choosing hymns, first read the lessons for the day. Review the Index of Scriptural Allusions and the Topical Index in the back of the hymnal. If the season is one other than Ordinary Time, flip through the hymns found in the appropriate category. Look for hymns that are familiar to the congregation, but don’t shy away from unfamiliar ones. Singing what the congregation likes to sing is an important consideration, but not the most important one. Indeed, we do our people a disservice when we do not take the lead in introducing them to new texts and new musical arrangements.

While music in worship serves to edify, educate, inspire, and touch our hearts and spirits, its primary function in the liturgy is prayer. “From the first origin of the Church, this has been so, as appears from the histories. And even St. Paul speaks not only of praying by mouth; but also of singing,” writes Calvin. Remember that these are not merely songs that you are choosing; they are the prayers of God’s people. Choose with care and faith and love.

J. Dudley Weaver, Jr.