1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. Music in the Worship of God: Part 1

3. Selfish Opinion vs. Humble Worship
Most people judge music based on their personal tastes and preferences
Too many people think the music is the worship and judge the service based on whether they liked the music
Many people claim to have the right priorities, but their actions show that personal taste, not truth, controls

4. Selfish Opinion vs. Humble Worship
Scott Smith, Worship Leader Magazine - Are We Worshiping Worship More than We Worship God?
True worship demands that God is the center of it and that takes active work - it is not passive entertainment
Most of the debates in music in worship are about personal preferences, not the glory of God

5. Form vs. Substance
Music is not worship, but it can be a powerful force in true worship or its biggest obstacle
The Scriptures do not warn or even caution against certain sounds
Psalm 33:3; 66:1; 81:1; 93:4; 95:1-2; 98:6; 100:1 - Noise: Teruah / ruah = trumpets blaring, people shouting

6. Form vs. Substance
Psalm 98:4 - loud noise - patsach = the sound of something breaking
All types of sound can be used to praise the Lord - there is no “devil’s chord.”
No musical instruments is evil itself - People like or dislike instruments based on association

7. Form vs. Substance
Idiophones: Cymbals, rattles, castanets - bells: Psalm 150; 2 Samuel 6:5; Exodus 39:25
Membranophones: drums, timbrel - Exodus 15:20; Psalm 81:2; 150:4
Aerophones: wind instruments - pipes, flutes, horns - Psalm 5; 150:3-4
Chordophones: lutes, harps, lyres - Psalm 92:3; 108.:2; 150:3

8. Form vs. Substance
Musical instruments are no different than the tongue which can be used for good or evil - James 3:9-10
There is no “devil’s beat” - life is filled with all sorts of rhythms – context of its usage determines its purpose

9. Cautions on Communication and Form
Psycho-acoustics = the effect of sounds on human behavior. Some sounds can be negative, some positive
Composers use sounds in the effort to affect your emotions
Romans 14:14; Mark 7:
The evil is in the hearts of men - not a particular instrument or sound

10. Cautions on Communication and Form
Evil people use music to enhance their evil message giving that music an evil association
Evil Lyrics can give a lovely melody an evil association, but good lyrics can enhance the tune

11. Cautions on Communication and Form
Chuck Fromm, Worship Leader Magazine, Taking Music Off the Throne: Acknowledging the Z-factors
Zwingli, the reformer that had been a professional musician, feared the power of music in worship
Z-Factor: Music often hides rather than reveals truth. It is prone to enchantment, not communication

12. Cautions on Communication and Form
There needs to be caution to not distort our message, but we should not be reactionary to condemn sounds
Most people simply want to hear what is pleasing to them and therefore are ignorant of the dangers
Z-Factor: Contemporary choruses have reduced corporate singing to mindless babble . . .

13. Cautions on Communication and Form
Repetition comes near to being mindless chanting - more Eastern mysticism than worship of God
Poetic license stretched to confusion about the meaning of the song - “Jesus is my boyfriend” lyrics

14. Cautions on Communication and Form
A catchy tune can obscure what is contrary to Scripture and even rank heresy
Careful consideration must be given to the songs used in worship lest we sing heresy to a pleasing melody

15. Cautions on Communication and Form
Use form to enhance the message of truth, but never to obscure what is contrary to God & godliness
Let us not become those who worship worship more than God

16. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ