MUSIC AS MINISTRY

Serving the Lord with a Universal Language

Although it is not specifically mentioned as a special calling or ministry in the New Testament, the use of music as a universal language even of the church is very obvious in the Scriptures. People who devote themselves to singing Godly or Christian songs (sometimes for a living) are generally called Gospel musicians: some seem to prefer the title, "Minister", which actually means servant: fair deal, for that is what the Gospel musician should really be in every sense of the word. There are many others involved in making Christian music tick. Here I share a few insights on how  Christian music should be guided in order to serve the Lord's purpose. (I wish to thank the PENSA Ghana 2019 Music Team for compelling this effort)

Ephesians 5:19, Psalm 150, Deuteronomy 31:22, Revelations 14:3

1.      What Is Gospel Music or Godly Music?

Godly music may cover all the songs written with a view to glorify God or accomplish His will. Gospel music is a bit narrower in the sense that it focuses mainly on New Testament theology. Gospel music focuses more on publishing the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ, exalt Him or exalt the Godhead for what He has done through Christ for us. Gospel music is also prophetic in the New Testament sense, since it is for edification, encouragement, and consolation (1 Co. 14:3).

2.     The Contents or Composition of Godly Music and How to Differentiate It From 'Fake' Gospel Music

Content of Gospel Music

a.      Proclaims the saving virtues of God and His Christ

b.      Usually couched in the language of the New Testament

c.      Calls people to repentance and faith in Jesus

d.     Encourages Christians to serve Christ and endure the challenges of living for Christ

e.      Appreciates and exalts God

f.       Is prayer and supplication for guidance and strength in ministry

Fake Gospel Music

a.      Contradicts the word of Christ

b.      Preaches the limited virtues of the Old Covenant and human traditions rather than the excellence of Christlike living and sacrifice

c.      Is secular or nonspiritual words/lyrics accompanied with known Christian tunes or sung by a known Christian or Christian musician

d.     Discriminates among people and casts insinuations and aspersions

e.      Extols worldliness and flaunts worldly possessions as God’s blessings

f.       Includes lyrics of personal revelation that are not consistent with the Gospel

3.      How to Lead and Write Christian Songs in A Way That Does Not Make Them "Worldly" (Keeping our hearts centered on Jesus and in giving Him glory, over trying to take the glory for ourselves)

Leading Christian Songs in a Godly Manner

Usually, leading songs involves trained/inspired individual singers, instrumentalists or teams that either minister for the edification of a listening audience or to cue congregations to sing along. In both cases, the music must be presented in a manner that allows for appreciation. The intended audience or the congregation must always be entirely served according to the will of God, not MESMERIZED!

a.      Be mindful of the lyrics first and foremost, that they will glorify Christ and facilitate the purpose of the service.

b.      Choose music styles that suit the audience or congregation. You must therefore know them, otherwise you may unnecessarily come across as disrespectful.

c.      Tune and regulate sound and music equipment in such a way as make you hear and appreciate the voices of the congregation as well.

d.     Respect time allotted to you and be a good team member.

Writing Christ-centered Songs

a.      Be guided primarily by what has been treated under number 2 above.

b.      Follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and thoroughly research the Biblical basis of inspired words that make up your song.

c.      Put inspired verses to existing music or write music for inspired words.

4.    How to Go About Writing Songs for And in The Church in A Creative, Modern Way That Is Acceptable by The Church

An exceptional force of music is its dynamism, and the word of God can be put into music in a way as to get the attention of virtually every culture or subculture. The Church of Pentecost, for example, so far has developed its own music culture, to the extent that one can predict which tunes (assuming the words are Gospel) will be hits and which will be misses to the overwhelming majority of members. Given however that the church exists to reach the entire world for Christ, it is crucial that we write our music with as much diversity as we are able.

a.      Learn about the target group that appreciates the creative style you need to write in, and what their existing music means to them, including the overtones of certain sounds and expressions. Otherwise, your music risks coming across as either condescending or altogether fake and therefore ineffective in reaching out to them.

b.      Do not write with the purpose of forcing an existing church music culture to change, as this is not necessary at all: you are augmenting our arsenal, not replacing it.

c.      Ensure that your music gets to the culture or subculture, and get feedback to improve the ministry.

d.     Never water down the Gospel or demean the existing church culture just to gain acceptance into a developing subculture in the church.

e.      When given the opportunity to present a song in a style that is generally not familiar with the church, make sure your lyrics stand out very clearly and tone down on all other incidentals of the ‘new’ culture such as dressing and dancing.

5.      How to Make Music in The Church More Attractive and of Impact

a.      We need to cover all the basis of our theology with songs:

b.      Our musicians must be better trained and our trained musicians must reflect humility and personal discipline: they must show abundant readiness to help all members who want to participate in their ‘calling’. Improving on the technical music skills makes it easier for us to teach new songs or present them in more appealing manner.

c.      Our predominant and most productive church music culture is that we all sing together rather than sit to be sung to. All our musicians would therefore be more effective if they kept this in mind

d.     The idea of commercializing church music must remain anathema, and therefore the church must bear the responsibility for producing abundant musicians in the same manner that almost every church member is able to preach the gospel.

6.    How to Effectively Lead Worship and Choose Worship Songs. Also, Do's and Don'ts in Leading Worship.

We are caught up in worship when all around us pale into insignificance in the awareness that the transcendent God is also immanent, present and receiving our adoration. Good worship leaders therefore stand out in that exceptional combination of sincere insignificance before God and the call from that to all present to focus only on God. She raises song after song that makes the congregants aware of the particular aspect of the Father that has caught her attention and mesmerized her.

a.      You must always be prepared to lead people into worship. However, if you are given ample notice, spend time in personal prayer and worship first.

b.      Nobody will give you a topic for worship. Select songs from the way you are currently experiencing the awareness of God that is inspiring your ever-increasing love for Him. They may be a collection from your own recent personal devotional ministrations.

c.      Drop all lingering anxieties when the worship takes off, and just keep singing, praying and waiting as the Spirit leads you. Silence is part of worship and it doesn’t mean you have run out of options. There is no law that says we cannot use only one song to worship, so check the pressure to be introducing many songs. Remember you are only one of those worshiping, and don’t over-regulate.

d.     When a member of the congregation raises a song during worship, allow time to see how it picks up and helps the rest, and you may not need to stop it after all.

e.      Always worship within allotted time.

7.     How to Effectively Lead Praises and Choose Praise Songs. Also, Do's and Don'ts in Leading Praises.

What we normally call praise songs are the quick tempo songs, but that is misleading, because praise songs constitute only one aspect of Gospel songs (please check from section 2).

a.      In selecting and leading up-tempo songs, be mindful to stay within purpose, and remember that one rhythm usually persists throughout a session.

b.      Each song carries a helping message: allow it to sink in before introducing another, when necessary. This is also the time many people get to learn songs, so be as clear as possible.

c.      If there are many leaders, allow one to lead in changing songs unless there is a prearrangement otherwise.

d.     Song leaders need not be so loud as to be deaf to the congregation’s inputs, and so they must learn to control their voices and microphones to volumes that are just slightly louder and just enough for them to cue them in.

e.      Care must be taken to control the tempo in order not to get the congregation panting in a short time or struggling to catch up with the dancing and therefore losing focus of the words of the songs.

8.    Conclusion

Singing and making music is legitimate Christian ministry that virtually mimics what goes on in Heaven. Musical expressions color our communication with God, and from God to others. Music captures moods and expresses attitudes in ways that words alone are incapable of. Music as a universal language is therefore a gift from God that we must lay at His feet and for His pleasure. Like our use of words in language, so must we choose the various aspects of music carefully if they will make impact as Gospel. Our demeanor, training, preparation, attitude, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and, most of all, knowledge of God’s word are responsibilities the Gospel musician must not take lightly.