Apart from the lyrics, music is just vibrations…

I came across this comment from someone I do not know, but thought it was good enough to repost.
If you are invloved in the music ministry of any church, surely you can relate to these words.
- jamie

As a church musician, I’m often bemused by the comments I read about church music. While all are well-meaning, most ignore some basic truths.

Apart from the lyrics, music is just vibrations; sound waves. It has rhythm, melody and often harmony. No musical style is holy and none is unholy.

When people claim that a given style does not belong in church, what they’re really saying is that they don’t like it. They try to suggest that God’s taste in music is precisely the same as their own! This reminds me of the 19th-century missionaries to Africa who insisted that the only instrument God would approve for use in church is the organ.

Don’t mistake your musical taste, which is largely determined by your culture and subculture, for spiritual discernment. It’s OK to say that a style of music doesn’t bless you. It’s not OK to say that it doesn’t bless God.

David Wittenberg


  • Jorge

    I couldn’t agree more!

    Have you read or heard about some churches in Finland where they play very heavy metal?

    • Jamierowe

      I’ve heard of several places that use heavy music in their service. One if my Google+ friends Pastors a church in Australia and they use a DJ for worship.

  • DeeDee Nussmeier

    What you are saying is correct, and I really do believe to each his own.  But I can only hope that heaven will not be full of synthesized contemporary Christian music. :-)

    http://yesindeedee.blogspot.com/

  • jason v

    That’s the truth :D