{"id":122,"date":"2009-09-14T05:07:33","date_gmt":"2009-09-14T05:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettergatherings.com.au\/?p=122"},"modified":"2025-12-19T21:02:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T21:02:09","slug":"3-some-practical-matters","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bettergatherings.com.au\/?page_id=122","title":{"rendered":"3. Some practical matters"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

a. <\/span>The priority of words over music<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Music in church must serve the proclamation and application of Scriptural truth.\u00a0\u00a0It is not simply for entertainment or to create a mood.\u00a0\u00a0Just before Paul talks about addressing one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in Ephesians 5:19, he says, \u2018Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord\u2019s will is\u2019 (v. 17).\u00a0\u00a0Earlier in the same letter, he writes of the renewal of the <\/span>mind<\/span><\/em> that should be taking place in the lives of Christians (4:23).\u00a0\u00a0Everything that happens when we gather together should contribute to that process (cf. Rom. 12:2).\u00a0\u00a0What we sing must be consistent with God\u2019s word and reflect its teaching.\u00a0\u00a0But the music matters too.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If hymn tunes are not well chosen, or if the musical accompaniment is inappropriate, the process of edification may be hindered.\u00a0\u00a0Members of the congregation may be so confused or annoyed by the music that they cannot participate meaningfully in the singing.\u00a0\u00a0Those responsible for choosing the music must have regard for the sense and intention of the words.\u00a0\u00a0They must also take account of the musical tastes, experience and skill of the congregation in view.\u00a0\u00a0Questions such as these must be asked: \u2018Is this tune pitched too high at certain points?\u2019, \u2018Are the intervals in the melody line too difficult?\u2019 or \u2018Does the rhythm vary in a way that unskilled people will not easily follow?\u2019.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b. <\/span>Balancing the old and the new<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The aim in any congregation should be to develop a musical tradition that is appropriate to the group concerned.\u00a0 Of course, many churches have very different congregations meeting at different times in the same building.\u00a0 Each will have particular musical preferences and needs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are two dangers to be avoided here.\u00a0 Firstly, we can develop only a narrow musical\u00a0 tradition, not encouraging people in a particular congregation to broaden their musical horizons.\u00a0 Secondly, we can also become faddists, accepting any current popular musical movement as the ultimate answer. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If we become the victims of any particular musical trend we will soon be out of date.\u00a0 If we simply respond to the latest fads we will provide people with nothing of permanent value and contribute to the spread of secularism, with its insistence that only \u2018now\u2019 matters.\u00a0 In particular, contemporary Christians need to be put in touch with the contributions and insights of former generations of believers.\u00a0 There is a rich treasury of hymns from across the centuries that can minister to our needs today and provide what is lacking in modern songs or choruses.\u00a0 Of course, the reverse is also true: some modern music expresses biblical truth that is hardly emphasized in older material.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c. <\/span>Using songs wisely<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Good Christian songs can function in three ways:\u00a0\u00a0God may\u00a0address us\u00a0as we sing about the gospel and its implications; we may\u00a0address one another\u00a0as we sing about the comforts and challenges of the gospel; and we may\u00a0respond to God\u00a0with repentance, faith, or praise.\u00a0\u00a0Some songs are more obviously directed to God and others to one another, but both types can function to remind us of gospel truths, while enabling us to respond to God.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who plan church services must consider carefully\u00a0the function of songs at particular stages in the meeting.\u00a0\u00a0Ask yourself these questions:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Does a song teach us about the purpose of our gathering and form an introduction to the meeting?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Is a song meant to teach us something about God and have a creedal function in the service?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Should it be a response to the Bible readings or sermon or should it come beforehand as a challenge to listen carefully? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Is it an invitation to prayer, an expression of repentance, or a song of thanksgiving? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t resort to the \u2018hymn sandwich\u2019, using a song merely as a filling between two other items in the service!\u00a0\u00a0Songs should make a significant contribution to\u00a0the content and flow\u00a0of a service.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

d. <\/span> <\/span>Copyright<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Permission to reproduce copyright hymns must always be obtained from the copyright owner, from the person or body administering the copyright, or through a copyright licence scheme such as Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We are grateful for the permission granted by Emu Music to reproduce their song lyrics on this website.\u00a0 For online purchases of songs and sheet music, please see <\/span><\/span>Emu Music<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 Churches must have a current CCLI licence to reproduce these lyrics in service sheets, overheards and via a data projector.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

a. The priority of words over music Music in church must serve the proclamation and application of Scriptural truth.\u00a0\u00a0It is not simply for entertainment or to create a mood.\u00a0\u00a0Just before Paul talks about addressing one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in Ephesians 5:19, he says, \u2018Do not be foolish, but understand what the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":14,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-122","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\r\n3. 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