Music Matters

If you will ask me if music really matters a lot at church my answer will always be YES. As sure as people have a song for beautiful memories and  for sad days too, they also have music to come to their God and worship Him in spirit and in truth. Here are some very basic considerations when talking about music at church.

Music should be kept current
This is rather a very controversial point. As a musician I see a dire need to change music over time in the context of how it is made and delivered. There will always be a season for everything and as sure as the move of God changes, music does too. The bottom line will always be the direction of the church and where God is leading it. When the great commission was handed down, the need to attract people became very crucial. And this is not conforming in any way. This is a pursuit that seeks the very opposite of that popular belief. You can be very current but at the same time very different. The bands Vertical Horizon, Creed, Casting Crowns, DC Talk and even Hillsong United were all successful in this. What better way to attract people to the church than to make music that appeals to what they are actually listening to - NOW. When to stop? When teams are in tuned to the Author of ALL music, instructions are not hard to come by. Never.

Music should be towards perfection
This is rather a process, a guiding principle for every church band. We cannot start at great things, but we can start with what we have. But then the burden to be better must be there. Playing skillfully is not just about the "God-given talent". It is also about good stewardship. If you think you have it there is no other direction but to be good at what you do - all for His agenda. Fortunately today this point is realized by the American music industry with great artists following down the path of "gospel chops" - a music discipline that appreciates the way how music is done at the church. It elevated church music and puts it in the map. Suddenly gospel songs are cool. It all began with musicians who wanted to be better and strive to be the best. With great skills God's glory can be revealed.

Music should be a balancing act
Churches are naturally multi-generational. The congregation consists of people  in different ages. The band must take this into consideration. It is fun to jump around and lead people to worship in high intensity but this can only be pursued when you have a 100% youth congregation. There must be something for everybody. Volume must be regulated at times, line-ups reconsidered to make sure that people get what they are comfortable with. Church music is not a "shape up or ship out" thing. The music team has greater responsibilities than just have everybody dancing. Balance it out. Too much of something is not good at all.