There is a great misunderstanding in churches of
the purpose of music in Christian worship.
Churches routinely advertise their “life-changing”
or “dynamic” worship that will “bring you closer
to God” or “change your life.” Certain worship
CD’s promise that the music will “enable you to
enter the presence of God.” Even a flyer for a
recent conference for worship leaders boasted:
"Join us for dynamic teaching to set you on the
right path, and inspiring worship where you can
meet God and receive the energy and love you
need to be a mover and shaker in today’s world…
Alongside our teaching program are worship
events which put you in touch with the power and
love of God."
The problem with the flyer and with many church
ads is that these kinds of promises reveal a
significant theological error. Music is viewed as a
means to facilitate an encounter with God; it will
move us closer to God. In this schema, music
becomes a means of mediation between God and
man. But this idea is closer to ecstatic pagan
practices than to Christian worship.
Jesus is the only mediator between God and
man. He alone is the One who brings us to God.
The popular but mistaken notions regarding
worship music undermine this foundational truth
of the Christian faith. It is also ironic that while
many Christians deny the sacramental role of
those ordinances which the Lord Himself has
given to the church (baptism and the Lord’s
Supper) they are eager to grant music
sacramental powers. Music and “the worship
experience” are viewed as means by which we
enter the presence of God and receive his saving
benefits. There is simply no evidence whatsoever
in Scripture that music mediates direct
encounters or experiences with God. This is a
common pagan notion. It is far from Christian.
In his helpful book True Worship Vaughan Roberts
offers four consequences of viewing music as an
encounter with God. I will summarize them.
1. God’s Word is marginalized.
In many Churches and Christian gatherings it is
not unusual for God’s Word to be shortchanged.
Music gives people the elusive “liver quiver” while
the Bible is more mundane. Pulpits have shrunk
and even disappeared while bands and lighting
have grown. But faith does not come from music,
dynamic experiences, or supposed encounters
with God. Faith is birthed through the
proclamation of God’s Word ( Rom 10:17 ).
2. Our assurance is threatened.
If we associate God’s presence with a particular
experience or emotion, what happens when we no
longer feel it? We search for churches whose
praise band, orchestra, or pipe organ produce in
us the feelings we are chasing. But the reality of
God in our lives depends on the mediation of
Christ not on subjective experiences.
3. Musicians are given priestly status.
When music is seen as a means to encounter
God, worship leaders and musicians are vested
with a priestly role. They become the ones who
bring us into the presence of God rather than
Jesus Christ who alone has already fulfilled that
role. Understandably, when a worship leader or
band doesn’t help me experience God they have
failed and must be replaced. On the other hand,
when we believe that they have successfully
moved us into God’s presence they will attain in
our minds a status that is far too high for their
own good.
4. Division is increased.
If we identify a feeling as an encounter with God,
and only a particular kind of music produces that
feeling, then we will insist that same music be
played regularly in our church or gatherings. As
long as everyone else shares our taste then there
is no problem. But if others depend upon a
different kind of music to produce the feeling that
is important to them then division is cultivated.
And because we routinely classify particular
feelings as encounters with God our demands for
what produce those feelings become very rigid.
This is why so many churches succumb to
offering multiple styles of worship services. By
doing so, they unwittingly sanction division and
self-centeredness among the people of God.
Scripture is full of exhortations to God’s people to
sing and make music to the Lord. Our God has
been gracious to give us this means to worship
Him. But it is important to understand that music
in our worship is for two specific purposes: to
honor God and to edify our fellow believers.
Unfortunately, many Christians tend to grant
music a sacramental power which Scripture never
bestows upon it.
Todd Pruitt serves as Lead Pastor of Covenant
Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Raised a Southern Baptist, he is a graduate of
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in
Kansas City. He blogs regularly at Ref21 and
1517 . Todd, along with Carl Trueman and Aimee
Byrd, is one of the hosts of Mortification of Spin .
He and his wife Karen have three children.
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