I am not sure with what intent I wrote the following, but since I have no other outlet for it, here it is. . . There is an old saying which talks of “preaching to the choir.” The point of course being that the preacher is speaking to those who agree with him. Historically, the choir was composed of priests or monks who were as well-versed in theology as the preacher, and therefore was on par with the preacher.
The choir’s function in the worship service has gone through many changes during the centuries. Even in the past two generations, its role has changed in the Lutheran Church. Not all that long ago, the choir’s function during worship was to sing a piece called a voluntary (often between the readings) during worship. Many churches still have their choir function in this manner.
Today the role of the choir has changed to be a leadership role. The choir teaches the congregation new hymns, leads them in parts of the liturgy—the Psalm, introit, canticles, or other sung parts of the liturgy, as well as providing special music during the offering or communion distribution to reinforce the themes of the Sunday.
Whether the choir which sings voluntaries or the choir leads congregational singing, the choir has a duty to present the theology of the church in their music. Regardless of the type of music sung—and there is much choral music out there today—the choir director, and ultimately the pastor, must make sure the theology of what is sung is in line with the church’s teachings.
Not all music is beneficial to be sung in worship. Obviously secular music has no place in the worship service (this includes church weddings, but that’s another topic entirely). What about that fantastic piece the choir director found at a choral reading session or heard on the radio? Publishing companies wish to sell music, and composers write music which will sell, hoping that churches will use them.
Here is where we come into some problems. This may be surprising, but not every Christian out there is Lutheran (gasp!). Not every composer is Lutheran either. A choral piece can have the text/theme/sound a choir director is looking for, but what is the message? Is it a communion piece which says everything about remembering Jesus while eating bread and drinking wine yet says nothing about His body and blood? This is not a good piece to sing in a church which confesses “in, with, and under the bread and wine.” What about a snappy chorus which speaks of the joy of “finding Jesus?” It cannot be used in a church which confesses that “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus and come to Him.”
The greatest preaching can be completely undone with the music which surrounds the preaching. I experienced this very paradox one Sunday when the “Praise Team” led the congregation in a song which had strong decision theology language, followed by the pastor speaking of how we cannot come to Jesus by our human nature. Yet which were the people humming as they headed home—the song or the sermon?
Luther understood the power of song. He knew that music was easily memorized and internalized, and so he incorporated doctrine into the songs the people sung. Our choir members today need to be diligent in keeping that concept in worship.
If I’m preaching to the choir, I apologize. There are many congregations out there who have astute choir directors who doctrinally review all their music. There are other congregations out there whose choir directors do not have that ability. In these cases, it falls upon the pastor to make sure the texts of the songs fit the teachings. This does not mean that every choral piece has to be published by an approved publisher or one can sing only J.S. Bach. There are many good choral pieces, but the pastor and choir director must work in concert (pardon the pun) to make sure the words are in doctrinal order.
Congregation members and choir members too can become better at discerning bad theology and say something to their choir director or pastor when they see or hear lyrics which are in conflict with the church’s teaching. We need to make sure we sing what we preach.
The choir’s function in the worship service has gone through many changes during the centuries. Even in the past two generations, its role has changed in the Lutheran Church. Not all that long ago, the choir’s function during worship was to sing a piece called a voluntary (often between the readings) during worship. Many churches still have their choir function in this manner.
Today the role of the choir has changed to be a leadership role. The choir teaches the congregation new hymns, leads them in parts of the liturgy—the Psalm, introit, canticles, or other sung parts of the liturgy, as well as providing special music during the offering or communion distribution to reinforce the themes of the Sunday.
Whether the choir which sings voluntaries or the choir leads congregational singing, the choir has a duty to present the theology of the church in their music. Regardless of the type of music sung—and there is much choral music out there today—the choir director, and ultimately the pastor, must make sure the theology of what is sung is in line with the church’s teachings.
Not all music is beneficial to be sung in worship. Obviously secular music has no place in the worship service (this includes church weddings, but that’s another topic entirely). What about that fantastic piece the choir director found at a choral reading session or heard on the radio? Publishing companies wish to sell music, and composers write music which will sell, hoping that churches will use them.
Here is where we come into some problems. This may be surprising, but not every Christian out there is Lutheran (gasp!). Not every composer is Lutheran either. A choral piece can have the text/theme/sound a choir director is looking for, but what is the message? Is it a communion piece which says everything about remembering Jesus while eating bread and drinking wine yet says nothing about His body and blood? This is not a good piece to sing in a church which confesses “in, with, and under the bread and wine.” What about a snappy chorus which speaks of the joy of “finding Jesus?” It cannot be used in a church which confesses that “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus and come to Him.”
The greatest preaching can be completely undone with the music which surrounds the preaching. I experienced this very paradox one Sunday when the “Praise Team” led the congregation in a song which had strong decision theology language, followed by the pastor speaking of how we cannot come to Jesus by our human nature. Yet which were the people humming as they headed home—the song or the sermon?
Luther understood the power of song. He knew that music was easily memorized and internalized, and so he incorporated doctrine into the songs the people sung. Our choir members today need to be diligent in keeping that concept in worship.
If I’m preaching to the choir, I apologize. There are many congregations out there who have astute choir directors who doctrinally review all their music. There are other congregations out there whose choir directors do not have that ability. In these cases, it falls upon the pastor to make sure the texts of the songs fit the teachings. This does not mean that every choral piece has to be published by an approved publisher or one can sing only J.S. Bach. There are many good choral pieces, but the pastor and choir director must work in concert (pardon the pun) to make sure the words are in doctrinal order.
Congregation members and choir members too can become better at discerning bad theology and say something to their choir director or pastor when they see or hear lyrics which are in conflict with the church’s teaching. We need to make sure we sing what we preach.
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