As we continue our discussion of Thomas Long's book, "Beyond the Worship Wars - Building Vital and Faithful Worship", we turn to the fourth quality of vital and faithful congregations.  According to Dr. Long, "Vital and Faithful congregations emphasize congregational music that is both excellent and eclectic in style and genre."

 

For Dr. Long, there are two questions which must be asked about our music to determine its excellence.  Is there an inherent excellence that can be measured by objective musical standards?  Does this music give voice to the congregation's thanks and praise?

 

Most of our members would agree that most of our music consistently meets the first standard.  Whether or not we like a particular anthem, solo or hymn, we would be hard pressed to find an occasion, when a substandard piece was offered as part of our worship.  Where most of our conversations occur with regard to our worship music are around the second question.  Does our worship music give voice to the congregation's thanks and praise?

 

You may remember when I arrived eight years ago, and for a couple years thereafter, we had a number of conversations about the hymns we sing in worship.  Some of the unfamiliar hymns I selected, along with our attempts to observe the season of Advent, created a fair amount of consternation for some of our members.  Did it matter that the music was "good" by musical and theological standards? No, because, for some, they did not know, or did not like singing, these hymns.  So, these hymns did not enhance their ability offer their praise and thanks to God.

 

It's been about four or five years now, since we have had such conversations.  Why?  A few folks have simply resigned themselves to live with the music I select.  However, others, have expanded their repertoire.  They have learned to sing many of the "unfamiliar" hymns and actually enjoy them.  Not to mention, I have become more discerning in the hymns I select.  So by enduring the "growing pains" of a new pastor and his hymn selection, our congregation has matured in its offering of music.  According to Dr. Long, this is as it should be.

 

Dr. Long recounts an occasion where Eric Routley, a well respected church musician, was asked at a conference:  "Should the church musician allow the congregation to sing the hymns they know and love or should the musician demand that they sing better music?'  in other words, should congregations be permitted to sing what they like or should they be required to sing what's good for them?"  Routley responded, "You have to begin with what a congregation knows and likes, with what they will sing.  But the church musician must always put a little musical pressure on the congregation to move them along into more mature musical expression.  You begin where they are, but you don't leave them there."

 

People of faith, questions around church music are important questions for the hymns we sing, and the anthems which lift our hearts, are the prayers and praises of God's people set to music.  May we continue to grow in our understanding of this precious gift, that the hymns and praises we offer may always be a glorious sound to God's ears.