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THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
S yncopation and ZiP ' A newspaper dispatch from Cleveland, Ohio, says:
a jazz church ought not to be th e next development,’ he said. ‘I would not have the element. Syncopation and zip instead of th e ancient hymns have been suggested by Ralph Baldwin, form er president of th e Gleveland B aptist Young People’s Society, and noted church musician. ‘We are living in a jazz age and Xwonder if a jazz church ought not to be th e next development,’ he said, ‘I would not „have th e story changed bu t I wonder if another variation of th e tune m ight not b etter catch th e ear of th e young people in our churches’.” God invites His people to come before His presence with singing (Ps. 100:2). The kind of singing'He is delighted to hear is that which is “ the making of melody in our hearts to the Lord” (Bph. 5:19). It is the “ spir itual song sung with grace in the heart” (Col. 3:16). It is certain that song which is not the incense of a worshipping soul is just as displeasing to Him as would be the utterance of the same words apart from any heart volition. Augustine defines a Gospel hymn as.“ praise to God with song,” and another writer calls hymn singing “ a devotional approach to God with our emotions’^-which applies to both words and music. Gospel song in many churches today is being reduced to a mere musical pastime. Many people are jazz crazy, and failure in the attempt to sing some of the solid old Gospel hymns in the new jazz, rhythm has given rise to a demand for popular hymn tunes which now help to fill the hymn books. All that is then needed is a song leader who will introduce a little “ rag” into it and infuse the pep, punch, jazz, ginger, or whatever else it may be called, into the congregation. The effect, especially on a crowd of young people, is disgusting to those who truly love the Lord Jesus. It is not at all hard to do a waltz or two-step to many of these pieces the way they are sung. Often the words carry no Gospel whatever. They are about smiling, cheerfulness, sweetness', and merrily marching along. Even when a good message is spoiled by a rag time setting, the spirit of the leader often tends to emphasize the music above the sentiment of the song, and people are led on to utter in song, words addressed to God and Christ which they do not feel in the least, and often they do not even know a line that has been sung. How must the Heavenly Father look upon such ‘1musical productions?” He has exhorted us to “ sing with the spirit and with the understanding also” (1 Cor. 14:15). Must not the Lord Jesus grieve to have His name so lightly used? We plead for spiritual music. We beg of the young song leaders to eliminate the smart comments and jollying between verses and the talk about pep, punch, jazz and ginger. Do not run a singing school with a contest to see which side of the house has the best lungs. It is not a matter of lungs—but of love to Christ. A song leader has a great opportunity to lead people into devotional worship. Under God this is his business. If any remarks are made let them be well chosen remarks concerning some spiritual thought in the message. If a prayer is to be sung, impress it upon the people that they are to engage in prayer. Use, so far as possible, the more majestic Gospel hymns, but if one of the lighter songs be selected, let it be rendered in a spirit of worship and at a rate that will not exceed the speed limit. Bet' us try to overcome the half-heartedness with which the church is
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