concept. For example, would you have answered as many have done, “Music is to entertain” ? Or maybe you believe it to be the “bait” to bring people into the church. But the question remains: Is this the scriptural revelation concerning m u s ic in the church? Does the New Testament have something to contribute toward the development of a truly Biblical music program? New Testament Music At first glance one might conclude that the New Testament has little help to offer. But the New Tes tament not only has much musical material but it is there that the principles which are of value to this study are found. Materially, the New Testa ment records at least fifteen hymns or fragments as well as other poetical sections which possibly could be hymns. But the present discussion pertains not to the material (though more will be related to it), but rather to the use to which the music is to be put. The key passages in such a study are Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19. They are closely related even as are the two epistles themselves, and com bined they give a rather comprehensive view of the use of music. From these two passages, we note first that there are three forms o f music which the Bible rec ognizes: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. What did Paul mean by these forms ? The Pttalm The word used here is taken directly from the Greek word Psalmos, which is derived from the verb form psallo. Its meaning is generally given “ to pull, twitch or twang,” and from this meaning the instrument of Hebrew origin, the psaltery, derived its name. In the Septuagint, psallo is translated, “ to sing with a harp.” So the main idea is that the psalm is to be accompanied. Lightfoot comments concerning the passage that the reference here seems to be to the psalms of David, which formed a substantial part o f the musical ministry of the early church. These became the basis for such col lections as the Geneva Psalter and the Scotch Psal ter as well as the basis for work o f the great hymn writer, Isaac Watts. The Hymn The meaning of this word was derived from the custom of singing praises to mythological deities in the heathen religions. It is basically to be a song o f praise for this is the meaning involved in the Greek word, hunnos. Being a song o f praise, it is therefore to be directed upward toward God and evidences a heart delighted with the relationship which the Creator shares with His creation. This
Toward Biblical
by Richard McNeely
F if t y y o u t h f u l v o ic e s were raised in screams, yells, and even at times a note o f music as they were exhorted, “ Let’s see which group can sing the loudest. Let’s let the older people know that we really love the Lord.” Gymnastics, noises, jazz backgrounds seemingly have become necessities for song services. This combined with some rather trite lyrics lead to a number of questions in light of the Biblical presentation concerning music. Often it has been stated that one should not learn theology from the songs sung in church, but this statement seems to be made with no note of the injunction of Colossians 3:16, “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. What is being presented in this article is not a diatribe of present-day songs, but rather a plea for a Biblical program of music in all o f its realms. This is not even to plead for the resurrection of many old music forms or hymns, but that what is being used and sung should be in keeping with the Biblical principles. As a basis for the further presentation, what would be your answer should you be asked, “What is the purpose of the music in the church ?” Having asked this question on a number of occasions, the answers often have been far off from the Biblical
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