Dear BPCWAians, As we commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation this year, I have condensed and adapted an article which I was requested to write concerning “The Reformation and Music: Music Is Next To Theology” for a commemorative booklet produced by Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church. I pray that this article will help all of us at BPCWA to be alert to prevent contemporary music creeping into our church.

The aims given for the article are twofold: 1) to discuss the emphasis the Reformers placed on music and worship, and 2) to discuss how have churches today have changed in their view of music and worship.

Reformers on music and worship

While the church was going through sweeping changes during the time of the Reformation, music – within and outside of the church – was also going through many changes. At that time, the songs in the church reached a point that it could not be understood by the people because firstly it was in a foreign language and secondly, the music was so elaborate that it overwhelmed the text. Furthermore, the congregation hardly sang in church. Only the church choir sang. Reformers wanted to correct these problems, and their changes influenced the church’s music in many areas. Martin Luther, a key Reformer, believed that music is God’s gift of creation, and that “music is next to theology because both accomplish similar results.” This is true in the sense that music does have significant impact on people and the church. Hence it is so critical that Ministers and the congregation understand this topic well, especially since Christian music has become such a major emphasis in many ways. The following are some important contributions of the Reformers to music in worship.

1) Music proclaims Theology

Luther embraced a high view of music because of the theology embedded in the words of the song. As Colossians 3:16 emphases the didactic purpose of music, Luther used music to strengthen the teaching of God’s Word, and an important role of hymnody was catechesis – in other words, for teaching and learning. To do this, he put the “Word of God into song,” making them theological expressions in musical form, creating a strong link between hymnody and catechesis. Heretical texts were removed from the Roman Catholic hymns, and reformed liturgical chants were included in his new hymnals. The words of the song were to be fitting and pure, as theological statements. This is a lost emphasis today. Many modern Christian songs today are very lacking or at best shallow in theology. Words and phrases are repeated while the focus is on the tune instead. These are written more to entertain than to teach Scriptural truths.

2) Songs must be understood

In order to teach, songs sung must be understood by everyone. The Reformers did not promote music as an emotional tool, nor as a form of entertainment. For songs to be edifying, music must serve as an accompaniment to words, not overwhelm the words, and the words must be understood by the congregation. Hence, songs sung had to be in a common language understood by the congregation. Luther began to replace Latin hymns with German ones so that the congregation could sing together. John Calvin also encouraged congregational singing in a language that they could understand. Calvin taught that God’s intent was not to amuse the world but to instruct people. In The Institutes ofthe Christian Religion 3.20.31, Calvin greatly commends singing, “for in this way the thought of God is kept alive on our minds”, if the singing was accompanied with understanding.

3) Music is for the congregation to sing to

Pre-reformation music in the Papal Catholic church was mainly presented by the clergy and their trained musicians. Luther restored singing to the body of believers together as part of worship. Likewise, John Calvin’s hymnal preface encourages the reader to focus on the meaning of song. The high value that the Reformers put on congregational singing is important, because even in their hymn compositions, the music that they sought was not for the professional choir, but for the layman. The tunes they would use would be simple and easy for the congregation to remember, tunes that the congregation could sing together without much difficulty, beginning the use of metrical singing. The key point was that the Reformers moved the church away from a group of people “performing”. They included the congregation’s participation in worship. But Christian music today has moved back to artists and bands performing while the audience are enraptured by them.

We shall continue to see 3 more other areas of focus the Reformers brought to changes in Christian worship music next week. What we have seen in summary this week is their emphasis on the teaching aspect of songs, moving away from the elaborate performance of music. They also made the congregation participate in worship singing, instead of just being an audience to elaborate music performances. These are lessons we must learn today.

Yours in our Lord’s service

Pastor