TAM Initiative

Back in 2015, a young music teacher in the United States posted a story on Facebook that illustrates the physiological capacities of music. He recounted that he had just watched a masterful performance by a professional bassoonist who, years earlier, had lost her speech and movement due to an aneurysm. Her sister did not give up on her, and by playing music and guiding her sister’s movements to play her instrument, she helped rehabilitate her completely. There are several studies documenting these capacities that would be worth reading.

Noted. But here we are focusing mainly on the power of music in the spiritual and emotional sense. As we have observed, it is not simple to define the power of influence that various styles have over individuals in an absolute way, since the communication of values and messages is heavily dependent on the listeners. Some people want to preserve only what is traditional, because it is “safe,” while others only understand as true “praise and worship” that which is contemporary and part of their own musical habits. This “worship war” (a term used among evangelicals to describe this tension) has been waged since the 1960s and 70s. But we are after truth and balance – not just to be ‘right’. Both sides of this war need to reason biblically and pursue one of the essential elements of our Christian life: unity. The church must always be “. . . eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

So, is it the case that just maintaining traditional practices is safer and will bring peace? I don’t think so. In reality, traditional practices in the Bible were frequently superseded. Jesus Himself spoke plainly against the traditions of the Pharisees, which were frequently accepted as more authoritative than the Word of God itself. Certain institutions and practices — such as the synagogue and the worship conducted there, wedding celebrations, the Passover, etc. — were adopted into the life of Jewish society over the centuries, but were not turned into commandments. Moreover, everything that became “traditional” was, at some point, contemporary. Thus, fixing the boundary of what is “acceptable” at what is traditional is not in keeping with biblical reality.

On the other hand, communication must take place in living, contemporary, and comprehensible language. Therefore, music, being an extremely important method of communication, also needs to be accessible and comprehensible to its audience. The word “contemporary,” frightening to some, is actually a term that simply points to that which is “of our time” (whether “our” time is the present, or a time shared with others to whom we are referring). Don Wyrtzen, a musician and theologian, son of Jack Wyrtzen, founder of the Word of Life ministries, wrote on this topic in his Master of Theology thesis at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1969. He was quoted in an article by Kurt Woetzel. His words remain a challenge for our generation, more than 40 years later: Every generation of Christians is responsible for sharing the Christian message within the cultural environment in which it finds itself. . . . Christianity will not gain a hearing in contemporary culture until Christians break free from their cultural apathy and begin entering the arena where the debates of our time are taking place.[1]

We undoubtedly need to evaluate the entire content of the message through the Word of God, whether it comes in a contemporary song or a traditional one. Whatever does not measure up to that standard can and should be discarded. Nevertheless, let’s seek balance and recognize that the musical vehicle (language or style) carrying this message can produce good fruit if it is able to communicate intimately with the listeners.

Note: To review and supplement the ideas in this article, check the previous articles in the TAM Initiative: https://taminitiative.wordpress.com/

[1] Woetzel, “An Important Question for Our Times — Is Music Moral?” http://www.wolfhawke.com/musing/majesty/majesty-musicismoral.html (accessed October 26, 2015). No longer Accessible. The citation is a back translation from the Portuguese article and may not be exact. It is to be taken as a paraphrase.