Throughout the history of Christianity, music has always been seen as an important medium for worship and theological expression. Martin Luther, the religious reformer, once said that singing in the church is a proclamation of God’s way. To Luther, music not only enriched the ceremony, but was also a means to convey God’s revelation. He suggested that music helps to put god’s word in the hearts of people, reached to the soul, and enabled people to have a lively response to the gospel. Likewise, a Lutheran composer, Michael Praetorius pointed out that there is an inseparable connection between sermons and songs, they are different aspects of theological language.
This leads me to raise a question: why do we use music to respond to the Lord? Are we saying that words and language are not enough to carry the depth of our faith? If we temporarily put aside literary arts such as poetry and drama, because they have already been essentially deeply rooted in theological contexts, we will find that music carries an emotional and spiritual power that transcends language and words. Music can rouse the deepest emotions in a person that are difficult to put into words; it allows a person to discover a deeper layer within themselves; and helps to perceive the real and mysterious spiritual truth. As a theologian, Karl Rahner said, music has its own independence and is one of the real ways for people to communicate with God.
The book of Psalms has already laid a foundation for music to play a part in our faith. A poet says, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Ler us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” It is not only an emotional expression, it is a call to worship, and an act to worship the Lord with music. Again, it says in Ephesians, “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the
spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” (Eph 5:19). It shows that music has an important function in cultivating fellowship among believers and promoting spiritual renewal in the church. Psalm 150:3-5 fully describes the spiritual power of music, “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with strings and pipe. Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with sounding cymbals.” Music is not just a background or auxiliary part, but a central element of worship, mobilizing the whole body, mind and spirit to respond to God. The sounds of the instruments, the rise and fall of the rhythm, the harmonies of the chorus, all participate in the sacred communication between God and man.
From a theological perspective, music has a symbolic function. The sounds of music are not just physical phenomena but also symbolize a kind of transcendental reality. Music not only expresses emotion but also mediates the relationship between us and God. It conveys God’s revelation to us in a beautiful form and allows us to respond to this grace in the form of worship. Therefore, music becomes a sacred vehicle that allows the Word of God to “live” among us in its unique form, allowing us to truly experience the presence of the Lord in worship. Therefore, in the practice of Christian faith, music not only enriches the expression of liturgy, but is also a theological language that helps us express spiritual experiences that cannot be put into words and guides us into a deeper connection with the Lord. This allows us to understand how God who created and loves us, sees us, and invites us to be with Him.
Pastor Marcus Lung