God's original purpose for music in divine worship was that it should be a vigorous expression on the part of the whole congregation of their praise, their thanksgiving, their love, their devotion, their adoration, their prayer, their hope, their dedication, and their confidence. Their God is to be the sole object of their singing. It is a fact that this purpose is not being carried out as fully as it may be in the program of the remnant church.
Singing to God from the depths of heart and soul was called for by David when he wrote under inspiration, "O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms." Ps. 95: 1, 2. The reason for this call to praise is one which is as sound today as it was then,—"For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." Ps. 95:3. Singing solely to glorify the Father and to render tribute to Him would produce wonderful results in divine worship in five different ways:
First, worship in church service participated in unanimously would draw the attention of the whole congregation to God, who is rightfully the theme for meditation whenever and wherever His children gather together. Contemplation of the glory and majesty of God would lift the entire assembly as a unit into a real appreciation of His countless mercies and blessings. The musical part of the service would become an opportunity for the individual members of the congregation to join their voices in actual , voluntary participation in a direct act of worship. Hymn singing would cease to be merely something to be hurried out of the way so that the regular service can begin. Singing as a mere form would disappear. An enthusiastic eagerness to tell God of the soul's love and praise would characterize all church music.
Second, preparation would thus be brought about in the hearts of the listeners for the ministry of the Word. An atmosphere of communion with God would be developed, and the preaching of the message would thus be made increasingly effective.
Third, the people would be led into a genuine appreciation of the wonderful heritage of sacred song that the church has drawn from the pens of her great writers through the centuries of the past. New hymns would also find their place. The more unfamiliar of these hymns, new as well as old, would be learned and so the field of usefulness that music already has in the enrichment of human experience would be enlarged. Encouragement would thus be forthcoming for the development of a typical denominational music that expresses the hope and the confidence peculiar to this people in the soon coming of the Lord. The service of song would move into its rightful place, that of fundamental importance, along with the spoken word and the prayer.
Fourth, singing for the display of personal accomplishment and talent would disappear.
There would be room no longer for the self-exalting vocalist or instrumentalist. Singing and playing for any other reason than the direct and positive rendering of glory and honor to God would come to be discountenanced, and ultimately would be altogether eliminated from the order of worship. There is great and very pressing need for just such a reform.
Fifth, simplicity and purity of character would come to be the prime requisites for those taking part in the service of song. Personal adornment, exhibitions of dress, and indiscretions of deportment would receive the firm, unyielding censure of those whose responsibility it is to supervise the conduct of divine worship.
The influence of this kind of reform must, of course, be first exerted by the ministry itself.
All the ministers on the platform should sing, and sing heartily. Encouragement may thus be consistently given the congregation to do likewise. Instruction in the conduct and performance of church music may well be the theme of an occasional sermon. Emphasis should be given to the importance of music in church worship. The Scriptures and the writings of the Spirit of prophecy abound in material on this subject.
It is eminently fitting at this time that this call to a more effective denominational music be sounded and heeded in view of the increasing pressure and perplexity of the times. While affliction and distress are making their violent inroads on the lives of God's people, the need is growing for the strengthening of their confidence in His power to lead them through the hardships of this world into His kingdom. He holds them responsible, furthermore, for enlarged activity in proclaiming His closing message to the world.
"The Lord desires us to make mention of His goodness and tell of His power. He is honored by the expression of praise and thanksgiving. He says, Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me.' The people of Israel, as they journeyed through the wilderness, praised God in sacred song. The commandments and promises of the Lord were set to music, and all along the journey these were sung by the pilgrim travelers. . . . God desired that the whole life of His people should be a life of praise. . . . So it should be now. The people of the world are worshiping false gods. They are to be turned from their false worship, not by hearing denunciation of their idols, but by beholding something better. . . To praise God in fullness and sincerity of heart is as much a duty as is prayer."—"Christ's Object Lessons," pp. 298, 299.
To fulfill this heavenly ideal for the place of music will mean the sounding of heretofore unreached depths in the privileges and opportunities of church music. God's people are again passing through a wilderness. Again the time has come for His children to honor Him by reciting His wonderful providences manifested in their behalf. The true Christian should constantly bear witness to the saving power of His Lord. Music is the ideal medium for the Christian to express this confidence in the Master.
In fine, music in the Christian church should be distinctly Christian. Music with any other inspiration or with any other object is altogether out of place. The church is not the proper place for the display of talent. There should be no compromise with worldly influences in any of the music of the church. There is only one rightful foundation stone for church music, and that Rock is Christ!
Battle Creek, Mich.
