During the month of August I attended two or three evangelistic services conducted by evangelists not of our faith. I was particularly interested in the music, and must admit that I drew my conclusions as to the tone of their soul-winning work long before I heard the preaching each evening. Frankly, everything that was done smacked of the world. Yet everything was done in the name of Jesus!
The legitimate gospel song has been debased by many of these gospel song revivalists. There seems to be a trend in the direction of juke box rhythm and harmony, with the song leaders apparently striving to create as much exciting emotional bedlam as possible. I have observed this trend in the vast majority of tabernacle-church type of evangelistic services in different parts of the country. "We must make the people happy !" "They must feel at home and shake hands with their neighbors !" "Our music must have that good fellowship swing to it !" As a consequence, they use tunes that give rise to rhythmic impulse rather than a sincere desire to be drawn by the cords of the Saviour's love.
Such a pathetic concept of evangelistic music has peril in its performance because of the wrong sentiment which it creates. It most certainly is not the work of the matchless Christ, who woos men by the loving influence of His Spirit ! There is a need for genuine gospel songs, but there is no need for music which definitely borrows its appeal from the dance floors. Our own singing evangelists and ministerial interns should take heed lest they imitate these procedures in the evangelism of the advent message. Too many young men just out of college, struggling to find ideas which will enhance their song services, are likely to copy the song leadership of this popular evangelism of the world. In this they unwittingly follow in the footsteps of men who do not measure their work by the standards of the third angel's message. The music of our services places a stamp upon our whole endeavor. We cannot overestimate its influence.
In the aforesaid meetings which I attended this summer, I found a sense of absurdity stealing over me during the song service. A brass band played marches for fifteen minutes, with piano interludes which were nothing more than snatches from song hits of the theater. I was impressed that the atmosphere was that of political conventions rather than religious meetings where our wondrous Christ was to be preached. When the song leader finally made his entrance, he used the tactics of an individual who does everything in his power to make a "hit" with the crowd. One did not see Christ. It is difficult to sense the Saviour's presence when the chorister is gesticulating wildly, and at the same time winking in the direction of an intimate acquaintance in the audience!
There is no reason why the music of an evangelistic service should not be good music. And there is no reason why the song leader should not keep himself, as well as his work, on a high level of performance. Antics, shallow and jesting comments, and a general run of irrelevant showmanship spell disaster for the entire effort. This fact cannot be overemphasized. Much of the sincere gospel music of our whole evangelistic advance has been sidetracked by an abundant crop of low-level rhythmic jazz types, and a mania for swoon-croon singing. Surely the devoted Sankey would deplore this abuses!
As I have thought these things through, I have come to the conclusion that we do our work irreparable harm when we pattern our music after the methods of those who have received their experience amid the dust of the sawdust floor, the confusion of group yells and cheers, and the blare of brass bands. The third angel's message is a compelling message which calls for sober decisions. The so-called "gospel music" of the present day does not uphold the standards of spiritual and religious insight. We must be cautious indeed when we sit at the feet of those not of our faith who would teach us so-called acceptable gospel music. Our chief concern must lie in our earnest-endeavor to fit all that we do into the mold of the advent movement. If we fail in this we have failed the advent movement.
Some have accused the gospel song of being cheap and tawdry. Much of this unfair criticism has come because of the abuses of popular evangelism. A gospel song sung with consecrated sincerity will impel the honest in heart to perceive spiritual truth. Let gospel music be all that it can be and ought to be, and the preaching of the message will touch responsive hearts.
