I am not a musician but I am a music lover, and as a minister I am concerned with the worth and effectiveness of the music that is used in services conducted by our ministers and people. What I am going to say will probably conflict with someone else's thoughts on the subject; nevertheless I hope it will stir some of us up to do something about certain situations that, in my opinion, need to be considered.
I am not one of those who believe that because we live in the day of television we must reconcile ourselves to some type of canned music for evangelistic meetings, and that the day of the old-fashioned "song service" is over. I do believe that the day of some of the types of song services we call "old-fashioned" has been over for a good many years, if in fact it ever existed. It seems to me that most of the unsuccessful song services conducted fall into one or another of the categories I will mention. Frankly, I think we can do without all of them.
First, the "That's not loud enough" type of song service. If we are at all familiar with the counsel given to us by the Spirit of Prophecy, we ought never to strive for mere loudness, boisterousness, or any type of volume for volume's sake. We are quite frequently subjected to this type of song leadership, and our young people are led to think that this is the way to get people to sing.
What can one expect from an audience if he continually insults it by announcing that its efforts are puny, weak, feeble, unworthy, et cetera? Furthermore, why should we try to tell people that volume is the main thing to be sought after in corporate singing? It seems to me that a song leader might sometimes tell the people that they are singing too loudly, rather than not loudly enough. This can have a good effect upon the audience and tend to direct the attention where it ought to be, namely, upon the rich, meaningful words of the hymn.
I would not want to give the impression that the song leader ought to give false praise to the audience, and so this brings me to the second type of song service we might do without. It is the "That was simply grand" type of service. All of us have sat through such an experience, in which the song leader has continually remarked how lovely our singing was, when actually there was nothing special about it at all. It is true that this type of song leader may get more in terms of cooperation from the audience than the scolding type.
However, we are not gathered for mutual admiration, or even mutual inspiration. Therefore would it not be well to pack our evangelistic and worship services with the elements that will direct the minds of the people to God? The song service should be a two-way communion with God—wherein God speaks with man and man responds to God.
The third type of song service that I believe we could do without would be called "The ad-lib continuity." This is the type of song service in which the one who is leading out endeavors, out of his ready wit, to make some kind of artificial connection between the various hymns he has chosen for the evening. This has become quite popular, and perhaps in the hands of a very thoughtful song leader a sort of "hymn sermonet" could be given with telling effect. However, this type of thing requires much more effort, thought, and skill than is generally given to it. Therefore it is my sincere conviction that we ought to shy away from trying to make a connection between "The Old Rugged Cross," "Crown Him With Many Crowns," and "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee," when such an artificial connection is of no value at all and merely is annoying to any thoughtful person.
The fourth type of song service we can do without is the "Keep it lively" type. This is the type where anything is permitted except a reverent, thoughtful, meditative, and reflective mood. I do not mean to infer that tempos should never be lively. Obviously the tempo must be chosen to fit the song, the leader's preference, the occasion, and the audience. But just as a song service that "drags" becomes tiresome, just so a flippant scherzo of religious songs is hardly pleasing to the majestic God whom Isaiah saw "high and lifted up."
The fifth type of song service we can do well without is the "Let's see, what shall we sing next?" type. Purveyors of this kind of gift to the King of kings, which costs nothing, can be identified easily by the consternation that fills their faces during the last stanza of each hymn. Another symptom is that he generally begins leafing through the hymnal furiously at the same time. Brevity is sufficient in condemning categorically such slipshod ways. It is a wonder audiences sing at all under this type of leadership. Surely the song service should be planned beforehand.
The sixth type of song service we can do without we will call the "Watch me while we do this" type. Here the attention of the people is taken away from the words they are singing to God and directed toward the intricacies of the leader's plan. He may want them to hold some particular note a long time, sing the words a little differently, or something else. It is admitted that in the hand of a master this can be extremely effective. I am simply pointing out the fact that such musical gymnastics can easily detract the people from the reason for their song. Any singing that is not done out of gratitude to God is expendable in His church.
Last, let me mention a type of song service that I believe we cannot do without. I am going to name this the "Worshiping God" type. First of all, the song leader must be a man with a deeply spiritual attitude. He cannot merely assume this when he begins to give the downbeat. He must know the Lord, love Him, be eager to add glory and honor to His name by leading His people in a service of musical praise. Such a song service will require careful study and intelligent choice of all hymns used. If a hymn does not glorify God, edify His people, and efficiently do its spiritual task, don't use it. Choose hymns that will lead our people into deep communion with God and let our comments during this song service be directed toward this end.
Singing is sharing one's Christian experience. If one does not feel like singing to God, he should look out. It may be a sign that his heart is becoming hardened. If the song leader can in some way set an example and create such an atmosphere as will open up the springs of love and devotion that are in every Christian, he will be indispensable to the cause of God.
