Song is one of the most effective means of impressing spiritual truth upon the heart and mind of man; therefore, music, if used effectively by the evangelist, will aid him in obtaining decisions for Christ.
Moses wisely presented the truth to the Israelites in song. In strains of melody God's love and mercy and guidance were portrayed to them, and the hearts and minds of all were impressed by His goodness and a sense of their own need.
Those who carry God's last saving and warning message to the world today can likewise impress the great truths of the atonement and the second coming of Christ on the hearts of men by following the same methods that Moses used more than three thousand years ago. In our evangelistic meetings we can carry the minds of our listeners away from this sin-cursed earth, to a place of peace—our heavenly home. By singing the beautiful songs of the gospel we can make clear to our hearers that through the darkness that surrounds the inhabitants of this world today, there shines the blessed light —the "blessed hope" of the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The proper use of song will furnish the following power:
- Power to impress truth upon the heart. This must be done if we are to obtain decisions for Christ.
- Power to quicken the thought. This quickening of thought will enable our hearers to comprehend the truth, that will free them from confusion.
- Power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures. The old nature must be subdued before men can put on Jesus Christ.
- Power to promote harmony of action. Unless we move men and women to act, our appeals have failed.
- Power to open the springs of penitence and faith. Until these springs are opened no man can find justification and peace with God.
- Power to banish gloom and foreboding. With the gloom encircling the world today, how much this power is needed.
- Power to give life a new meaning and a new purpose. This is the very aim of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Power to impart courage and gladness. This courage is needed today in this world of fear and distress. A man needs courage to make a decision for Christ and to walk in His way.
- Power to attract souls to the gospel. In these times when it is so difficult to attract hearers, we must not overlook the drawing power of the talent of music that God has given.
- Power to resist temptation. As music opens the springs of penitence and faith, it helps men to lay hold of God's grace.
- Power to resist discouragement. How the hearers and evangelists alike need this power!
- Power to banish the evil angels. This enables the Holy Spirit, with the holy angels, to move unresisted upon the minds and hearts of our hearers.
- Power to conserve Christian experience. Backsliding can thus be halted, and our converts strengthened. (See Evangelism, pp. 496499.)
The song service is very important in evangelism, but this service should not be a theatrical display or a concert. The emphasis should not be placed upon the songs sung or the singers, but upon Jesus Christ. "The science of salvation is to be the burden of every sermon, the theme of every song."—Evangelism, p. 502. Hymns that are sung should be familiar to those who sing, and they should be sung with spirit and understanding. A company of the best singers can be organized as a choir. Their voices can lead the congregation, and all who will may unite with them. Emphasis in our evangelistic meetings must be placed upon the congregational singing. "The singing is not always to be done by a few. As often as possible, let the entire congregation join."—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 144. Interest in the song service can also be increased by the proper use of musical instruments skillfully handled.
Song can also be used during the sermon time unannounced, to impress home upon the heart and mind some important point of the sermon. While preaching on such a subject as "The Wonders of the Bible" the evangelist may pause in his sermon for a few minutes while the singing evangelist or soloist, with an open Bible in his hand, sings that heart-touching hymn, "My Mother's Old Bible Is True." Such singing from the heart will touch both heart and mind of the hearers.
In choosing special music we should endeavor to secure singing of as good a quality as possible, but we should not hire worldly musicians for our church services, and borderline music should be avoided. The following quotation should guide us in our selection of singers: "The songs in which every word is uttered clearly, in a musical tone, are the songs that they [angels] join us in singing. They take up the refrain that is sung from the heart with the spirit and the understanding."—Evangelism, p. 510.
However, perhaps the most important use of song is during the time of the evangelistic appeal. As the evangelist makes his appeal, special music can begin unannounced. A soloist, duet, trio, quartet, or choir, may be used for this appeal song. Some evangelists make their appeals only during the intervals of time between the stanzas of the hymn sung. The singer cooperating in this type of appeal has to watch the evangelist closely for cues as to when he should sing, and when he should remain silent. Other soul winners prefer to have the singing go on softly as they make the spoken appeal, and while all in the audience are praying. In such an atmosphere of prayer the Holy Spirit can use the music to open the springs of penitence and faith, and to impress the truth upon the heart.
May God help us as evangelists to use music to bring heaven's gladness to men as did Jesus. "The early morning often found Him in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer. With the voice of singing He welcomed the morning light. With songs of thanksgiving He cheered His hours of labor, and brought heaven's gladness to the toilworn and disheartened."—The Ministry of Healing, p. 52.
