I have been involved in music programs most of my life. Over the last six years, I have run, coordinated, and directed a music program from the ground floor up. Currently I find myself involved in starting yet another music program. Let me share with you what I believe to be the four fold purpose of a music program:
(1) Share the gospel of Christ through song.
(2) Encourage believers in their walk with Christ.
(3) Lead the congregation in worship
(4) Provide an avenue through which individuals may share their talent. We believe that talent is a gift from God, and that to be good stewards of that talent, we should develop people’s talent and return that talent back to God.
Scripture has a lot to say about using the gift of music and singing unto the Lord. We accomplish the command of praising Christ through music in a variety of different ways: congregational singing, instrumental praises, special music, choir, and various guest groups. This does not differ much from church to church.
Recently, I preached a message regarding a music program and why I believe that it is so important. Why do we have a music program? Is it something that we do mainly out of tradition? Is there a Biblical model and basis for such a model?
There are many places throughout the OT, where God specifically records for us the use of music programs being used to lift up praises to God:
* Levite Choir is in 2 Chronicles 5
* The book of Ezra records the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore Israel to her land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. The book shows Ezra’s return to Jerusalem to help bring spiritual revival to the people. We find when they did a census of the people of God, there were 42,360 and there were among them a choir of 200 singing men and women. Most of these where the Levites again (2:41) with 128 singers… then, Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem with the blessing of the king and rebuilds the wall in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). Nehemiah recorded everyone that had a part and was in the city. The number was 42,360. They now though had 245 people singing (vs. 66, 67).
* We know that David organized official choirs or singers and instruments in the temple. He knew the power that music played in worship. Psalms, which David is credited for writing a great majority, is the earliest hymn book in our tradition.
From the material provided in Chronicles and Psalms, we learn that Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthen were directors of separate temple choirs. (Heman’s choir, for example, was called “The Sons of Korah.”)
The fact that emphasis was placed on the temple singing being directed and accompanied by musicians can not be overlooked. The great value of a choir from Biblical times to present, is to glorify Christ through words of music (music that is beyond that capacity of the congregation).
Choirs are found before, during and after the temple in the OT, and they are a part of worship. We even see in the NT what appears to be a choir in heaven. Choirs are biblical (2 Chronicles 5:12-14; Nehemiah 12:31-40; Revelation 19:1-6).
One thing is clear, we are commanded to praise Him!
Psalm 18:49 - "…sing praises unto thy name."
Psalm 100:2 - "…come before His presence with singing."
Psalm 105:2-4 - "Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him."
We have various Old Testament examples of singing and praising in the temple. There are also several commands given in the New Testament regarding worshiping Christ through music. My favorite is found in Colossians 3:16 - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
(Music programs teach and train people to sing musically.)
In short, music programs fulfill the Old Testament examples of praising and it fulfill the New Testament command of teaching and training others to sing for the Lord.
