Is music a gift FROM God or TO God? I’ve been grappling with this question in particular this week. I was asked last week at church choir practice if I thought music was created by God as a gift for man, or if it was created by man as a gift for God.
I instictively answered that I believe music is a creation of man. After saying those words I felt odd, as if I had said something wrong. There are some things that are easy to say as a facade, but may not actually be a true representation of our inner motivations. Of course, there is the possibility that neither option is true, but we’ll leave that out for the sake of discussion.
If music is a gift from God for man to worship God, then we would be commanded to only use music for that purpose. I am all too aware that many people subscribe to this school of thought. But I am struck with the not-so-popular thought among church folk that this situation is exceedingly boring. I try my best, with my feeble human mind, to picture God listening pleasantly to the first hundred or so songs in his praise – and in time I would think he would long for a change of pace. But who am I to pretend to know the mind of God.
But I do know my OWN mind a bit – and I grow tire of the same fare. If I listen to all Baroque music too much, I can’t help but turn on the classic rock station for a while. And when that gets old I want to hear some Jazz, then some country, then I am back at Baroque again. Sometimes I want to hear songs that teach me, and sometimes I just want to be in a mood. Sometimes I want to be challenged, and sometimes I just want to get lost in a thought.
Music is a tempestuous mistress. It serves different purposes at different times. Anytime it is put into a box with firm borders I become a little restless.
Music is soundwaves – we have a Western scale of half steps, where the 13th step is an octave above the first step. And to us this is “music” – in other cultures there are 24 steps, using quarter tones. And in some music there is only 5 steps making a pentatonic scale. What is “good” or “bad” depends on the ear of each culture – what Western ears might describe as being out-of-tune might be absolutely delightful to an Indian or Eastern ear.
So then, which does God prefer? That answer might safely be “whatever glorifies his name” or something along those lines. Well then, we aren’t talking about music anymore, we are talking about intention and lyrics. And when it comes to instrumental music without lyrics, we are left with only intention. Is God less pleased when instruments are out of tune? Suppose the musicians do not have the skill to know they are out of tune, is God less glorified? Would be difficult to answer that question with a “yes”.
So I submit to you that music is a non-issue when it comes to praise – it is the intention of the heart that is most important.
Jesus said to give unto God what is God’s, and give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. So when it comes to praise music, let the intention of the heart be the gift to God. Let the music be for man.
And I would humbly ask that if I have to listen to you during this process, please tune your instruments and play them well. And THAT, is the point of all this rambling. God will have an eternity to enjoy the intent of your heart; I would like to spend my short time on earth hearing music performed well. 🙂
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Luther saw music not as a liturgical act but a natural talent to be used in the world. Writings of Martin Luther:
Music is an outstanding gift of God and next to theology. I would not give up my slight knowledge of music for a great consideration. And youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine skillful people (W-T 3, No. 3815).
Nor am I at all of the opinion that all the arts are to be overthrown and cast aside by the Gospel, as some superspiritual people protest; but I would gladly see all the arts, especially music, in the service of Him who has given and created them (W 35, 474).