Church Manual

Page 70

Place of Music in Worship

Place of Music in Worship "Music can be a great power for good, yet we do not
make the most of this branch of worship. The singing is generally done from impulse
or to meet special cases, and at other times those who sing are left to blunder along,
and the music loses its proper effect upon the minds of those present. Music should
have beauty, pathos, and power. Let the voices be lifted in songs of praise and
devotion. Call to your aid, if practicable, instrumental music, and let the glorious
harmony ascend to God, an acceptable offering." Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 71.

Sing With the Spirit and the Understanding "In their efforts to reach the people,
the Lord's messengers are not to follow the ways of the world. In the meetings that
are held, they are not to depend on worldly singers and theatrical display to awaken
an interest. How can those who have no interest in the word of God, who have never
read His word with a sincere desire to understand its truths, be expected to sing with
the spirit and the understanding? How can their hearts be in harmony with the words
of sacred song? How can the heavenly choir join in music that is only a form? . . .

"In the meetings held let a number be chosen to take part in the song service. And
let the singing be accompanied with musical instruments skillfully handled. We are
not to oppose the use of instrumental music in our work. This part of the service is to
be carefully conducted, for it is the praise of God in song.

"The singing is not always to be done by a few. As often as possible, let the entire
congregation join." Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 143, 144.

Selecting Choir Leaders Great care should be used in selecting the choir leaders
or those who have charge of the music in the services of the church. Only those who
are known to be thoroughly consecrated should be chosen for this part of the church
work. Untold harm may be done by selecting unconsecrated leaders. Those lacking
in judgment as to the selection of proper and appropriate music for divine worship
should not be chosen. Secular music or that of a doubtful or questionable nature
should never be introduced into our services.

Choir leaders should work in close collaboration with the minister or church elder in
order that the special musical selections harmonize with the theme of the sermon.
The choir leader is under the direction of the pastor or elders of the church and does
not work independently of them. The choir leader should counsel with them, not only
as to the music to be rendered, but also concerning the selection of singers and
musicians. The choir leader is not an ex officio member of the church board.
 A Seventh-day Adventist Philosophy of Music -
Guidelines
God has woven music into the very fabric of His creation. When He made all things
“the morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy.”—Job 38:7 The
book of Revelation portrays heaven as a place of ceaseless praise, with songs of
adoration to God and the Lamb resounding from all.—Rev 4:9-11; 5:9-13; 7:10-12;
12:10-12; 14:1-3; 15:2-4; 19:1-8

Because God made humans in His image, we share a love and appreciation for
music with all His created beings. In fact, music can touch and move us with a power
that goes beyond words or most other types of communication. [1] At its purest and
best, music lifts our beings into the very presence of God where angels and unfallen
beings worship Him in song.

But sin has cast blight over the Creation. The divine image has been marred and
well-nigh obliterated; in all aspects this world and God’s gifts come to us with a
mingling of good and evil. Music is not morally and spiritually neutral. Some may
move us to the most exalted human experience, some may be used by the prince of
evil to debase and degrade us, to stir up lust, passion, despair, anger, and hatred.

The Lord’s messenger, Ellen G White, continually counsels us to raise our sights in
music. She tells us, “Music, when not abused, is a great blessing; but when it is put
to a wrong use, it is a terrible curse”. [2] “Rightly employed, . . . [music] is a precious
gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and
elevate the souls.”[3]

Of the power of song, she writes: “It is one of the most effective means of impressing
the heart with spiritual truth. How often to the soul hard-pressed and ready to
despair, memory recalls some word of God’s,—the long-forgotten burden of a
childhood song,—and temptations lose their power, life takes on new meaning and
new purpose, and courage and gladness are imparted to other souls! . . . As a part of
religious service, singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer. Indeed, many a
song is prayer. . . . As our Redeemer leads us to the threshold of the Infinite, flushed
with the glory of God, we may catch the themes of praise and thanksgiving from the
heavenly choir round about the throne; and as the echo of the angels’ song is
awakened in our earthly homes, hearts will be drawn closer to the heavenly singers.
Heaven’s communion begins on earth. We learn here the keynote of its praise.” [4]

As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe and preach that Jesus is coming again soon.
In our worldwide proclamation of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12
we call all peoples to accept the everlasting gospel, to worship God the Creator, and
to prepare to meet our soon-returning Lord. We challenge all to choose the good and
not the bad, to “say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-
controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed
hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”—Titus
2:12, 13
We believe that the gospel impacts all areas of life. We therefore hold that, given the
vast potential of music for good or ill, we cannot be indifferent to it. While realizing
that tastes in music vary greatly from individual to individual, we believe that the
Scriptures and the writings of Ellen G White suggest principles that can inform our
choices.

In this document the phrase “sacred music”—sometimes referred to as religious

music—designates music that focuses on God and on biblical and Christian themes.
In most cases, it is music composed and intended for worship service, evangelistic
meetings, or private devotion and may be both vocal and instrumental music.
However, not all sacred/religious music may be acceptable for an Adventist. Sacred
music should not evoke secular associations or invite conformity to worldly
behavioral patterns of thinking or acting.

“Secular music” is music composed for settings other than the worship service or
private devotion. It speaks to the common issues of life and basic human emotions.
It comes out of our very being, expressing the human spirit’s reaction to life, love,
and the world in which the Lord has placed us. It can be morally uplifting or
degrading. Although it does not directly praise and adore God, nevertheless it could
have a legitimate place in the life of the Christian. In its selection the principles
discussed in this document should be followed.

Principles to Guide the Christian

The music that Christians enjoy should be regulated by the following principles:

1. All music the Christian listens to, performs or composes, whether sacred or
secular, will glorify God: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for
the glory of God.”—1 Corinthians 10:31 This is the over-riding biblical principle.
Anything that cannot meet this high standard will weaken our experience with the
Lord.

2. All music the Christian listens to, performs or composes, whether sacred or
secular, should be the noblest and the best: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is pure, whatever is right, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things.”—Phil 4:8 As followers of Jesus Christ who
hope and expect to join the heavenly choirs, we view life on this earth as a
preparation for, and foretaste of, the life to come.

On these two foundations—glorifying God in all things and choosing the noblest and
the best—depend the other principles listed below for the selection of music by
Christians.

3. It is characterized by quality, balance, appropriateness, and authenticity. Music

fosters our spiritual, psychological, and social sensitivity, and our intellectual growth.

4. It appeals to both the intellect and the emotions and impacts the body in a positive
way. It is wholistic.
5. Music reveals creativity in that it draws from quality melodies. If harmonized, [5] it
uses harmonies in an interesting and artistic way, and employs rhythm that
complements them.

6. Vocal music employs lyrics that positively stimulate intellectual abilities as well as
our emotions and our will power. Good lyrics are creative, rich in content, and of
good composition. They focus on the positive and reflect moral values; they educate
and uplift; and they correspond with sound biblical theology.

7. Musical and lyrical elements should work together harmoniously to influence

thinking and behavior in harmony with biblical values.

8. It maintains a judicious balance of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional elements.

9. We should recognize and acknowledge the contribution of different cultures in

worshiping God. Musical forms and instruments vary greatly in the worldwide
Seventh-day Adventist family, and music drawn from one culture may sound strange
to someone from a different culture.

Seventh-day Adventist music-making means to choose the best and above all to
draw close to our Creator and Lord and glorify Him. Let us rise to the challenge of a
viable alternative musical vision and, as part of our wholistic and prophetic message,
make a unique Adventist musical contribution as a witness to the world regarding a
people awaiting Christ’s soon coming.

[1]
“It [music] is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual
truth” (Education, p. 168).
[2]
Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 497. She also states that in the future, “ just before the close
of probation,” ‘there will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of
rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right
decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit never
reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of
Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere,
elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time” (1 SM 37).
[3]
Education, p. 167.
[4]
Education, p. 168.
[5]
We acknowledge that in some cultures harmonies are not as important as in other
cultures.

These guidelines were approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-
day Adventists Annual Council on October 13, 2004.
Page 98

The Music Director A music director may be appointed by the Sabbath School
Council to lead the music of the school and plan with the division leader for the
presentation of this phase of worship each Sabbath.

As an expression of worship, care should be taken to provide music which will glorify
God. Singers should be as carefully selected as are the workers for other parts of the
Sabbath School service and should be measured by the same standards. (See p.
70.)

The Pianist and/or Organist The Sabbath School pianists and/or organists are
appointed by the Sabbath School Council.

Page 169

Music

"Music was made to serve a holy purpose, to lift the thoughts to that which is pure,
noble, and elevating, and to awaken in the soul devotion and gratitude to God." -
Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 594. Jesus "held communion with heaven in song." -
The Desire of Ages, p. 73.

Music is one of the highest arts. Good music not only gives pleasure but elevates the
mind and cultivates the finest qualities. Spiritual songs have often been used of God
to touch the hearts of sinners and lead to repentance. Debased music, on the
contrary, destroys the rhythm of the soul and breaks down morality.

Great care should be exercised in the choice of music. Any melody partaking of the
nature of jazz, rock, or related hybrid forms, or any language expressing foolish or
trivial sentiments, will be shunned by persons

Page 170

of true culture. Let us use only good music in the home, in the social gathering, in the
school, and in the church. (See p. 70.)
Holy Spirit and Fanaticism
Healthy Enthusiasm

        "The Holy Spirit of God alone can create a healthy enthusiasm. Let
God work, and let the human agent walk softly before Him, watching,
waiting, praying, looking unto Jesus every moment, led and controlled by
the precious Spirit, which is light and life" (2SM 16, 17 [Letter 68, 1894]).

Build Experience on the Word

        "The Lord desires His servants today to preach the old gospel doctrine,
sorrow for sin, repentance, and confession. We want old-fashioned sermons,
old-fashioned customs, old-fashioned fathers and mothers in Israel. The
sinner must be labored for, perserveringly, earnestly, wisely, until he shall
see that he is a transgressor of God's law, and shall exercise repentance
toward God, and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ" (2SM 19 [Undated
manuscript 111]).
        "It is through the Word-not feeling, not excitement-that we want to
influence the people to obey the truth. On the platform of God's Word we
can stand with safety" (3SM 375 [MS 115, 1908], emphasis in original).
        "They flatter themselves that they are in conformity to the will of God
because they feel happy; but when they are tested, when the Word of God is
brought to bear upon their experience, they stop their ears from hearing the
truth, saying, `I am sanctified,' and that puts an end to the controversy.
They will have nothing to do with searching the Scriptures to know what is
truth, and prove that they are fearfully self-deceived. Sanctification means
very much more than a flight of feeling.
        "Excitement is not sanctification. Entire conformity to the will of our
Father which is in heaven is alone sanctification, and the will of God is
expressed in His holy law. The keeping of all the commandments of God is
sanctification. Proving yourselves obedient children to God's Word is
sanctification. The Word of God is to be our guide, not the opinions or ideas
of men" (3SM 204 [RH, March 25, 1902]).

Holy Spirit Not in Bedlam and Noise

        "True religion does not demand great bodily demonstrations. . . . These
are no evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God" (2SM 26 [MS 97, 1909]).
        "The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord
has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every
uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums,
music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused
that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the
moving of the Holy Spirit.
        "The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam
of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for
making of none evffect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying
truth for this time" (2SM 36 [Letter 132, 1900]).
        "During those trying days some of our most precious believers were led
into fanaticism. I said further that before the end we would see strange
manifestations by those who professed to be led by the Holy Spirit. There are
those who will treat as something of great importance those peculiar
manifestations, which are not of God, but which are calculated to divert the
minds of many away from the teachings of the Word" (2SM 41 [Letter 338,
1908]).
        "No greater harm could be done to the work of God at this time than
for us to allow a spirit of fanaticism to come into our churches, accompanied
by strange workings which are incorrectly supposed to be operations of the
Spirit of God" (2SM 42 [Letter 338, 1908]).
        "Fearful waves of faniticism will come. But God will deliver the people
who will earnestly seek the Lord, and consecrate themselves to His service"
(2SM 47 [Pacific Union Recorder, December 31, 1908]).

Music a Problem

        "The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord
has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every
uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums,
music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused
that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the
moving of the Holy Spirit" (2SM 36 [Letter 132, 1900]).
        "Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan
will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted" (2SM 38
[Letter 132, 1900]).
        "Any oddity or pecularity cultivated attracts the attention of the people
and destroys the serious, solemn impression which should be the result of
sacred music. Anything strange and eccentric in singing detracts from the
seriousness and sacredness of religious service.
        "Bodily exercise profiteth little. Everything that is connected in any
way with religious worship should be dignified, solemn, and impressive. God
is not pleased when ministers professing to be Christ's represnetatives so
misrepresent Christ as to throw the body into acting attitudes, making
undignified and coarse gestures, unrefined, coarse gesticulations. All this
amuses, and will excite the curiosity of those who wish to see strange, odd,
and exciting things, but these things will not elevate the minds and hearts of
those who witness them.
        "The very same may be said of singing. You assume undignified
attitudes. You put in all the power and volume of the voice you can. You
drown the finer strains and notes of voices more musical than you own. This
bodily exercise and the harsh, loud voice makes no melody to those who
hear on earth and those who listen in heaven. This singing is defective and
not acceptable to God as perfect, softened, sweet strains of music. There are
no such exhibitions among the angels as I have sometimes eeen in our
meetings. Such harsh notes and gesticulations are not exhibited among the
angel choir. Their singing does not grate upon the ear. It is soft and
melodious and comes without this great effort I have witnessed. It is not
forced and strained, requiring physical exercise" (3SM 333 [MS 5, 1874]).

Satan's Counterfeit in the Church

        "It would be surprising if there were not some, who, not being well-
balanced in mind, have spoken and acted indiscreetly; for whenever and
wherever the Lord works in giving a genuine blessing, a counterfeit is also
revealed, in order to make of no effect the true work of God. Therefore we
need to be exceeding careful, and walk humbly before God, that we may
have spiritual eyesalve that we may distinguish the working of the Holy
Spirit of God from the working of that spirit that would bring in wild license
and fanaticism. `By their fruits ye shall know them' (Matt. 7:20). Those who
are really beholding Christ will be changed into His image, even by the Spirit
of the Lord, and will grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ
Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God will inspire men with love and purity; and
refinement will be manifest in their characters" (1SM 142).

Calmness of Spirit's Presence

        "Let us give no place to strange exercisings, which really take the mind
away from the deep movings of the Holy Spirit. God's work is ever
characterized by calmness and dignity" (2SM 42 [Letter 338, 1908]).
        "We must go to the people with the solid Word of God; and when they
receive that Word, the Holy Spirit may come, but it always comes, as I have
stated before, in a way that commends itself to the judgment of the people.
In our speaking, our singing, and in all our spiritual exercises, we are to
reveal that calmness and dignity and godly fear that actuates every true
child of God" (2SM 43 [MS 115, 1908]).
        "In God's dealings with His people, all is quiet; with those who trust in
Him, all is calm and unpretending" (2SM 97 [Letter 102, 1894]).

      Ellen G. White, Selected Mesages, vols. 1, 2, 3 (Review &  Herald Pub.
Assoc. 1958, 1980).
Essential Worship
Angel Manuel Rodríguez

My question is about worship. What elements are appropriate and

which are not?

Your question is extremely important. One of the main elements of our

mission is to call the world to worship God (Rev. 14:7). In a search for
guidelines relevant for us today I will deal with a few of the main
elements of biblical worship and its expressions.
     1. God Is the Center: Worship is delimited by the personal and
collective acknowledgment of believers that God is exclusively worthy of
supreme honor. In the Bible God is the only legitimate and exclusive
object of worship (Ex. 20:2, 3; Luke 24:53), which is grounded in His
creative and redemptive power (Rev. 4:11; 5:12). Worship is the
response of the inner being to the awareness of the majesty, mystery,
and uniqueness of God revealed in His work of creation and redemption.
Confronted by Him, our lives find their place of origin and vibrate with
joy, thanksgiving, and the reverent fear that only God can inspire.
      Since everything else in the universe belongs to the category of the
created, it is reprehensible, even an abomination, to replace God as the
center of worship with any other object. This fundamental view of biblical
worship should inform the appropriateness of any activity that will be part
of it.
     2. The Role of Emotion: Worship is more than an attitude; it is also an
act. Since we are emotional beings, it is impossible to separate our
emotion from the practice of worship. In that holy act we praise and give
thanks to God (Ps. 118:28), express our joy and gratitude through
offerings (1 Chron. 16:29) and songs (Ps. 147:1). We even cry to Him for
deliverance, forgiveness, and guidance (Ps. 139:23, 24; 142) as a
response to His presence in our lives. The temptation is to use worship
as a sociopsychological avenue to "feel good" about ourselves and
accepted by others. When that happens we have imperceptibly shifted
the center and focus of worship away from the Creator and Redeemer to
ourselves, at the risk of falling into the realm of idolatry. We bring to Him
our gratitude, needs, fears, and concems in order to praise Him for what
He has done and will do for us.
     3. The Role of the Body: We cannot separate the expression of our
emotion from our physicality. In worship we come before the Lord as
emotional and bodily creatures. The act of worship involves our bodies
as vehicles through which our emotions express themselves. In the Bible
worshipers lifted up their hands to offer the Lord their petitions (Ps.
141:2; 1 Tim. 2:8); they stood up (Mark 11:25), knelt down (1 Kings
8:54), or bowed down with their faces to the ground to worship (Neh.
8:6). They used their tongues and lips to sing to the Lord (Col. 3:16) and
their ears to capture the beauty of musical instruments (Ps. 150:3-5) and
the reading of Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13). Worshipers joined processions
that went to the temple praising the Lord (Ps. 68:24, 25), and at times joy
was expressed through ritual dancing (Ps. 30:11).
     The extent that the body is used to express emotion varies from
culture to culture. What is appropriate in one culture may be offensive in
another. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that the purpose of
worship is not to stimulate our emotions and their bodily expression (as
is sometimes done through loud music) in order to create a feeling of
well-being in the worshiper. That would again dislodge God from the
exclusive center of adoration, placing there the satisfaction of our
psychological needs. The moderate involvement of our emotions and
body in corporate adoration should not distract us or others from what is
probably more important, listening to the Word of the Lord and its
proclamation.
      We go to church to worship God, to praise, adore, and thank Him for
all His blessings, to be instructed through His Word, to celebrate the
Lord's Supper, to be equipped to proclaim the gospel, and for fellowship
with other believers. Worship is not a form of entertainment that needs to
be adjusted to the taste of the individuals using marketing practices. The
music we bring, the songs we sing, the prayers we offer, are our feeble
attempts to praise the Lord and express our love and thankfulness to the
one who has done so much for us through Christ.

Clapping in Church
Angel M. Rodríguez
Adventist Review
May 1997

In my local church clapping during worship service is very

common. Is there any biblical support for this practice?

        Clapping during church services is becoming more and more

popular in many of our churches. So your church is not unique in this
respect. Clapping is mentioned in the Bible as an expression of social
and religious feelings. The ideas associated with this gesture are not
always the ones we associate it with in our culture.
        Four Hebrew verbs are used to express the action of clapping
(macha', nakah, saphak, taqa'), and all of them contain, as would be
expected, the idea of striking something or someone. They are used in
conjunction with the noun "hand" (Heb. kaf) to communicate the action of
clapping ("striking the hands"). The phrase is used in several different
ways.
        1. It is an expression of joy at the ascension of the king: This a
social function of the gesture. When Joash was introduced as the
legitimate heir to the throne those who were present clapped their hands
and shouted, "Long live the king!" (2 Kgs. 11:2). A religious usage is
found in Ps. 47:1 where the psalmist invites all peoples to clap their
hands because the Lord is being proclaimed as King over the earth. In
Ps 98:8 the people are exhorted to praise the Lord and the hills to clap
their hands because the Lord is coming as King and Judge of the earth.
Even nature should rejoice before the Lord.
        2. It is an expression of joy on account of God's saving actions:
The return of the people of God from their captivity in Babylon is
described by Isaiah as an act of redemption. What the Lord will do for
His exiled people is so wonderful and glorious that even nature will
rejoice. In this context the prophet personifies the trees of the field and
describes them as clapping their hands as a gesture of joy (Isa. 55:12).
        3. It is an expression of disgust and anger: Balak was angry
because Balaam blessed the people of Israel instead of cursing them
and he showed this emotion by clapping his hands (Num. 24:10). Ezekiel
clapped his hands in disgust after seen the evil practiced in Judah
(6:11). The Lord clapped his hands in anger and disgust as a reaction to
dishonest gain and to the blood spilled out by His people in Jerusalem
(22:13; 21:14, 17). This is a symbolic action on God's part that is
followed by His judgment against unrepentant sinners.
        4. It is an expression of malicious glee: This meaning is found
exclusively in the context of defeated enemies. In the prophecy against
Nineveh God announces that all those who will hear about it will clap
their hands over the city and its misfortune (Nah. 3:19). The Ammonites
clapped their hands and rejoiced with malice against Israel when is was
being destroyed by the Babylonians (Ezek. 25:6). It is this same
contempt and hostility that those passing by the ruins of Jerusalem
expressed by clapping their hands (Lam. 2:15). This hand gesture was
indeed a sign of hostility and derision.
        There is no clear evidence that this gesture was part of the worship
service in the Old and New Testaments. In fact, I did not find the phrase
in the New Testament. Therefore, there does not seem to be any biblical
parallel to what is taking place in our churches today. You may ask me,
Why we do it? I am not sure there is an answer. I suspect that we
incorporated clapping into our services from our cultural environment.
Clapping is usually associated with the entertainment industry but has
become very popular in evangelical televised religious services. Perhaps
we copied it from them.
        Leaving aside the issue of cultural influence, I suppose that what
really matters is that each person be fully aware of the reasons why he
or she claps in church. Motivation becomes extremely important in this
context. Is it an expression of joy in the Lord and His saving power? Is it
only a physical expression or a substitute for what used to be the audible
"Amen!"? Or is it a recognition of the good performance of the singer or
the preacher?
        This time, as you can see, I have more questions than answers!