The Baby and the Bathwater / AKA What Ever Happened to Music Ministry?
There is an old saying – “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” It means – Be careful not to throw away that which is vital when you are discarding that which you no longer need.
God has Called us to reconcile men to Him. Through Jesus Christ, we are to save souls, teach people to walk in the Word, and equip them for ministry to others; these are not options. Music ministry plays a vital role in all of these areas.
For generations, solos, duets, trios, and quartets have been part of the church service. Some call it “Special Music.” I call it a time to minister through music. Today, some churches say, “We just don’t have time for it. We just want worship music.”
Perhaps you have decided that worshipping together actively involves everyone; therefore, group worship is the only way. God has not only called us to praise and worship Him, but also to listen to Him. An individual singer, with or without harmony, compels you to listen. The song becomes a type of testimony that easily reaches your heart. It may encourage you or call you to repentance. It is God speaking to you.
What does the Bible say? We are to teach, admonish, and encourage through music.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts (Col. 3:16, NIV).
Since we know that everyone is not in the same spiritual place, worship to nonbelievers may seem foreign. Listening to a solo may cause nonbelievers to relate to the words and, for the first time, believe that there is hope for them. Music Ministry reaches out to individuals who desperately need God to move in their lives. Music, that is full of the Word, carries a strong anointing that will break the yoke of sin in the lives of the listeners.
What challenges have occurred in your church that caused you to eliminate music ministry?
Some may complain, “Too many old people want to sing. We want our church to look young. Who wants to listen to an old singer?” I do and so do others. I want to hear how God has been faithful to His Word all of the years this person has walked with Him. I want to hear a testimony in spoken word and song. I love to hear that people are actually remaining faithful to God throughout their lives, and God has never left them nor forsaken them. We need to hear that living the Christian life all of our days is not only possible, but real. It can and is being done. The good news: God uses people of all ages to accomplish His will.
Some may declare, “Stop right there! We don’t have time for testimonies in our church.” I have been in quite a few churches where a lot of joking went on throughout the entire service. Joking was acceptable, but they did not want anyone to give a testimony before singing a song. “Don’t talk! Just sing!” What are they teaching their congregation – God’s children, the lost? Joking is OK, but testimonies are not OK. This is in direct conflict with the Word. The church needs to hear testimonies! We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11). We are silenced in the world; let it not be so in the church! God forgive us!
What if the singer/s haven’t practiced, sing songs that are unscriptural, or act like they are performing in a show? What if they speak too long or complain more than they testify? What if they wear inappropriate clothing or live in a sinful lifestyle? Paul provides the answer:
What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a [strange] tongue, or an interpretation of it. [But] let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all (1 Corinthians 14:26, AMP).
The Minister of Music and/or the Pastor has the responsibility to teach, correct, and encourage the people God has placed in their care. Those singers with teachable spirits will change. Those singers without teachable spirits may find that Music Ministry is not for them at this time.
What if they don’t sing in the Choir or with the Worship Team, but still want to sing a solo or duet? First, rejoice that they are actively serving God. Next, if they are involved in ministry elsewhere in the church or outside of the church, they may still have a Call from God to minister through music. Pray and ask God for His direction. He will give you the ability to discern that Call or the absence of it. If they just want to sing to be singing, it is very likely that they need to focus their efforts in serving in the area where God has already anointed them to be used.
Finally, the ability to minister through music is a Gift and a Calling from God. My heart is grieved when a church discards this vital ministry. How can you say to someone who has been faithful in the role of ministering to others through music that they are no longer needed? Really? Be careful who you say you don’t need in your church.
If your church still encourages people to share their Gifts and Talents, thank God. You are blessed. Pray for those who minister to you through music.
Psalm 71: 17-24, NIV
17 Since my youth, God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things.
Who is like You, God?
20 Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You -- I, whom You have redeemed.
24 My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long,…
I encourage all of you who are called to minister through music, to sing and declare His excellent greatness until the day He calls you home to be with Him. Encourage others with songs of deliverance, songs of salvation, songs declaring His faithfulness to His Word, and all other songs that honor, praise, and worship Him. Be faithful in the Calling God has placed upon your lives and serve Him with a thankful attitude. Sing with passion that honestly declares your relationship with Almighty God. And as you minister to others through music, He will be present to heal, deliver, strengthen, and encourage His people. Many will see and hear and dare to put their trust in the Lord! And finally, give Him all the praise, honor, and glory for what He is doing in your life and the lives of others.
© Mary Willock, 2014 - 2020
You have permission to print copies of this article for use in your personal or church related ministry.
There is an old saying – “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” It means – Be careful not to throw away that which is vital when you are discarding that which you no longer need.
God has Called us to reconcile men to Him. Through Jesus Christ, we are to save souls, teach people to walk in the Word, and equip them for ministry to others; these are not options. Music ministry plays a vital role in all of these areas.
For generations, solos, duets, trios, and quartets have been part of the church service. Some call it “Special Music.” I call it a time to minister through music. Today, some churches say, “We just don’t have time for it. We just want worship music.”
Perhaps you have decided that worshipping together actively involves everyone; therefore, group worship is the only way. God has not only called us to praise and worship Him, but also to listen to Him. An individual singer, with or without harmony, compels you to listen. The song becomes a type of testimony that easily reaches your heart. It may encourage you or call you to repentance. It is God speaking to you.
What does the Bible say? We are to teach, admonish, and encourage through music.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts (Col. 3:16, NIV).
Since we know that everyone is not in the same spiritual place, worship to nonbelievers may seem foreign. Listening to a solo may cause nonbelievers to relate to the words and, for the first time, believe that there is hope for them. Music Ministry reaches out to individuals who desperately need God to move in their lives. Music, that is full of the Word, carries a strong anointing that will break the yoke of sin in the lives of the listeners.
What challenges have occurred in your church that caused you to eliminate music ministry?
Some may complain, “Too many old people want to sing. We want our church to look young. Who wants to listen to an old singer?” I do and so do others. I want to hear how God has been faithful to His Word all of the years this person has walked with Him. I want to hear a testimony in spoken word and song. I love to hear that people are actually remaining faithful to God throughout their lives, and God has never left them nor forsaken them. We need to hear that living the Christian life all of our days is not only possible, but real. It can and is being done. The good news: God uses people of all ages to accomplish His will.
Some may declare, “Stop right there! We don’t have time for testimonies in our church.” I have been in quite a few churches where a lot of joking went on throughout the entire service. Joking was acceptable, but they did not want anyone to give a testimony before singing a song. “Don’t talk! Just sing!” What are they teaching their congregation – God’s children, the lost? Joking is OK, but testimonies are not OK. This is in direct conflict with the Word. The church needs to hear testimonies! We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11). We are silenced in the world; let it not be so in the church! God forgive us!
What if the singer/s haven’t practiced, sing songs that are unscriptural, or act like they are performing in a show? What if they speak too long or complain more than they testify? What if they wear inappropriate clothing or live in a sinful lifestyle? Paul provides the answer:
What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a [strange] tongue, or an interpretation of it. [But] let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all (1 Corinthians 14:26, AMP).
The Minister of Music and/or the Pastor has the responsibility to teach, correct, and encourage the people God has placed in their care. Those singers with teachable spirits will change. Those singers without teachable spirits may find that Music Ministry is not for them at this time.
What if they don’t sing in the Choir or with the Worship Team, but still want to sing a solo or duet? First, rejoice that they are actively serving God. Next, if they are involved in ministry elsewhere in the church or outside of the church, they may still have a Call from God to minister through music. Pray and ask God for His direction. He will give you the ability to discern that Call or the absence of it. If they just want to sing to be singing, it is very likely that they need to focus their efforts in serving in the area where God has already anointed them to be used.
Finally, the ability to minister through music is a Gift and a Calling from God. My heart is grieved when a church discards this vital ministry. How can you say to someone who has been faithful in the role of ministering to others through music that they are no longer needed? Really? Be careful who you say you don’t need in your church.
If your church still encourages people to share their Gifts and Talents, thank God. You are blessed. Pray for those who minister to you through music.
Psalm 71: 17-24, NIV
17 Since my youth, God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things.
Who is like You, God?
20 Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You -- I, whom You have redeemed.
24 My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long,…
I encourage all of you who are called to minister through music, to sing and declare His excellent greatness until the day He calls you home to be with Him. Encourage others with songs of deliverance, songs of salvation, songs declaring His faithfulness to His Word, and all other songs that honor, praise, and worship Him. Be faithful in the Calling God has placed upon your lives and serve Him with a thankful attitude. Sing with passion that honestly declares your relationship with Almighty God. And as you minister to others through music, He will be present to heal, deliver, strengthen, and encourage His people. Many will see and hear and dare to put their trust in the Lord! And finally, give Him all the praise, honor, and glory for what He is doing in your life and the lives of others.
© Mary Willock, 2014 - 2020
You have permission to print copies of this article for use in your personal or church related ministry.