10 Commandments …10 Commandments …for music in worshipfor music in worship

Source: Jim Shaddix, Riverside Baptist Source: Jim Shaddix, Riverside Baptist Church, Denver, June 2006Church, Denver, June 2006

1. Thou shalt worship God, not 1. Thou shalt worship God, not worship worship worship.worship.

Exclusive focus on Exclusive focus on style detracts from style detracts from God, the object of our God, the object of our worshipworship

2. Thou shalt worship as a lifestyle 2. Thou shalt worship as a lifestyle and not as a music style.and not as a music style.

If what happens in the If what happens in the worship experience is worship experience is disconnected with life disconnected with life lived outside of that, lived outside of that, then there is a problemthen there is a problem

This is more important This is more important that someone singing that someone singing off-key!off-key!

3. Thou shalt make the Divine 3. Thou shalt make the Divine Seeker comfortable first and Seeker comfortable first and

foremost.foremost. Kierkegaard’s Kierkegaard’s

audienceaudience

Worship is not musical Worship is not musical performers in front of performers in front of evaluating spectators, evaluating spectators, but all of us as but all of us as performers before God performers before God the spectatorthe spectator

4. Thou shalt use music as a sacrifice of 4. Thou shalt use music as a sacrifice of praise, not as a synonym for worship itself. praise, not as a synonym for worship itself.

Music is a necessary Music is a necessary but not sufficient but not sufficient component of worshipcomponent of worship

Oblation, proclamation, Oblation, proclamation, confession/absolution, confession/absolution, etc.etc.

5. Thou shalt be theologically 5. Thou shalt be theologically equipped. equipped.

Worship leaders need Worship leaders need to be pastoral to be pastoral theologians, not just theologians, not just good musiciansgood musicians

Filter music for its Filter music for its actual theological actual theological stancestance

6. Thou shalt reflect a holistic 6. Thou shalt reflect a holistic theology in worship content.theology in worship content.

Celebration is not the Celebration is not the only kind of worshiponly kind of worship

– Lament … Lament … – Confession …Confession …– Adoration …Adoration …

Where are these Where are these reflected in our worship? reflected in our worship?

7. Thou shalt worship in a rhythm of 7. Thou shalt worship in a rhythm of revelation and response.revelation and response.

Worship is never Worship is never separated from separated from revelation revelation

Likewise, we can Likewise, we can never separate music never separate music from proclamation from proclamation experiencesexperiences

8. Thou shalt employ lyrics that 8. Thou shalt employ lyrics that reflect a communal identity.reflect a communal identity.

Songs that are all “me” Songs that are all “me” instead of “we” do not instead of “we” do not reflect the communal reflect the communal outlook of the Bibleoutlook of the Bible

9. Thou shalt use technology with 9. Thou shalt use technology with theological and pastoral sensitivity.theological and pastoral sensitivity.

While the Bible speaks While the Bible speaks of cymbals and loud of cymbals and loud music, hearing others music, hearing others sing encourages sing encourages worshipworship

Amplification of Amplification of instruments to the instruments to the point of excluding point of excluding voices is a problemvoices is a problem

10. Thou shalt foster worship that 10. Thou shalt foster worship that reflects the diversity and unity of reflects the diversity and unity of

heaven. heaven. With Parthians, Medes With Parthians, Medes

and Elamites in the and Elamites in the Kingdom come, what Kingdom come, what will worship look like will worship look like there – and how there – and how should that impact should that impact worship here?worship here?

PentecostPentecost

10 Commandments for Music 10 Commandments for Music in Worshipin Worship

Dr. John P. ChandlerDr. John P. Chandler

www.rasnet.orgwww.rasnet.org Copy right John P. Chandler 2007Copy right John P. Chandler 2007