What is Christian Music?

When you’re talking with someone, what is more important:

1. Your words? or
2. Your tone of voice?

I think you’ll agree that your tone of voice is just as important as your words (cf Proverbs 15:1). Both words and tone convey meaning.

By the tone of your voice sensitive phrases, such as “I love you” or “I’m sorry,” can convey anything from friendly bonding to hostile sarcasm, from deep commitment to flighty effervescence.

Your tone reveals the intention of your words.

The Language of Sound

If tone can convey meaning ... why are so many people convinced that Christian music is only determined by the words? Do musical tones have less power to convey intention, meaning, and emotion than speaking tones?

Not at all. Music mimics, exaggerates, and ornaments the tones and patterns of our spoken languages.

Musical tone can reveal the intention of the lyrics. Music can even convey ideas without using lyrics. Musical tones can convey every emotion from love to hate, joy to sorrow, peace to chaos.

Music can convey evil ideas as easily as it can convey righteous ideas. By the tone of the music, “I love you” lyrics can mean anything from unending devotion to selfish gratification.

Because tone carries meaning, there must be more to Christian music than setting a Scripture-rich text to a backdrop of sound. It is not enough to have good lyrics. If the tone of the music is lacking spiritual grace, it will undermine the most powerful gospel words.

The sounds that carry lyrics (and music that has no lyrics) must also conform to the Word of God.

Proclaiming Christ

Musical sounds move our human emotions. Further, they can shape our human emotions. This is why movies have soundtracks—they give us clues on how to feel and respond to the story being told.

Church music leaders have a huge responsibility to rightly direct the musical worship of God's people. Their job involves more than merely "picking the songs." They select the music that gives us clues on how to feel and respond to the Story being told.

Selecting, creating, presenting excellent Christian music is a gift of grace, freely given for God's glory to those who humbly:

• know the Lord Jesus Christ,
• hear His word/voice, and
• follow His ways.

I suggest that truly Christian music (i.e., that which follows Christ) will be recognized by its:

• self-control and gentleness (whether loud or quiet),
• honor and endurance (having lasting appeal and beauty),
• dignity and reverence (preserving that which is sacred).

The words will reflect the sounds, and the sounds will reinforce the words.

Christian music that is faithful to the Bible will proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ in fractals—at every level: words, melody, harmony, rhythm, tonal color, artistry, and staging.

Some Characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ	Common Characteristics of Contemporary Music
Love unselfish; giving	Intimate, Sensual Draw breathless “come hither”
Joy cheerful; calm delight	Discontented, Introspective Melancholy I want; I wish; whiny voice
Peace at one; united; in harmony	Chaotic Noise whanging guitars; unnatural sounds, distorted amplification
Patience enduring; by ext., skillful	Dissatisfaction unrestful energy; a sense of loss at conclusion
Gentleness refined; courteous	Incessant Overpowering Beat driving rhythm; racing tempo, without rest
Goodness virtuous; righteous	Angry-Sounding Tirades piercing, maniacal, shrieking
Faith moral conviction; constancy	Suppressed Melody no obvious singable “song”; sliding pitches
Meekness yielded power; yielded to God	Emotional Control sweeping highs and lows; repetitive unresolved endings
Self-Control temperate, moderate, balanced	Excessively Loud and Brash false excitement; overenthusiastic; frenzied