Calling All Musicians, especially organists!
The Old Testament praise & worship bands consisted of:
- Singers
- Tambourines
- Cymbals
- Trumpets
- Ram’s Horn and other types of horns
- Flutes
- Drums
- Stringed Instruments:
- Harps
- Lyres
- Lutes
- Psaltry
With the exception of the harp in the book of Revelation, instruments are not mentioned in the New Testament. Rather, singing is emphasized, as is teaching, and admonishing each other through our music. This is best done with hymns, which in turn, are best accompanied by the organ. Some hymns can also be done well with a praise band ensemble but not all. The sad truth is that many churches are starving for musicians; especially up and coming young organists.
If you are a musician, consider helping your church now! Respond to God’s extravagant love for you. Volunteer to serve on your worship committee and play your instrument to God’s glory. He, after all, gave you the gift and he will bless your efforts. And if you already serve as a musician, consider giving lessons to encourage the youth in your congregation, and keep in mind that you are a role model to the youth. Lastly, when new people join your church, don’t forget to ask them if they play an instrument!
Some scripture to consider:
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10
So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. – 1 Corinthians 14:12
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Eph 2:10
From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and build’s itself up in love, as each part does its work. – Eph 4:16
The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. – 1 Thess 5:24
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6
Worship Ideas You Can Use 
I disagree that teaching and admonishing through music is best done through hymns. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:19 to “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” and in Colossians 3:16 to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Note that he doesn’t place relative value on these three forms of worship, but by including all three form, indicates that we also should use all three.
One blind spot of many Lutheran churches today is the staunch (and unfounded, in my opinion) belief that worship must be conducted with hymns and those hymns must be accompanied by an organ. Here is an instrument that, although never mentioned in the Bible, has become the de facto standard through hundreds of years of church tradition.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on worship and allowing those with differing opinions to engage in conversation.
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Craig,
Thanks for reading and commenting. I agree that other forms of music can be used to teach and admonish, but I still believe that hymns do this best; at least for me and my congregation. I like the scripture passages that you have quoted to remind us that there are many muscial styles that we should use.
Stev
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