Unraveling the Mystery and Reclaiming the Blessing
Ephesians 5:17-21 NKJV
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to music
Colossians 3:15-16 NKJV
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Two Out of Three
In life and sports, there is a saying, “Two out of three ain’t bad!” This may be true in games, but to settle for two of three of the Lord’s commands is certainly not good! With all the discussion about songs used in worship today, it is a good idea to take a detailed look at Scripture to find wisdom to guide us in understanding the songs we use. The Bible does not speak to the styles of songs but to their content and intent.
- Content—What are they and what do they say?
- Intent—What do they do in the worship service?
While the Psalms tell us much about how we should sing and play, we turn to the New Testament for specific information about the music itself.
This makes sense because the New Testament instructs us in New Covenant worship—worship in Spirit and Truth. Because of the reality of the Atonement of Jesus at the Cross and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, this worship is different from that of the Old Covenant. Worship in Spirit and Truth is the interaction of the Word of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. These new dimensions focus worship on the person and presence of Jesus and infuses worship services with the power of the Holy Spirit. The forms of the Old Covenant are set on fire by the Christ-centered, Pentecostal dimensions of the New Covenant. This is of necessity reflected in the music we use.
Three Genres of Song in New Covenant Worship
The two-dimensional worship music of the Old Covenant utilized psalms and hymns. To this already powerful repertoire, the New Covenant adds spiritual songs. According to Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words, “spiritual” means of and by the Spirit of God. While psalms and hymns may be “spiritual” they are songs of human composition. “Spiritual songs” have their origin in the Holy Spirit, not the creative souls of songwriters.
Here are the passages where these genres are found:
Ephesians 5:17-21 NKJV
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to music
Colossians 3:15-17 NKJV
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
These song forms function in specific ways in “Spirit and Truth” worship:
- Spirit – to stay filled with the Spirit, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
- Truth –for the Word to dwell in you richly, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
This double emphasis elevates singing and making music to the highest degree of importance in New Covenant life.
Three Distinct Functions
The words translated “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” have distinct meanings which are not up for popular ratification. In various cultures and generations, these words take on meanings that do not agree with those in Paul’s mind when he wrote them. To know these biblical definitions is the starting point for understanding how to choose, prepare, and lead worship music today. We will use Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament words. I will greatly condense these detailed definitions.
“psalms”– psalmos NT:5568) …”a sacred song, sung to musical accompaniment, a psalm.” It is used (a) of the OT book of “Psalms,” Luke 20:42; 24:44; Acts 1:20; (b) of a particular “psalm,” Acts 13:33 (cf. v. 35); (c) of “psalms” in general, 1 Cor 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16.
“hymns”– humnos NT:5215) denotes “a song of praise addressed to God” (Eng., “hymn”), Eph 5:19; Col 3:16, …
“spiritual” pneumatikos “always connotes the ideas of invisibility and of power. It does not occur in the Sept. nor in the Gospels; it is in fact an after-Pentecost word. In the NT it is used as follows: (a) the angelic hosts, lower than God but higher in the scale of being than man in his natural state, are ‘spiritual hosts,’ Eph 6:12; (b) things that have their origin with God, and which, therefore, are in harmony with His character… ‘spiritual songs’ are songs of which the burden is the things revealed by the Spirit, Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; ‘
“songs”– ode NT:5603), “an ode, song,” is always used in the NT (as in the Sept.), in praise of God or Christ; in Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16 the adjective “spiritual” is added, because the word in itself is generic and might be used of songs anything but spiritual…
In other words…
- We praise with Psalms.
- We pray with Hymns.
- We commune with God with Spiritual Songs.
These definitions are the ones that count in our understanding of worship music.
- Psalms are more than ancient poems.
- Hymns are more than old songs in books and
- Spiritual songs are more than lively folksongs.
Considerations of style (tempo, structure, melody/harmony, tonal and rhythmic elements, instrumentation) are related to the time and place of the worship service. The intent or the music—to worship God—and the content of the music—the glory of the Lord—are eternal factors that are expressed in the temporary languages of worship.
Paul’s Balanced Personal Approach
When Paul describes his worship methodology for us, he equates praying and singing in the spirit with praying and singing with understanding. Both are beneficial to the individual and to the church gathered for worship.
1 Corinthians 14:15
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
Paul’s intentionality in the private and public use of his prayer language stands as an inspiration to Pentecostals today.
The Disciplines of Public Worship
When the church has gathered to worship there are disciplines involved that do not exist in private prayer. In 1st Corinthians 12-14, the apostle gives detailed instructions on how the Gifts of the Spirit should operate in the public worship service. In short, Paul encourages worshipers to seek the Gifts that speak to the congregation, even setting limits on the number of messages and prophesies in a given service. Any message in tongues addressed to the congregation should be followed by an interpretation.
Along the way, however, Paul drops little bits of wisdom about the prayer language that applies to both private and public worship. I count five of these facts:
- Tongues are for praise and worship beyond our vocabulary. (v 2-3)
- Prayer in Tongues blesses and improves the one who prays in the Spirit (v 4)
- Prayer in the Spirit allows the believer to pray beyond his knowledge or understanding. . (v 14-15)
- The believer should be balanced in praise, worship, and prayer praying and singing both with understanding and with the Spirit. (v 15-16)
- The believer praying/singing in the Spirit gives perfect praise! (v 17)
While setting up demanding guidelines for the use of unknown tongues in a service Paul also said two important, balancing things:
- I speak in tongues more than you all. (v18) Tongues are not a gift to the weak.
- Do not forbid speaking with tongues. (v 39) We should cultivate tongues in worship.
Singing in the Spirit is a valuable blessing to the church gathered for worship.
A Different Set of Skills
Spiritual Songs are not led in the same way as composed songs. Because Spiritual Songs are works of the Spirit and are not of human composition, conventional musical skills are inadequate. Spiritual singing most often happens between songs so the players and singers take on different functions. Spiritual songs are based in eternity, not in time. Therefore a suspension of time is required for them to happen. Leaders must yield carefully timed programs to the leadership of the Holy Spirit through the church. Here are the skills required to release Spiritual songs:
- When a composed song is finished, pause and let the hearts of the people open to something new.
- Present a suitable instrumental background for vocal improvisation.
- Encourage the people to enter in with their own new song to the Lord.
- Both the worship leader and the congregation follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit through the changing moods of the Spiritual Song until the time of song lifts.
- Never force Spiritual Song or sustain it beyond the leadership of the Spirit. A well-trained congregation senses this leadership of the Spirit.
Spiritual Song Accompaniment—Open Worship
Presenting a suitable instrumental background for vocal improvisation is a particular challenge. This is called Open Worship. Neutral chords (unrelated to specific songs) are needed. If the chords of a song are used, the words of that song are also presented even if no one is singing them. A background with no word association can be created in one of three ways.
- The One Chord Method is to simply sustain the home chord of the last song played. This was a common practice in the early days of the charismatic renewal. This provides harmony as a basis for new melodies but does not provide rhythmic movement.
- The Two Chord Method is to rock back and forth between two chords that do not provide the sense of an ending. The rocking motion provides the rhythm necessary for true song. (Songs are defined as containing melody, harmony, and rhythm.)
- The Open Worship Chord Progression takes the accompaniment a step closer to a complete song. This method involves a short chord progression (for example: 4 measures with one chord each measure) that can be repeated effortlessly. It is important that the chords do not lead to an ending but are circular in direction. This makes for a complete harmonic and rhythmic structure for a song. All that is needed is a melody and that is supplied by the worshiper—a new song! This method was developed in the Praise and Worship renewal of the 1980s.
- Some songs may have open worship sections in them already and will facilitate Spiritual Songs when used in that manner.
Spiritual Songs and Interpretation
Except when used in prophetic song, Spiritual Songs do not require interpretation. This does not violate Paul’s detailed instructions about the need for interpretation because Spirituals Songs are most often songs of corporate worship or prayer. They are addressed to God who needs no interpretation. Extended congregational singing in tongues can function as a sign to unbelievers because of the intensity of the manifestation of God’s presence that comes with it.
Reclaiming the Blessing
Perhaps, if I have unraveled some of the mystery behind this incredible gift from the Lord and have shown from experience the skills required to facilitate Spiritual Songs, we can make progress toward reclaiming this blessing. It is not something to fear. It is not really a mystery; it is a spiritual bonding for the church. Why should we do this? Aren’t psalms and hymns enough? To progress from two out of three to three out of three is a worthy goal! Here are some simple and promising reasons:
- God has provided this and commanded it in the New Testament. We must trust that He has given us a good gift.
- Spiritual Song can be taught and experienced without the danger of excessive displays.
- The depth of the worship experience can increase with powerful visitations from God.
- More people in Pentecostal churches will actually become Pentecostal! They will learn to activate their prayer language more easily in the atmosphere that accompanies Spiritual Songs.
- Remember that “tongues are a sign to unbelievers!” Paul speaks of worship on an unbeliever wherein “all prophesy.” That sounds like the chaos Paul is trying to avoid. It is possible and orderly for all to prophesy when we engage in prophetic worship—worship that contains the things that are “the burdens of the Spirit. Could the wonderful promise of Paul concerning the effect of Pentecostal worship on the unbeliever really become our experience?
1 Corinthians 14:24-25
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you
May this always be said of our churches, “God is truly among you!” With psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, public worship can touch heaven, bless the church, and change lives.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Steve Phifer
Featured Image by Dennis Gries from Pixabay
