“Without music, life would be an error…the German imagines even God singing songs.” Friedrich Nietzsche
Perhaps God is singing songs…if so, we need to hear His songs before we ask him to listen to ours.
Music in itself is complete, albeit never-ending. There will never be a shortage thereof. Add music to anything, and it seems to complete it. Movies, talks, sermons, skate videos, etc.
…but the music falls short. It is a wonderful, mysterious tool, but it has not the power to change anybody for eternity. As a younger, visionary worship leader, I would pray and imagine the notes coming from my voice and instrument and entering people’s ears and hearts and transforming them into better people. Luckily, I shared that with no-one until now.
The Holy Spirit Comes Before the Music
“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.”
Being filled comes before the music.
Our heart’s song is a result of the Spirit’s inspiration. Our music is unable to inspire the Spirit.
Like I said, music has no eternal power in itself. We cannot expect to sing ourselves into being more devoted followers of Christ. We cannot just put in a worship CD and expect to start feeling saved again. We cannot jump at worship time and expect to sing our way into being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Music is not a manipulator. It doesn’t move God. A desperate and welcoming heart of faith and hunger moves God. God fills us. We are moved to make music.
If you are a worship-leader, you will be tempted to bypass the filling of the Spirit, the inspiration, the encounter and substitute the music in it’s stead.
The best song service you’ll ever lead is one that is pre-inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The worst song service you’ll ever lead is one that is used to try and move God.
It’s foolish and proud to think that we worship leaders and our music alone can change people. It’s foolish to think our songs can change people.
Don’t get me wrong. Spirit inspired songs and music do help people get their hearts positioned and eyes set on God’s greatness – but without it first being inspired, it’s a sinfully proud exercise in futility that makes music an idol and a religious token. Without the Holy Spirit, the music falls short. Perhaps God is singing songs…if so, we need to hear His songs before we ask him to listen to ours.
Tim Edwards 