Our Governing Philosophy on Music
Music holds a significant place in the life of the church, both as a powerful expression of worship and as a tool for teaching and reinforcing the truths of God’s Word. The apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” This verse encapsulates our philosophy: the primary purpose of music in the church is to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in the hearts of believers, through teaching and admonition that is faithful to Scripture.
Music has the power to shape our affections, stir our souls, and unify our voices in praise to our Creator. However, with this power comes great responsibility. We must be vigilant to ensure that the music we sing and the lyrics we proclaim are firmly grounded in the truth of God’s Word. In our worship, our emotions should be the response to theological depth, not the primary driver of our experience. When our worship is theologically sound, our affections will be rightly oriented—leading to a response that honors God.
This is why the source of our music is of utmost importance. We do not use songs from movements or churches like Bethel, Hillsong, Elevation, or other well-known groups with questionable theology. While these groups produce music that may be popular and emotionally moving, their theological foundations often lack the depth and biblical truth that we require for corporate worship. Many of these songs are crafted to elicit emotional responses that are not grounded in the full counsel of God’s Word, potentially leading worshippers to an experience that is more about feelings than about the glorification of God and the edification of His people.
Our commitment is to worship that is both biblically sound and theologically rich. We choose music that reflects the depth of God’s character, the truth of His Word, and the power of the Gospel. This ensures that our emotions are rightly stirred by a profound understanding of who God is and what He has done, rather than by music that prioritizes emotional manipulation over doctrinal integrity.
The music we use in worship is a reflection of our commitment to uphold the truth of Scripture and to ensure that every aspect of our worship, including our music, brings glory to God and builds up His church in sound doctrine. Our affections must grow out of a deep and abiding theology, as we sing to the Lord with understanding, letting the Word of Christ dwell richly in our hearts.