The Music Exchange

When I spoke to some Christian organ scholars from Cambridge last June, one of their main questions was what to do when asked to provide music for heresy.

Many of us don't have to face this issue very often, as in God's grace we are working in churches where the pastor wants his congregation to sing truth. Every now and then, when we come across a line in a song with which we disagree, we can simply omit to sing that line, and then write a gracious note to the pastor about the concern. However, some of us sing in choral societies where we are asked to sing things with which we are uncomfortable.

Then there are Christian professional musicians like the organ scholars mentioned above, who are paid to play or sing in churches which have no concern for truth. And then there are Christian opera singers who are sometimes asked to sing things that are plainly evil.

There’s the problem. Anyone got a solution?

The issue came to a fresh light for me last Christmas as I had to ask a visiting choir not to sing a piece called ‘Adam lay ybounden’. This is a famous Christmas carol that I have sung myself as a boy without even thinking about the theology. In a nutshell the carol states that the fall was a good thing because without it Mary wouldn’t have been heaven’s queen. I thought that the carol might put forward a different message than that which would be taught from our pulpit, so I asked them to sing something else.

Not in control

This is all very well when we can control what is sung at our events or services, but what about those organ scholars and singers who don’t have a choice about the material they are given to accompany or direct? What makes their job more difficult than a choral society member or opera singer is that they aren’t merely performing a work of art, but are involved in an act of worship, encouraging those listening to them to engage with God. I’ll focus on church music this month, and talk about performance music in the next article as I can see myself rapidly running out of space.

Here’s a real life illustration. For the Pope’s visit last year, some singers from our church were offered payment to sing for the mass in Hyde Park. The singers needed the work and, what’s more, it seemed to them like a good opportunity to sing some good words about Jesus. There was a great rendition of the ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus from The Messiah, which any Christian would love to sing. However, the choir were also asked to sing the Tantum Ergo, in which the sacrament is venerated. Understandably, the singers were not comfortable singing these words.

Loyalty to God

First, some Bible principles. Ideally, we want to be singing and providing music for songs that proclaim truth (Colossians 3.16). At the same time, professional church musicians have been given earthly masters who they are to obey (1 Peter 2.13), so if we agree to work under an earthly master, we must do what he/she says, as this pleases God.

However, our first loyalty is to God himself, so we need to ask ourselves how best we can obey our earthly masters without compromising the gospel. A good start is to be beyond reproach in lifestyle so that if any disagreement occurs there is a reasonable chance that we will get a fair hearing.

Second, take an early opportunity to talk to whoever directs the music about difficulties we may have with the theology of certain songs or anthems. Very often the theology isn’t the first thing that comes to the mind of someone putting a choral church music repertoire together, and so this in itself will give a good opportunity to speak about the beauty and clarity of the truth about Jesus. If the director of music insists on a piece of music being sung we could ask that someone else play or sing that particular piece.

The worst thing that can happen is that they sack us, which, in the light of eternity is a very small sacrifice, though this is easy for me to say as I was a theological coward as an organ scholar! We don’t need to fear man — we are just told to honour and obey our boss. Our first job is always to fear God. Episode 2 next month.

Richard Simpkin is Director of Music at St. Helen’s Church, Bishopsgate, London.

Harmonising with the devil

There’s the problem. Anyone got a solution?

Not in control

Loyalty to God

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