Jon Buller was at Worship Café this past Sunday, and for one number his band (Dan Oldfield and Aaron French) played an instrumental version of "I Exalt Thee". I found myself thinking about worship in relation to instrumental music.
We know, of course, that worship is more than music. Yet as believers we choose music as one of the primary means of worshiping, at least in groups (i.e. "corporately"). There's something about the gift of music that transcends the 'cerebral only' (our brains, our thinking processes alone without emotion) and draws us more as "whole people" into a place where we can worship more fully and completely.
So, is that worship based on the lyrics of the music, or the music part of the music? Can instrumental music be worship music?
In Sunday's case the song was "I Exalt Thee", a well-known worship standard. Even though the two musicians played with skill and grace and imbued the identifiable song with extra substance and flair, the melody was still clearly recognizable. It was relatively easy to still sing the words (inside one's head, anyway) along with the instruments. Therefore even though the number was instrumental, it was still possible to worship God with the lyrics ("For Thou, O Lord, art high, above all the earth... Thou art exalted far above all gods..." and so on).
But what about when there are no lyrics to the music? What about when the instrumental music is purely instrumental, written and intentionally sans lyrics? Can it be called worship music? How about if it's purchased at a Christian Book Store, or if it's released on a 'Christian' label? Does that make it worship music?
Or, on the other hand, what if the instrumental music is written by a Christian and released on CD through a record label that's just a standard label, maybe known for jazz or even new age music; does that render the Christian composer's work as being not Christian, and therefore not suitable for worship?
Let's stretch those questions a little further: can 'secular' instrumental music be used in a worship context? If you showed up at church next Sunday and the sound guy was playing Pat Metheny for the pre-service music; would that be non-worshipful?
It's an interesting philosophical trail to wander down. Tell me what you think - I'd love to hear what you have to say on the topic.
In the meantime, you can check out this instrumental worship track from the September 25 worship set at Worship Café.
