Church Music and Acts 2:42

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” - Acts 2:42

This verse is a summary of what life was like during the beginning stages of the church. Although not everything in a narrative is normative (not everything that happened in the book of Acts is intended to become the normal practice), there are still four things that their Christian community could be boiled down to. I think these principles define what Christian community within a local church is to look like today as well. They’re simple and basic. I love that. Our faith is not super complicated. It’s a simple faith that can be understood and practiced by anyone in any context.

But I also noticed that music is not in the list. I only bring this up because I’m preparing to be a worship leader, someone who’s job is to lead the church’s musical worship. And because I think that because we’re a part of such a musical culture music has, in some minds, become a cornerstone of Christian practice - as if we couldn’t have church without music. Now I’m not in any way against music in the church. Just look at Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 where Paul commands us to sing and look at Israel’s worship - music was a huge part of it. The biggest book of the Bible is a book of songs! So I’m certainly not against music in the church. But what I do believe is that it is not a foundational or a core element, which I think many have errantly assumed. I’ve seen many who plan their services (or at least the musical part of it) around songs instead of Scripture. I’ve seen some who try to plan out a “flow” based on emotion dictated by the music. I’ve seen some who put more emphasis and value on the musical part of the service rather than the preaching or the Lord’s Supper or fellowship with the saints. So here’s my point: although music should be a part of our Christian community, it must be subservient to the most important elements, namely the Word of God, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer.

Let’s unpack this a little bit:
“apostles teaching” - this is the Word of God. Our songs should be filled with the Word of God and they should teach the Word of God. This is a no-brainer.

“the fellowship” - our songs should be a part of our community fellowship with one another. Ephesians 5:19 commands us to address one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Colossians 3:16 commands us to teach and admonish one another in singing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Musical worship is not a one-on-one thing between you and God. Yes, it is directed to God (as is also stated in these verses), but it also directed to each other for our edification.

“the breaking of bread” - this refers to the Lord’s Supper, but basically means a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and his inauguration of the New Covenant. Our songs should be centered around Christ and his work on the cross. Our faith is nothing without Christ. He made a way for us to approach the almighty God. Our songs should be about Christ and sung with the knowledge that we are able to sing these songs only because of his substutionary death for us that it possible to approach God.

“the prayers” - I’ve heard it said that sacred music is prayer. Our songs are prayers set to music. There shouldn’t be a difference in our minds between “the song time” and “the prayer time.” Prayer is a huge part of our Christian faith and it should not be neglected in our gatherings either.

Psalm 7 - Christ, Our Refuge

This Psalm is David's prayer to God for deliverance and justice from his enemies. It seems, from verses 3-5, that he's been accused of something that he did not commit and it's brought him a lot of heartache. So he runs to God, his refuge, to find deliverance from his accusers and to pray that justice will be done, that God will judge the wicked for their sin.

I just want to draw our attention to God's judgment in this Psalm. It's not a popular topic, and for good reason. It should cause us to grieve that there are people who will never know God's mercy. But it is real and it is just. Take a look at verses 14-16:

12. Behold, the wicked man conceives evil

and is pregnant with mischief

and gives birth to lies.

13. He makes a pit, digging it out,

and falls into the hole that he has made.

14. His mischief returns upon his own head,

and on his own skull his violence descends.

God's judgment is just. You can see from verse 12 that the sin of the wicked totally encompasses all of him. He is full of it. And verses 13 and 14 show that they've brought judgment upon themselves. It's the consequence of the life they've chosen to live. Verse 12 says, "If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword." God's judgment is just. For the one who does not repent and turn to God, there is judgment and wrath for his sin.

But David does not receive this judgment. In fact, God is his refuge and deliverer (verse 1). Why does David receive this favor? This Psalm does not explicitly state why David is exempt from God's wrath. It's just assumed. But there seems to be a hint in verse 10:

My shield is with God,

who saves the upright in heart.

The verses preceding this verse are David's call to God to judge him according to his righteousness and to test the minds and hearts of all. So in the midst of God's judging, David has a shield. Isaiah 53:6 says,

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned - every one - to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

Christ has absorbed the wrath of God for sinners! Hebrews 9-10 explain more fully that Christ was the once-and-for-all sacrifice that God required for sin, that Jesus' blood can pay the debt that we owe for our sin. David was exempt from God's judgment not because of any merit or righteousness of his own, but because there was Someone who came centuries later and lived the perfect life that David could not live and become the perfect sacrifice for sin that David could never offer and become the risen Lord over all who conquered sin and death forever.

If you do not know God as a refuge and a shield, if you've never understood the seriousness of your sin and the judgment that is coming for it, then let me call you to repent. Turn to God! Believe that Jesus has absorbed God's wrath for you and turn from your sin.

If you do know God as a refuge and a shield, if you have believed in Christ's sacrifice for your sin and repented, let me call you to rejoice in your salvation and, like David, cry out to God in your times of need.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

-Hebrews 4:16

Psalm 5 - Why Christians Should be the Most Joy-Filled People in the World!

Why should Christians be the most joy-filled people in the world? Because we belong to God!

Look at these words from Psalm 5:4-6 and 9-10:

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;

evil may not dwell with you.

The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;

you hate all evildoers.

You destroy those who speak lies;

the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

For there is no truth in their mouth;

their inmost self is destruction;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongue.

Make them bear their guilt, O God;

let them fall by their own counsels;

because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,

for they have rebelled against you.

David, in this Psalm, makes a strong contrast between two types of people - the wicked and the righteous. It's easy for us to assume that because we are Christians we are a part of "the righteous" and therefore "the wicked" refers to lost people. But before we make any assumptions, let me point out that Paul quotes vs. 9 in Romans 3:13. In that passage, Paul gives a strong argument for the fact that everyone is unrighteous and born in sin, Jew and Gentile alike. He writes a few verses earlier, "None is righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). In other words, these words about "the wicked" from Psalm 5 refer to us! We have delighted in wickedness, evil does dwell with us, we have rebelled against God.

But look at verses 7-8 and 11-12 from Psalm 5:

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,

will enter your house.

I will bow down toward your holy temple

in the fear of you.

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness

because of my enemies;

make your way straight before me.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them every sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may exult in you.

For you bless the righteous, O LORD;

you cover him with favor as with a shield.

I love that last line: "...you cover him with favor as with a shield." Here is the gospel. Jesus' blood has covered our many transgressions! His blood is our shield. We find shelter in the cross. So it's true that we were at one time numbered with the wicked. But, praise God, through faith in Jesus' work for us on the cross, we can be numbered among the righteous! We have access to the house of God (God's presence) because of Jesus' once-and-for-all sacrifice! We no longer delight in wickedness but delight to fear God and follow his will because he has made us his own. (Check out Ephesians 2:1-10 as well)

So why should Christians be the most joy-filled people in the world? Because we belong to God. Read again David's response to his salvation in verse 11:

But let all who take refuge in you REJOICE;

let them ever SING FOR JOY,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may EXULT in you.

May the gospel fill you with joy that transcends every season you go through!