Music at Redeemer is seen not as performance but as worship offered up to the Most High God, who is both the source and object of the church’s praise and adoration. Therefore, RPC holds a high view of the role of music in worship. Although preparation of the music is disciplined, excellence is pursued not for its own sake but for the glory of a righteous and holy God.
God’s attributes set the standard for the quality of music used in the church. Only that which is thoughtful, well constructed, unified, exalted, and consistent with God’s truth is considered appropriate for worship. Music is carefully chosen with the following considerations:
• Music at RPC must be theologically sound--its view of God, man and the Gospel are true and right; and it must be good poetry.
• The music should match the theology/poetry; be well crafted; contain good voice leading; and be noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8).
•Choral music, in particular, must be durable--Truth is of God, and as such, it continues. Truth doesn’t wear out. If a thing is true, it keeps on being true. That which is really great bears repeated examination, and the memory of it is strong and hard to efface. Art that is deeply true does not succumb to time. It stands up to the passage of the centuries. Durability must not be pressed so far as to rule out modern expressions from any claim to lasting truth, but discernment must be carefully exercised in the selection of modern works of art and music.
• Be unified--At its truest, art tends toward unity and order. The concept of order, which is related to that of unity, is implicit in the cultural mandate in Genesis. Unity of form and structure is basic to truth in art. Just as the three persons of the Trinity are equally integral to our concept of God, so unity and order are inseparable in great art and music.
• Have integrity--This is a comprehensive criterion, having to do with the matter of wholeness. Integrity refers to the overall truthfulness of a work. Integrity demands that anything contrived merely for the sake of effect and not organically related to the purpose of a work must be ruled out.
• Be characterized by inevitability—“It could not have been done any other way.” “That is right; this is how it ought to be.”
The Levitical principle: representing the people in the Old Testament, the Levites were the group set apart by God to lead in all aspects of the Israelites’ worship. The New Testament concept of spiritual gifts suggests that people with musical gifts have been set aside by divine choice to lead in worship.
Leading the congregation by our posture in worship the choir sets the tone for corporate worship. Choir members must be attentive and responsive to every worship leader, whether reader, preacher, soloist, director, etc. By communicating a vitality in all that we do, we encourage meaningful involvement by all participants in worship. Vitality comes from a concentrated focus on each part of the worship service. Joyful worship is also contagious--easily passed on to each member of the congregation.
