Music as Image

McGrath: The Rise and Fall of Atheism... Prayer as Song

Music as Image

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Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying,

I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. (Exod 15:1)

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Why does scripture’s account of salvation history often sound like a music video? Music illuminates by emphasizing key transitions in scripture, uniting hearts and minds, and expressing Christian joy.

Music marks important transitions in the narrative of scripture. Songs of praise accompany, for example, both the salvation of Israel from the Egyptians after crossing the Red Sea, and their entrance into the Promised Land (Exod 15:1–21; Deut 32:1–43). Hannah’s song marks the birth of the prophet, Samuel, (Sam 2:1–10). Songs also begin and end the New Testament (Luke 1:46–45); 2:14; Rev 19:5–8).

This unity of heart and mind in music is so complete that it does not allow us to choose one over the other (Elliott 2006, 86). Even instrumental music communicates complex forms and themes with deep emotion. Because all of us have songs that we have memorized, music is a form of meditation practiced by virtually everyone. We repeat and memorize holy songs that then define who we are, who we were, and who we will be.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once reportedly told his students: “If you want to be pastors, then you must sing Christmas carols!” (Metaxas 2010, 129). God has sovereignly created and saved us. We respond in praise. Accordingly, our minds know that our debt is beyond repayment and our hearts rejoice from the depths of our being. We are loved by the King of kings and we want to tell the whole world! Words alone are not enough. Holy songs bind our hearts and minds together. Choral music is special, in particular, because it binds our hearts and minds in unity seldom seen elsewhere.

Music is also interesting as an image of God because it is non-visual, not limiting the divine image as with visual images.

Holy music is a special gifting from God that draws our hearts and minds to him. Care must be taken with music as a image of God because the image is necessarily an incomplete image, a sign that points to God, because of the power implicit in the unity of heart and mind, and because some will remain content with sign, not seeking further. Consider the problem of “worship wars” of our time: To understand your true theology, look at the hymns that you sing.If God is your object of worship, it should not matter which hymns are chosen.

References

Elliott, Matthew A. 2006. Faithful Feelings: Rethinking Emotion in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic and Professional.

Metaxas, Eric. 2010. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy—A Righteous Gentile Versus The Third Reich. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.