I am a bit slow at finding this site. I have spent a long time reading all the comments about Dr. MacArthur’s article, and I would like to share a thought.

I am not in any way a pastor or aspire to such, but I am a member of a Southern Baptist Church and have been for a long time. I have “found” and have nothing but absolute respect for the ministry of John MacArthur. I strongly RESPECT him and his stands — against great opposition. However, I am greatly bemused and troubled by the stand on music. I read these comments from men, that I am assuming are pastors or leaders in their church, almost begging for help to deal with the crises they face. But I get the impression their cries are in vain. Why?

For quite a few years, churches have been steadily going down the drain. False doctrine exists in many churches now, but has no one asked the question as to where this all stemmed from. When the “trojan horse” (to quote one comment) of music entered, doctrine went out (slowly, but started out the door). Worship wars speak of conflict, not unity — can that be of God?

My observation to Dr. MacArthur is this. You have become over the course of the years a voice of truth to people seeking the truth. So many people have come to rely upon you for the truth. Even people who oppose you rely upon you for the truth. They refer to you to see what you will say on the subject. So, when they come to the subject of church music, they search your data banks. If they see that John MacArthur says this is okay, then it must be okay. I guess that our doubts are unfounded. Let’s proceed on! You have in many ways become the pastor to all of us (not just Grace Community Church).

Many of these churches don’t have the infrastructure in place that you do. They are led by committees, and as the church changes for the “not so great,” the people rise up and lead (or take over) the church. This happens in all churches, even those that are led as your church is. Pastors are no longer the men that I remember them to be. The world has changed so many of them. The good ones have gotten run off, and the others have been trained to “grow the church.” The intentions may be good, but the result is not.

Bottomline — people look to you to HELP THEM TO STAND. And pretty soon there may not be anybody to look at you to help them stand. And so I plead for them — take a really, really good look at this situation. If the church continues in its’ present course, it will cease to function as God intended. A theologian can have a blind spot in his eye. Just be sure!

> An interesting consideration. I take this to mean the “life-style” of the musician before and after the performance. I wonder if the some concern should be extended to the composer of music?

You said, “It is selfish and short-sighted to through out all music with percussion because it does fit one’s personal taste…”

Did I say that? Good and bad music is not determined by our own taste. That is what I have been trying to tell you. Just because we say that some music is bad does not make it bad. However, just because we say that some other music is good does not make it good.

Before we go any further, I would like for you to answer this question. Is music amoral? By that, I mean, are there principles in God’s word for determining what music (not the words, but the music itself) is good and what music is bad?

It was explained to me as singing one melody twice, followed by a contrast melody, and sometimes a return to the original melody, as in the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.

Our God is a God of order, originality and variety. He is cross-generational and cross-cultural. He is God. We are not. Thus to interpret which music portrays His character by our own personal experience and taste is actually what is demeaning to God, as it belittles Him.

A great book for all to read is Bob Kauflin’s ‘Worship Matters’

Availability: Usually Ships the Same Business Day

Description: Nothing is more essential than knowing how to worship the God who created us. This book focuses readers on the essentials of God-honoring worship, combining biblical foundations with practical application in a way that works in the real world. The author, a pastor and noted songwriter, skillfully instructs pastors, musicians, and church leaders so that they can root their congregational worship in unchanging scriptural principles, not divisive cultural trends. Bob Kauflin covers a variety of topics such as the devastating effects of worshiping the wrong things, how to base our worship on God’s self-revelation rather than our assumptions, the fuel of worship, the community of worship, and the ways that eternity’s worship should affect our earthly worship.

Appropriate for Christians from varied backgrounds and for various denominations, this book will bring a vital perspective to what readers think they understand about praising God.

Foreword and Chapters 1-2: PDF

“Bob loves God, values theology, and cares about people. This mix is found throughout this wonderful and helpful book. Worship Matters will inspire you as a worshiper and spur you on as a leader of worship.”
–Matt Redman, lead worshiper and song-writer, Brighton, UK

“Bob Kauflin is teaching a new generation to take corporate worship seriously in a fashion that is simultaneously biblically faithful and addressing today’s culture.”
–D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“This book is thoroughly biblical, comprehensive, balanced, clear, and engaging. Worship leaders must read it, and it will be a great help to anyone interested in finding out what biblical worship is about and how to worship from the heart.”
–John Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Bob’s approach is humble, yet authoritative; comprehensive, yet inspirational. And if you take his gentle but clear teaching onboard, it will help make you fully equipped in mind, heart, and spirit to lead others in worship. I wholeheartedly recommend it.”
–Stuart Townend, Christian song-writer

“An outstanding book both for those who lead worship and also for every Christian who wants to worship God more fully. The book is biblical, practical, interesting, wise, and thorough in its treatment of the topic. The next time I teach on worship, I plan to make this the required text.”
–Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Bible and Theology, Phoenix Seminary

“Humility. Self-deprecating humor. Practical wisdom. And not just for music leaders. What a refreshing read! I’ve gained from Bob Kauflin, and if you read this, you will too.”
–Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church; Executive Director, 9Marks Ministries

“Bob is a pastor, a teacher, and a skilled musician. And this book captures his heart, his zealous pursuit of God, and his many years of real-life experience leading worship. That’s why his book deserves the careful study of pastors and worship leaders alike.”
–Joshua Harris, Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland

About the Author
Bob Kauflin traveled with the Christian group GLAD for eight years as a songwriter and arranger before becoming a pastor with Sovereign Grace Ministries in 1985. He is now the director of worship development for Sovereign Grace, overseeing its music projects and teaching on congregational worship. He blogs at worshipmatters.com and hosts the biennial WorshipGod conference. He and his wife, Julie, have six children and an ever-growing number of grandchildren.

Great resource can be found @ Monergism Books or Grace Books Int.

“Rock music is the music of Satan in his fallen state.”

I am using the term “rock” as a generic term including all music with an emphasis on a back beat.

You have stated (and correctly so) that the words need to be God-honoring and understandable, and that the musician needs to be focused on God, but don’t you think that the music itself needs to portray the character of God as well?