Counsels on Church Life

Counsel #6 — Music As Worship

Picture: Counsel #6 — Music As Worship CCL 101.1

God loves beauty—in fact, He created it. The Bible even hints that God Himself is beautiful and expresses Himself in beautiful ways like singing over us with joy. So, according to the Bible, to create music is to participate in God’s nature. Through music, we can reflect God’s beauty and passion and respond to Him intellectually and emotionally. God sings. Angels sing. We sing. It makes perfect sense to use music as a way to worship and recognize God as our Creator and Savior.^[131] CCL 101.2

“Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.” Psalms 100:2 CCL 101.3

“Music can be a great power for good, yet we do not make the most of this branch of worship. The singing is generally done from impulse or to meet special cases, and at other times those who sing are left to blunder along, and the music loses its proper effect upon the minds of those present. Music should have beauty, pathos, and power. Let the voices be lifted in songs of praise and devotion. Call to your aid, if practicable, instrumental music, and let the glorious harmony ascend to God, an acceptable offering.” Ellen White in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 71.1 CCL 101.4

Reflect: How can you add music to your personal time with God? CCL 101.5