Music Can Be the Soul of Worship, but Can Led Zeppelin?

I can’t imagine worship without music. There are some Believers that do not feel music has a place in the church, or if it does, it is of one form or another.

I view music as a gift from God, but I don’t just listen to one genre of music, I have a large collection of music from all over the spectrum. Music can evoke feelings and thoughts that come about because of the chords and lyrics we hear. That doesn’t mean they are always good [good being Godly] thoughts, but music has always had a way to move the soul.

Even David felt music was important. Throughout 1 Chronicles 15 David speaks about the importance of music, and shows that music is always one of those great gifts from God.

25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 27 Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

There is probably as many different kinds of music as there are kinds of Christians, and some of the greatest musicians in history weren’t Christians even though their talent was given to them by their maker. Stairway to Heaven is often times considered one of the greatest songs of all time, even by people of faith. Interesting is was sung by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Not exactly elders of the church, but I love the introduction to the song.

There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed
With a word she can get what she came for

In my opinion, a song can have great spiritual meaning and transcend time, yet come from a secular entity. The Lord works throughout the entire world and all its people, not just the ones who are Believers and music is certainly a gift from God that can reach people of all walks of life.

If you have ever listened to a live band play you know how different it can be to listening to an mp3 on your iPod, and listening to people play in a worship service can bring out the life of our Lord much as it did with David when he was celebrating the arrival of the ark in Chronicles. The Lord can, and will, move through the sounds of praise to Him.

And we as Believers know, all that glitters is not gold.