by Robert Mayes

The great Lutheran composer Johann Sebastian Bach was highly criticized during his later years over his preference of musical styles in the church. Towards the end of Bach’s life, the influence of Pietism was felt throughout Germany. Pietism, founded by Phillip Jacob Spener (1635-1705), sought to combine the external means of grace with emotion. This attitude, which syncretized God’s Word and human feelings, placed the surety of salvation inside man. The Gospel of Christ became secondary to how people felt about the Gospel.

Church music was also effected by this pervasive attitude, but when contemporary Pietistic styles were introduced into the Divine Service, Bach resisted. Instead of embracing his cultural ideas, Bach rejected the contemporary view of Pietism. Because of this, Bach in his later years wrote music that was not contemporary so that it would not emphasize subjective feelings and lead people into the heresy of his time. He realized that music was not biblically commanded or forbidden to be used in worship services, but he also knew that, by writing emotional music for church, he would promote an emotional and Pietistic theology.

The Church today faces a similar challenge. Some people say that contemporary music helps the church grow as long as the words are fine. They say that people are already comfortable with this kind of music. But just like in Bach’s day, contemporary church music promotes a contemporary theology instead of the theology that was handed down by Christ. If the music that is used in church is the same kind of music that people hear on the radio, these people will not easily see that the Church is against the world. Music in church reflects how Jesus is seen. Contemporary churches see Jesus as a cheerleader and a motivator. But Jesus is the eternal Son of God in human flesh. His works are important, ours are not. His crucifixion is our victory. It is wrong to look to our heart for holiness (Jer. 17:9, Mt. 15:18) because we are made holy by the means of grace in Church. The music at Concordia Theological Seminary seeks to reflect this theology. The Schola Cantorum and the Kantorei sing a variety of choral works, including choral parts of the liturgy and other appropriate works from both ancient and modern composers. Ultimately, the text is the most important part of any choral piece used in worship. A small brass ensemble also meets daily to assist with the hymns and to play occasional preludes and postludes for morning Chapel Matins.

Just as Bach suffered criticism from his Pietistic neighbors, so we who hate seeing the Church resemble the world will also suffer criticism. But in this earthly life, we who are Christ’s will be hated by the world just as the world hated Him. This is a mark of Christianity. It is just as Jesus said, «In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world» (John 16:33).

Rob Mayes   is a second year seminarian at Concordia Theological Seminary and member of the Seminary Kantorei.

From Volume 4, Issue 3, August 2000