Worship Music as Theology: A Methodology

Seminary Commons

Theology and music have long been at odds, having been treated as exclusive fields of theory and praxis. In Christian worship, music tends to be viewed as a matter of taste and not a significant conveyor of theology. This research seeks to establish a methodology for the theological meaning of music in the context of Christian worship. In order to establish the context of music, the methods of liturgical history must be considered. Important to liturgical studies is ritual studies, which asserts that the actions in worship—such as music—coupled with context, may communicate meaning. The objective effect and the subjective interpretation of music contribute to a polyvalent, dynamic meaning of music. This dynamic meaning may be derived from the music’s historical context, the musical score, the cultural act of making music and the experience of the listener. The result is “worship music as theology.” As a significant conveyor of theology, music helps promote and establish beliefs and spirituality in the existential experience of the worshiper.