This is a solemn and joyful occasion, and so our music should match that kind of occasion. This means that we need musicians to teach and lead us. At the same time, in the ordinary course of things, we the people of the congregation, not musical experts, are to be the ones offering the sacrifice of praise.
This does not mean that those among us who are particularly gifted cannot offer music to God themselves—without the rest of us flatting and sharping along behind them. But when choral music by trained musicians is offered, we should be keeping two things in mind.
When this happens in the worship service, the musicians are functioning as our representatives. They are not ministers or angels of God, come down to sing to us. They are chosen from among us to sing to God. We should hear and listen with intelligence, so that we are able to say amen when they are done. This is why, when a piece is in a foreign tongue, we provide a translation in the bulletin. This is why we want to increase musical literacy throughout the congregation, so that we can say amen to the music as well as to the words. Music itself, distinct from the words, is filled to overflowing with theological content, and we have a responsibility to understand something about it. The musicians are functioning on our behalf.
But there is a second thing. We also want our musicians to sing and perform in other settings, not just in this service of covenant renewal. In those settings—special performances, concerts, and so forth—we want to learn how to listen with wisdom so that we might grow and mature in our musical understanding. This will have an effect when we come to sing on the Lord’s Day. For example, listening to a theology lecture in the course of the week is not formal worship but, done right, it is an enormous help to you in worship. As a result, you come to worship God on the Lord’s Day with more texture. It is the same with music.
You should want everything you do in the course of the week to be helping you prepare for worship, because worship should be preparing you for everything you do in the course of the week. And keep in mind what was said earlier. It is not the case that all your music must be “church music.” There are all kinds of secular music that can contribute appropriate texture to what you have to offer the Lord. But also keep in mind that we live in a confused and rebellious age, and the devil is a musician, one who will give you songs that unravel what God gives you here. Not only that, but it will unravel your heart and life as well. Flee from him.