Spirit-Filled Singing: Seeking Clarification and Definition (Part Two)

Music Series Part One

Spirit-Filled Singing

What is Spirit-filled singing?  Or for that matter, Spirit-filled music?  Paul had to mean something specific.  For this article, the attempt at addressing the music issue will focus on with Ephesians 5.

Ephesians 5:18-19 are as follows, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

The  focus on music and singing immediately follows two imperatives, both of which appear as present passive verbs.  The theological debate concerning the filling is not the intent of this article. On the other hand, the verbs which follow are our concern.  Verses 19-21 contain a series of participles.  As I understand it these participles are the result of Spirit-filling.  They are as follows:

Verse 19, "speaking, singing, and making melody"

Verse 20, "Giving thanks"

Verse 21, "Submitting yourselves"

As best I can tell, the first four participles are present active participles and the fifth is a present passive participle.  The intermittent prepositional phrases are taken the same way as in the previous article addressing the sister passage in Colossians 3.

Back to our original focus.  Spirit-filling directly affects or controls our music.  Specifically, our use of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is of great concern.  So Paul has repeated the exact same phraseology in two different epistles to two different local churches (Ephesians and Colossians).  

So how do we actually evaluate what is spirit-filled music?  Please rest assured I am neither the first nor the last person to ask and wrestle with this question.  By what parameters or criteria do we use to evaluate music?  This is no small matter.  When do local culture and/or context become a factor?  Does every culture have an element of "worldliness"?   Or have too many cultures and music become so intertwined that a difference can no longer be established?

Do numbers serve as a gauge or litmus test for spirit-filled music?  If numbers are important, and pragmatism rules then consider the following (not music related):

1.  How dare anyone attack Joel Osteen (if numbers are our criteria for Spirit blessing)?

2. How dare anyone attack Bill Hybels or a Willow Creek (again, if numbers are the standard)?

3. What of people like Rick Warren, John Piper, or Rob Bell?

If the reasons are preaching, theology, practice or whatever the reasons are you object to the above individuals, then how do we evaluate when God is actually blessing a ministry?  How much church history and practice must we reject to create yet again standards for God's blessing?

Does it require my agreement?  Hope not.

Hope this helps some.  May create more questions than answers.

Comments of course encouraged as always.