Gospel Music

Reflection by Barry Combs

A search for the meaning of gospel has many definitions.  The most common meaning associated with the church is a reference to the first four books of the New Testament:  the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Each of these books, in their own way, tells the story of the life and ministry of Jesus.  These accounts are the truths about Jesus based on personal interactions with him, and the writing down of the accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry by those who were followers of the disciples.  The basic information is truth and testimony.

Testimony is also a basic element in what we know as gospel music: texts which tell the testimonies of the authors, giving their personal experiences about how their lives have been changed through the teachings of Jesus.  There is more to the gospel song, but central to most of the texts we associate with this genre are the personal testimonies which can be seen in the use of personal pronouns in the texts.  Personal testimony is one way Christians can reach the world around us, by sharing what we have experienced.

There have always been texts sung by the church which expressed the testimony of the authors, but this type of expression exploded on the church in a new way in the nineteenth century.  There are many contributing factors which include: the Sunday School movement and the type of songs used in them; the rise of the evangelistic crusades and mass evangelism; an emphasis on heaven and the afterlife after so much death in the nineteenth century due to war, high infant mortality, and disease prior the discoveries of modern medicine; a change in styles of music such as the new solo songs by Stephen Foster, the folk hymns of the south, the spread of the spiritual, and even band music.  The personal texts began to find musical expression through these new styles of music, which led to hundreds of thousands of songs being written and composed which we identify today as the gospel song.

Sunday morning the music ministry of Augusta Road will focus on gospel songs, using them as a way to illustrate the scripture readings we use each Sunday.  These will take us through praise of God, personal expressions of faith of what Jesus has done for us through salvation, and in times of difficulty, and thoughts on heaven and the afterlife.  Music will be used instrumentally, chorally, and congregationally, in a variety of musical styles, each of which can be labeled gospel music.  There will be music and texts which date from the nineteenth century to today.

One of the drawbacks to the gospel song, as well as the newer type of music illustrated by the contemporary worship song, is that of the association with them and entertainment.  I have been entertained, and led entertainment through these styles of music on many occasions, not using them as worship tools, but to entertain an audience through concerts.  This is, has been, and will continue to be one way to use music of this style, and that is good.  But our worship needs more than entertainment.  My prayer for all of us on Sunday, and especially this Sunday, is that we can use the gospel songs, but not for entertainment – that is easy.  We can find truths (the gospel) about our relationship with God, Jesus, and the church through the texts and music called the gospel song.

Music is a powerful tool, useful as an art form to enhance all aspects of humanity, including worship.  I encourage you to be at Augusta Road this coming Sunday morning, to experience a variety of emotions through music, and to use that music in the highest calling, that of the worship of God, the celebration of the saving grace of Jesus, and the sharing of our collective testimonies through the gospel song.