Music Ministry
Music at Harbor Presbyterian Church
We believe that music is a crucial aspect of gathered worship at Harbor. It unites our mind, will, and emotions to create whole-souled worship. As we sing, we are not only lifting our hearts to Christ in grateful response to his goodness to us, but we are encouraging one another toward growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 3:18).
So why do we sing what we sing at Harbor Presbyterian Church? We believe that a rich legacy songs suited for Christian worship is to be found among the Psalms (which are worship songs given by divine inspiration) and other hymns and spiritual songs that bring into sharp focus the character of God and the redemptive work of Christ.
Our theology of worship in general and of music in particular is not guided primarily by modern trends in evangelicalism, nor an attempt to be "contemporary," "traditional," or "blended," but rather by the biblical understanding of God. We understand the Scriptures to teach that God is transcendent; that he is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, perfect in holiness, justice, goodness, and truth, and a "consuming fire." We seek to avoid trivializing God and approaching him casually because Scripture teaches that he is to be worshipped with reverence "in the splendor of holiness" (Psalm 29:2, 96:1, 9). Worship then, should be serious, substantial, solid, sober, and reverent. So before we decide which songs will be integrated into the service, we ask the following questions:
- Is it theologically sound? (Does the song give an accurate expression of Biblical teaching?)
- Is it theologically mature? (Does the song develop a Biblical theme, or does it trivialize the theme?)
- Does the music suit the words? (Does the music overwhelm the words, or is the music not suited to the words?)
- Is it church-honoring? (Do our songs honor the whole course of church history, or do they only express appreciation for "our generation"?)
We also understand God to be imminent. God, the Father, loves us and calls us his children (1 John 5:1). Jesus "loved (us) and gave himself for (us)" (Galatians 2:20). The Holy Spirit "intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26). Scripture teaches that Christ took on a true body and a reasonable soul, dwelt amongst us, and dwells in us now through the Holy Spirit. In other words, our God is a personal God. With His imminence in mind, we ask questions such as the following:
- Is the song singable? (Is the tune well-known, well-sung, and well-liked by our congregation? Is it singable for those who don't know it?)
- Is the song understandable? (Will it require extreme measures for someone to comprehend the meaning of the song?)
- Is it aesthetically pleasing? (Does the tune fit the standards of what qualifies as "good music"?)
- Do our songs express the whole range of human experience and emotion? (Are we selecting songs that give expression to our sadness, the horror of the cross, the struggles of the Christian life, or are we communicating through our music that Christians are only to have "happy" emotions?)
It is our goal that our music be biblical and gospel-driven, glorify God, transcend style, edify the church, and speak to believers and unbelievers alike. For questions, comments, and information about our music ministry or Harbor Presbyterian Church, contact Paul Kim at .