Music is not neutral in its power.

Its words as well as beat and rhythm sway soul and emotions.

Luther understood the power of music.

“The gift of language combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and music, namely, by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music…” (Luther’s Works, vo. 53, p. 323).

Words are the main power of song.

The devil knows this. Plenty of songs with texts contrary to God’s Word abound, tempting and training the naïve of ungodly ways.

Apparently an eighteenth century pastor wrote: “The Devil has the best tunes.” I think we know why.

Words do work for bad or for good.

The Spirit explains His use of music in St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” (3:16).

“Dwell” teaches a deep learning, an internalizing of God’s Word in the heart by faith.

“Spiritual” means the Holy Spirit uses the words of Christ to do His work of Law and Gospel.

The Spirit uses song to teach and sustain faith, and to instruct in Christian living. Sitting around a dinner table Luther says, “God has preached the Gospel through music,” (Luther’s Works, vo. 54, p. 129).

Music is not neutral. Pastor Golter is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

It helps to get outside of your place.

We’re too near-sighted most of the time.

Check out Jesus’ work in Siberia.

I received the latest newsletter from the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society.

The Lutheran presence there goes back to the 18th century.

Due to a war between Russia and Sweden, some 25,000 Swedish soldiers were captured. They were scattered across Siberian towns. After the war, some returned home. Others stayed. Lutheran churches were built for them in Siberia.

Go forward 200 years, and the Lutheran church numbered over a million, as I recall. I had the privilege of visiting - for several weeks - the emerging remnant church in 2013 August.

The Bolshevik revolution of 1917 and the ending of WW I had devastating impact upon the Lutherans. Religious instruction was banned in 1921. Seminaries were taken over.

Add to this the extreme persecution under Joseph Stalin, who ruled from 1921 to 1953. The communists isolated clergy. Clergy were known in the public press as anti-communists.

Some had written letters in the public press against communism.

The communists infiltrated parishes through local residents. They became agents because of threats to their families. They testified falsely against their priests for anti-communist threats.

Bottom line: the hostile government over the years nearly decimated the church. The newsletter states that a Lutheran priest had not visited some of the Lutheran settlements in 60 years.

Now, the Lutheran church is emerging but very small…perhaps 50 very small congregations. But the seminary in Novosibirsk is training men for the Office of the Holy Ministry.

God works His mission. The Church is built on Christ and His Word.

Right now, the American church faces a greater hostility, as we all know.

But we preach and teach, serve the faithful and reach out to those desiring to hear.

Music is not neutral. 

Pastor Golter is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran