Anything experienced over and over becomes acceptable; therefore, preferences are learned. Those preferences do not necessarily make them appropriate for corporate worship music. Additionally, when our preferences for carnal corporate worship music is questioned, we cry “legalism,” when, instead, we need to be honest and go to God’s Word for direction.

[The subjects of legalism and personal preference are often intertwined, yet they are also distinct; see article, “Isn’t This Legalism?”]
 
First, let’s be clear: This should not be a debate about traditional hymns vs. contemporary worship music. Instead, we all need to lay aside our so-called “preferences” and honestly look at God’s Word for guidance.

While to a degree music preference is subjective, in reality preferences are learned. Think about different cultural music aside from western civilization music: people in those cultures grow up liking their own cultural music, yet it sounds strange to our “western” ears.

In our culture, notice that the subject of personal preference for secular music styles is not generally debated; we understand that is a valid area of personal preference that may change as we grow in grace and maturity in the Lord.
 
In stark contrast, corporate worship music preference is a hot button, resulting in what has been labeled “worship wars.”

Why? Why is everyone so upset (at minimum) or angry (at worst) about this issue?

Because we have brought our personal music preferences into the Church, defending and elevating those preferences higher than what Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 tell us to sing: spiritual (non-carnal) songs, along with the entire counsel of Scripture about holy living.

While we should all agree that both traditional hymns and non-carnal contemporary worship music can have their place in our corporate worship services, many of us are set in our ways or, conversely, we may want something new and exciting that tickles the ears and contributes to emotionalism in worship.

New and exciting, however, does not necessarily mean “spiritual,” particularly when many of those new songs are carnal by their very musical nature. Often, sadly, this type of new and exciting music also contributes to performative entertainment.

While we have previously explored the meaning of “spiritual songs,” First Corinthians 10:23 gives further direction about holy living, which can also be applied to music: “all things are lawful…but not all things edify.”

Of course, this counsel is given within the context of eating food offered to idols, and being a good witness to others in the face of this controversial practice in their day. It is a valid principle about personal freedom we can apply in daily life to many situations, including our choice of music.

If, however, we apply this principle of personal freedom to every situation in life, are things like fornication or adultery lawful? I hope we can all agree the answer to that is no. In no way is our personal freedom a license to sin.
 
Taking this a step further, would worship music that has identifiable music techniques that feed our flesh and encourage sensually suggestive movements, or even cause moral failure in the listener, be considered “lawful?”
 
Certainly, a lot of music out there is fun to listen to, it’s entertaining, and even uplifting. There are also other styles of music that cause negative or even harmful outcomes in a listener, and some styles of music affect us in ways that are blatantly contrary to holy living.

In other words, there may be a style of music that is enjoyable to us in one way or the other, but it could be that it’s not particularly spiritually edifying or even appropriate for worship. (Examples of CCM contributing to moral failure are documented in the book, Music and Morals.)

While allowing the Holy Spirit to lead each of us into personal Christian maturity about what music we should or should not listen to in private, our corporate worship music should follow what God has said to sing in His Word: “spiritual songs,” meaning non-carnal, non-flesh pleasing songs in both lyrics and the musical vehicle.
 
Once we understand the difference between non-carnal and carnal Christian music styles, then, and only then, can we determine and agree about what is appropriate for worship music. Personal preference should be set aside and music should be evaluated solely by biblical principles (i.e., is this music vehicle non-carnal or carnal?).

Certainly there will be some people who prefer only traditional hymns, and others who prefer only contemporary songs. If both types are truly non-carnal in musical style, there should no longer be a debate; both are acceptable for worship music, according to Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 (and also follow the entire counsel of Scripture regarding holy living for the Christian).
 
Ideally, as previously mentioned, we could include a mix of both traditional hymns and contemporarily written, non-carnal Christian songs. (And it goes without saying the lyrics in both should be biblically sound in doctrine.)

And once in a while we might even sing our musical offerings to God as they did in the early church, without any instruments at all; this truly forces us to focus our attention solely on the meaning of the words.

Finally, which type of worship music do we think God would prefer –non-carnal, or carnal? Shouldn’t we be pleasing Him?