Throughout this five-part series, I have sought to convince you that singing more is a worthy resolution. We’ve examined singing as an activity that uniquely unites other spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. We have considered our creation as singing creatures and Christianity as a singing faith. We’ve consider singing as not merely a duty but a delight—a fulfilling activity in the truest sense. And, in the most recent installment, I provided a few simple tips for singing more confidently and regularly, even if you do not consider yourself a “singer.”
Now, I’d simply like to leave you with some encouragement from the man who restored congregational singing to the Church: Martin Luther. Below are some of my favorite—and characteristically emphatic—Luther quotes on music.
On Singing Away Sadness
“Music is a very fine art. The notes can make the words come alive. It puts to flight every spirit of sadness, as is written of Saul (1 Sam. 16:23).”
On Studying Music and Theology
“Music is an outstanding gift of God and next to theology. I would not want to give up my slight knowledge of music for a great consideration. And youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine, skillful people.”
On the Goodness of Enjoying Music
“I am not satisfied with him who despises music, as all fanatics do; for music is an endowment and a gift of God, not a gift of men. It also drives away the devil and makes people cheerful; one forgets all anger, unchasteness, pride, and other vices. I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise. And we see how David and all saints put their pious thoughts into verse, rhyme, and songs, because music reigns in times of peace.”
On Serving God through Music
“I would gladly see all the arts, especially music, in the service of Him who has given and created them.”
On Making Songs Worth Singing
“They do indeed possess many admirable, fine musical compositions and songs, especially in the cathedral and parish churches. But they have adorned them with many foul, idolatrous texts. Therefore we have removed these idolatrous, dead, and nonsensical texts, have divested them of the fine music, and have used this for the living, holy Word of God, to sing, to praise, to glorify therewith, so that this fine ornament of music might be put to proper use and serve its dear Creator and His Christians, that He might be praised and glorified and that we might be bettered and strengthened in the faith through His holy Word, driven into the hart with sweet song. May God the Father, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, help us to this end. Amen.”
On Music and Emotion
“Experience testifies that, after the Word of God, music alone deserves to be celebrated as mistress and queen of the emotions of the human heart…And by these emotions men are controlled and often swept away as by their lords. A greater praise of music than this we cannot conceive. For if you want to revive the sad, startle the jovial, encourage the despairing, humble the conceited, pacify the raving, mollify the hate-filled—and who is able to enumerate all the lords of the human heart, I mean the emotions of the heart and the urges which incite a man to all virtues and vices?—what can you find that is more efficacious than music?”
On Music and Preaching
“Music is God’s greatest gift. It has often so stimulated and stirred me that I felt the desire to preach.”
On Singing the Devil Down
This final selection is my favorite Luther quote by far:
“When sadness comes to you and threatens to gain the upper hand, then say: Come, I must play our Lord Christ a song on the organ…for Scripture teaches me that He loves to hear joyful song and stringed instruments. And strike the keys with a will and sing out until the thoughts disappear…If the devil returns and suggests cares or sad thoughts, then defend yourself with a will and say: Get out, devil, I must now sing and play to my Lord Christ.”
Conclusion
I hope this series has encouraged you to sing with greater enthusiasm and intentionality. I particularly hope that you’ve found a gem or two among these quotes, and that you have been inspired by the singing Reformer to sing with joy and boldness!
All quotes are taken from the following source, gratefully borrowed from the church library:
Luther, Martin. “Music.” In What Luther Says, edited by Ewald M. Plass, II: Glory to Prayer:979–83. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1959.
Ryanne Molinari 