Here’s what Martin Luther had to say about music:

“Music is a fair and lovely gift of God which has often wakened and moved me to the joy of preaching. St. Augustine was troubled in conscience whenever he caught himself delighting in music, which he took to be sinful. He was a choice spirit and were he living today would agree with us. I have no use for cranks who despise music because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people gay; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance and the like. Next after theology I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.” (Bainton, Roland H. Here I Stand. Nashville: Abingdon Press, ©2013, p.352)

Luther’s teaching brought revolutionary thinking not only to the world of theology but to the world of music. St Augustine’s attitude toward music was the norm. Up until this time in church history, only the clergy sang or rather chanted in the Mass. And they sang in Latin which was not understood by the people attending the Mass. They certainly did not “delight” in music.

Luther understood the value and power of music. He wanted to use it as a teaching tool to spread the Word of God to all. He wanted people to become inflamed with the Spirit and integrate the lessons learned in the songs into their daily lives. Because there had been no congregational singing in the past, there were no congregational hymns.

Luther set to work to write hymns which taught the biblical truths about God and His love for His people. He sent out an SOS to German poets to join him in creating new hymns for the people to sing during their worship services. He instructed them to use the psalms as a starting point and write compositions in the vernacular so that the people would understand what they were singing. Hence, they would learn the wonderful Good News of Christ. Luther had a goal to bring the “priesthood of all believers” into God’s choir in church.

Luther himself wrote more than 30 hymns which are still sung today. Among them, “All Praise to Thee Eternal God”, “To Shepards as They Watched by Night”, In Peace and Joy I Now Depart” and “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” I grew up in the Roman Catholic tradition before Vatican II. I was envious of my Protestant friends and their beautiful hymns. Vatican II took place when I was in high school. I remember the joy of learning to sing new hymns and integrating hymns from other traditions into our worship services. I was delighted!

I have included Luther’s “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” as a beautiful example of teaching biblical truths in a manner that is meaningful and has staying power. Martin Luther wrote this Christmas hymn for his son Hans in 1531. What further proof do we need that God loves us unconditionally than that He has given us music. Be delighted!

Terri