As a follow up to my last post, Music with Scriptural Lyrics… (see categories, Christian Music), I wanted to provide some examples of music sung in Reformed Presbyterian Church services. (The term “Reformed” indicates that a church subscribes to the doctrine of the Protestant Reformation, the 5 Solas is the chief distinguishing characteristic of Reformed doctrine, see end of post.)
I think it is important to hear music from the Reformed church because it is rich in Bible doctrine. If you know and love your Bible, then you will resonate with the following music.
From the Trinity Hymnal: One of Martin Luther’s hymns: A Mighty Fortress is Our God:
The above song contains biblical doctrine including: God is almighty, omnipotent, omnipresent; He is a Rock; one may rest in Him, hide in Him; Satan is our foe who wants to destroy us, but one may endure by trusting in God; only God’s strength will prevail against Satan; Christ is eternal Lord and will win against all foes; God’s truth will overrule Satan’s lies and so on.
The second hymn is Rock of Ages by Augustus Toplady, 1775:
Toplady’s hymn contains some of the most basic and important doctrinal ideas in the Biblical gospel message: Christ died for sinners; only by His atoning work can a believer be saved; the works of our hands avail us nothing in God’s courtroom, in which all will appear; the only thing believers bring with them to the cross is their sin, all atoning work was performed by Christ; we are vile sinners but Christ’s atoning work covers such who know this about themselves and throw themselves upon Christ….
The next two songs are from the Book of Psalms for Singing, or another reformed protestant Psalter: The first selection is Psalm 98:
Many types of music may not be acceptable in worship; but I am absolutely certain that singing God’s word from the Psalms is totally acceptable to Him; that is one of the chief benefits of singing Psalms; and of course, that knowledge of God changes the heart, and the Psalms are rich in knowledge of God:
The second Psalm set to words is Psalm 40A (“A” indicates that this psalm is broken into parts, so this song may not contain all the words from the Bible Psalm 40):
The above music has been posted for professed Christians who have never taken part in worship at a Reformed Presbyterian church; and as examples of doctrinally rich music.
If you have read through your Bible; or if you have been abiding in God’s appointed means of grace, then you know that it is doctrine, knowledge of God that changes the heart; not man’s will power or his pragmatic, ingenious worship services, such as presently abound in the Church.
The Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation: (I recommend reading about them, as they are just listed below, not explained):
The Five Solas served as the collective rallying cry of the Protestant Reformers. These Latin phrase—Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria—tell us that Scripture alone is our highest authority and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone.