Songs of Victory
The Importance of Music in Home Education

by Steve Turley

The Book of Revelation is noted for its visions of heaven. In almost every instance, John had a vision of the inhabitants singing the praises of God (5:8-9ff; 7:9-12; 11:16-17; 12:10; 14:2-3; 15:2-4; 19:1ff). Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) wrote, "Parents ought to be careful that their children are instructed in singing, that they may be capable of performing that part of divine worship. This we should do, as we would have our children trained up for heaven." (1) We should pause to reflect on what Edwards has said, for it is a profound insight. If we disregard instructing our children in singing we will -- to that extent -- fail to train them up for heaven!

Music and Praise

Music is important because praise is important. Biblically, music and praise are almost synonymous. They are God-glorifying expressions of both the mind and heart. This is how Edwards understood the concept of praise, "The praise of God, as it is used in Scripture, implies the high esteem and love of the heart, exalting thoughts of God, and complacence [delight] in his excellence and perfection." (2) In short, praise flows from a mind in love with God.

Music also displays God's glory in both the mind and heart. The words of a song can give to us a clear expression of the knowledge of God. And when that knowledge is swept up in a beautiful melody of love and adoration, then the people of God may both know and love their God. Dr. Louis Schuler has commented that God asks us to sing because he requires our praises to be heartfelt, and music has the power to uplift our emotions and stir our hearts, "the acts of singing and of hearing others who are singing helps to focus attention on the meaning of the words and moves our emotions in a way that words alone may not accomplish." (3)

The similarity of singing and praising can be seen in how they function as ways of teaching in Scripture. This is expressed throughout the Book of Psalms, many of which are melody-filled exhortations and rejoicings of the acts and Law of God. His mighty acts were not to be merely studied, but praised (Ps 150:2). One generation was to praise the works of God to the next generation, declaring His mighty acts (Ps 145:4). In Colossians 3:16, Paul presents music as a form of teaching, a means of communicating instruction (cf. Ephesians 5:19; 1 Chronicles 25:1). In this way, God is not just studied, He is rejoiced in!

Because God is so glorious, we cannot just talk about Him, we must praise Him through song. When God's people sing songs of praise, they get the joy and He gets the glory! This is the unity of music and praise.

Music in the Home

Sadly, in many home schooling families, music has taken a back seat. Parents feel ill-equipped to instruct their children in music. They are comfortable teaching subjects like reading, writing, math, science, and history. But music? Songs of praise? "How can I teach music when I am tone deaf?" is the common concern.

It is important to keep in mind that the ultimate purpose for learning history, math, and science, or whatever we do, is praise! We learn about the world, history, math, science, and languages not as an end in themselves, but as they relate to the glory of God. This is the biblical view of the Lordship of Jesus over all of life. Christ was raised from the dead in order to have pre-eminence in all things (Col 1:13-18). We must "cast down reasonings and every high thing which is exalted against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10:5) in whom "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are deposited" (Col 2:3). Thus, we are to do all things for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), relying on his Word, which is able to equip us for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). The Lordship of Christ covers all human activities.

The universal Lordship of Christ warrants the universal nature of God's praise. All creation is to praise God and declare His glory (Ps 19:1-6; Job 12:7-8). All the earth is to sing to God and show forth His salvation from day to day (Ps 96:1-2). All the families of the peoples are to give glory to God (1 Chron 16:28). His praise is to be continually in our mouths, inviting others to magnify God with us (Ps 34:1, 3). We are to declare His praises among the nations and in the midst of all peoples (Ps 57:9; 108:1-3). Indeed, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" (Ps 150:6). The hymn says it well, "All the world shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea."

Music, as it is a primary means of praise, cannot be undermined in home education. Neglect in this area has had profound consequences for the church. I recall some time ago, a musical colleague informed me that he was planning to travel throughout Africa for several months. He said, out of all the preparation needed for such a venture, the most difficult challenge was finding a substitute for his job. He was a praise and worship leader at a local church, which surprised me, since I did not know he was a Christian. I was informed that the substitute offer was turned down because people didn't want to deal with religion and all that God talk. I was stunned when he told me how he responded to them. "It's not about God," he said, "it's just a gig, God has nothing to do with it."

Reflecting on his comments, I have often pondered why the church does this. Why would she ever rely on the secular world to help with the worship of a God they don't even believe in? Are there really so few in the church who could lead the congregation in song?

Many parents simply do not feel qualified to teach music. They may have never learned to play an instrument. Some may really be tone-deaf! What then can a parent do to reverse this cycle and train themselves and their children to fill the earth with songs of praise?

Some Practical Tips

Begin by group singing. Join the choir at church. There you can learn how to sing in different parts (soprano, alto, etc.) and read music. Or perhaps form a small group of like-minded people who would like to get together once a week to sing through hymns. Incorporate what you have learned in your home by having daily family worship, singing songs of praise together. Choose an instrument that you have always wanted to play, then ask around church to see if there is anyone who plays that instrument and who could show you the basics. If not, there should be many opportunities for music lessons in your community. Sign-up for three months of lessons at a local music store. Everything you learn you can put in a praise music context and apply it to family worship. Then pass it down to your children.

Fretboard Fellowship

Fretboard Fellowship Ministries is also taking up this call. Our mission is to awaken all peoples to the worship of God by using music as a means to proclaim, teach, and enjoy the fullness of His glory. By focusing primarily on the guitar, we seek to provide families with the resources they need in order to learn, teach, and play a musical instrument as a means of praising God.

Why Guitar?

The guitar is a wonderfully practical instrument. It is portable and relatively easy to play. Once one has learned the basic chords, he or she can play countless hymns. The guitar is a perfect instrument for family devotions, mission trips, and retreats. But most of all, our vision is for the world, by God's grace, to be filled with the sounds of countless guitars and voices raised for His glory.

Guitar Worship Books for Beginners and Co-ops

Fretboard Fellowship's guitar worship books teach basic guitar chords with over thirty hymns and choruses. The approach and arrangements of songs have all been prepared for those who have never played an instrument before. This will enable young people to learn guitar very quickly. For parents who have never played an instrument before, they can learn to play all the basic chords and hymns in just a few months, then pass it down to their children.

For those parents and children who want to learn, but not on their own, we offer small group co-ops at local churches throughout the nation. This involves our Teaching Ministry, where we produce materials that equip Christian guitar players at a local church with the information they need in order to effectively teach the guitar to others.

Once basic guitar chords are learned, we can then recover the God-ordained use of music and praise. Parents can teach their children all kinds of hymns that in turn teach them the truths of God. To this end, one of our books, "Tuning Children's Hearts," puts the First Catechism to music, arranging the great hymns of the faith to give a systematic understanding of Scripture. "Songs of Christmas Joy" is our Christmas book that uses music as a way of teaching about Creation, the Fall, the Incarnation and Atonement of Christ.

Praising God, Playing Guitar

This is the vision of Fretboard Fellowship Ministries. Every week there will be churches and homes where all ages can come and learn to play the guitar for the glory of God. Parents will be learning guitar, then passing it down to their children. The church will have an abundance of singers and instrumentalists. Whether it is for small group Bible studies, Sunday schools, worship services, mission trips, or prison ministries, Fretboard Fellowship is dedicated to providing the body of Christ with an outpouring of God-centered music to proclaim His glory to the joy of all people.

However it is our ultimate prayer that through music education we will faithfully train our children for heaven. As we do, may we all taste here on earth a sample of the incomparable glory that is to come, a future so beautifully captured by the words of the great hymn, "Amazing Grace":

"When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun."

1  Jonathan Edwards, "Praise, one of the chief employments of heaven," The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 2 (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1998), 917.
2  James White, "The Sovereign God, the Grace of Christ, and Sinful Man," http.//www.aomin.org/sovereign.html.
3  Dr. Louis and Kimberly Schuler, A Review of the New Trinity Hymnal, www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblicalhorizons/mRR.shtml?rr/RR016.htm, 3-4.

Return to the Article Index.