The Salvation Army needs more music. That simple truth was brought home to me some years ago through the inspired insight of a young Salvationist.

I was with a group of teenagers and we were discussing the Army’s future. I ventured the suggestion that perhaps when church historians studied the first hundred and more years of the Army’s history, they would conclude that music had been given a disproportionate prominence in its activities. Should there be less emphasis on music in the Army? That was the question.

“Less music?” asked this young man, as if he could not believe his ears. “Why on earth would we want to cut back on the greatest way of communicating that we have? Music is the thing that everyone has in common!

“What do people do when they wake up in the morning?” he continued. “They reach out and switch on music. They listen to music over breakfast. They travel to work with music. Many listen to music all day as they work. And then in the evening, they return home to the sound of music, and as often as not spend the rest of the day with music—when watching TV or listening to recorded music, or when going out with friends.

“God has given the Army an enormous advantage by entrusting it with the gift of music. It has been given a universal language—a ready-made road into everyone’s heart and mind. You’re not suggesting,” he added, “that we should give up all of that, are you?”

The words tumbled out with passion and eloquence—and with irresistible logic. It was one of those moments of insight when the obvious suddenly becomes startlingly clear. If music is one of God’s gifts to the Army, we don’t want less of it—we want more!

What we need is music that speaks to every heart. Music that speaks to the traditionalist and the non-traditionalist. Music that inspires the believer and captures the non-believer. Music that appeals to the young and music that entrances the elderly. High-brow music, popular music, classical music, contemporary music. Music for voice and music for brass. Music for keyboard and for guitar. No heart must be left out of reach!

But there is something else we need in addition to all of that, and it is this: We need to use music-making—and not only music-listening—for mission and outreach. As an Army we show admirable ingenuity in devising ways of reaching out to people and attracting them into our halls—one has only to look at the vast range of programs on offer in corps. But we have shown a strange reluctance to use one of the things we know most about, namely music-making, as a way of reaching out and attracting people.

Our philosophy and structures have worked against us here. In traditional Army thinking, you have to be a signed-up, uniform-wearing soldier to participate in junior and senior musical sections. And there is no doubt that this has given the Army a remarkable body of musicians who have upheld, and still do, the most admirable standards of music-making and discipline. I admire them greatly, and pray that they may go from strength to strength. But my hope is that, in parallel with these sections where they function, we may increasingly use open groups—open to those who have not yet come to faith—and let music-making become a means of evangelism.

These open groups take many forms. In some corps, the established sections include non-uniformed and non-Salvationist members. Other corps offer music lessons to young people, or they form open youth or gospel or community choirs or bands. The fastest-growing section in the corps where I soldier in London, England—and the corps’ most effective means of outreach—is a recently launched community choir.

“One way of disarming The Salvation Army,” wrote Bernard Watson in his 1965 history of the Army, “would be to remove its music!” One way of re-arming the Army, says I, is to add music-making to our evangelistic armoury.

Reprinted from others magazine (Australia), April 2017.

General John Larsson (Rtd) is a former international leader of The Salvation Army.

Feature photo: Shairon Paterson

Comment

On Thursday, October 26, 2017, Phil said:

The challenge is for the Army to keep music in its proper perspective. Music is to be a means to worship but never the object. I have seen far too often Army musicians not turn out to a service when the band is not 'on duty'!

 

On Saturday, August 26, 2017, Brenda Fuss said:

Hallelujah I agree with the wonderful ability music has to evangelize. The Salvation Army has a solid history and has a proven record. One has only to see the street marches in history with bands worshipping and lost souls finding their way to them. I must say I lean towards the traditional brass however realize there is a need to be progressive and open.

 

On Tuesday, August 22, 2017, Concerned said:

Far be it for me to disagree with the good General on this issue, but the notion of the "whosoever" potentially playing in one of our (slowly disappearing) corps bands leaves me just a little uneasy. While it is difficult to disagree with his logic is what he suggests not yet a potential further dilution of the purpose of Army banding?

If what he is contemplating is restricted to corps developing "parallel" open groups then I tend to support the General. But just like I still somewhat chafe when I hear a town band play "My All is on the Altar" or a high school band struggle through " The Great Salvation War" ( with absolutely no notion of the significance of what they are playing) the thought of our Corps becoming to some little more than a place where they take music lessons or play in some group is just a little disconcerting. We are far, far more than a benevolent Christian music society, and I hope that the General's thoughts in this regard will never inadvertently become a slippery slope.

 

On Friday, August 18, 2017, Dan Parsons said:

Army music is indeed what sets us apart. If only Army band music was written for woodwinds as well. I feel we lose a lot of young talent because so much emphasis is put on brass bands

 

On Friday, August 18, 2017, Gborgblorvor Jasper said:

Music is an important tool in soul wining nowadays, but most of the Corps in my division are lacking the instruments especially my Corps, I'm pleading come to our aid and coach us to play standard Salvation Army songs to glorify God. We also need the tune book, all parts. It can be soft copy or hard copy. Thank you God bless you all for your support

 

On Friday, August 18, 2017, John said:

Yes

 

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