Music and Dance in Worship

The Christian interpretation of the Bible includes a “mandate to sing,” and specifically to sing in physical collaboration with others. This instruction is laid out in several scriptures, specifically Psalm 149:1, which reads:

Praise the Lord.[a]

Sing to the Lord a new song,

    his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

Additionally, Colossians 3:16, which encourages Christians to “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Psalms and original music began being incorporated into Baptist services as far back as the 1670’s, a controversial choice that caused further schisms among Baptist believers. The first book of songs, “Spiritual Melody,” was published by Benjamin Keach in 1691. It contained over 300 hymns.

The “right” music, traditional or contemporary, to use in the practice worship is the subject of much debate. Two Baptist ministers on either side of the argument collaborated on a set of “Foundational Points of Agreement” in 2015. In brief, they agreed that the music used must complement the educational aims of the church. As singing is meant to be an act of praise, an offering to God, the music employed must be centered on expressions of belief (rather than, as is assumed of contemporary music, aimed at drawing in non-believers).

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More here:

https://baptistbulletin.org/the-baptist-bulletin-magazine/the-great-church-music-debate/

http://religiousaffections.org/articles/hymnody/biblical-mandate-sing/