Expressive Individualism and Church Music — with Philip Percival and Alanna Glover

Posted on July 31, 2024 
Filed under Resources

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“What does Expressive Individualism mean for churches? And what specifically does it mean for church music?

Here is the expressive individualism worldview: ‘Truth comes from inside me. It’s important that I look inside to discover who I truly am’ and ‘I need to express my individuality and personal truth to the world around me to receive validation.’

That truth comes from within is the unspoken assumptions of guests who come to our churches.

And it’s a worldview that has impacts inside the church, including inside our music teams and inside the heads of the songwriters who write the songs that we sing.

Philip Percival and Alanna Glover lead the work of Emu Music, focussing on writing congregational songs and the training of church musicians and leaders.

Alanna is doing a masters research project in Expressive Individualism and Music, and Philip’s PhD is in the biblical theology of worship.”

And from the discussion, Philip Percival is asked about the playlists of songs in a number of evangelical churches –

“I can see that there’s a trend towards wanting to sing songs that are more songs of adoration.

Now, there’s nothing at all wrong with singing songs of adoration – that fits within our biblical model for singing – but that should be balanced with other songs that are teaching us, other songs that are allowing us to sit and be challenged and admonished by God’s Word. We want to be singing songs of confession and creedal songs where our singing is doing more than just giving me a voice to express my faith. …

So, are the songs that we’re singing rich in God’s Word?

Do they help us to teach and admonish one another?

Are the songs that we’re singing affectionate? Do they allow the Holy Spirit to shape our emotions and feelings and responses by the gospel?

Are our songs giving us a voice for praise and thanksgiving which is driven by the Word of Christ?”

– Watch or listen here.

Related:

Emu Music.

Faithful listening – Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant.