All Music is Beautiful

Music has a universal way of reaching people’s hearts like nothing else. The American composer Billy Strayhorn, who wrote the jazz classic, “Take the A Train,” said something so simple yet so profound,

“All music is beautiful.”

Whether it’s rock and roll, country western, classical, jazz, hip-hop, pop, folk, indy, etc., every style of music has someone who admires it, who is moved by it, and who sees it as beautiful.

We have an old upright piano in our living room and I love hearing it played.  It’s a little out of tune, and a few of the keys don’t work quite right, but it still works and can actually sound amazing. Although you may like one style over another, the truth is no matter who’s playing our piano, there’s something beautiful about it.

This morning we were treated by our friend who is an accomplished pianist, Caleb Collins, playing various songs from the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Although not as accomplished as Caleb, my wife Kathie has plucked out some of her masterpieces on this piano.  My son Cameron, who has never taken a piano lesson, can sit for hours playing and creating at the same piano.  Then there are the many kids (and some adults) who can’t resist playing chopsticks or just pressing the keys in some random order.  I love all of it!

Unfortunately in the church different styles of music are seen more as points of division rather than objects of beauty.  Some opinions and approaches to worship are so adamantly held that it makes one believe God actually likes one particular style better than another.  David cut through everything when he said,

“But Lord you are holy and you inhabit the praises of your people.” (Ps 22:3)
“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me.” (Ps 50:23)

One style or approach to worship cannot be held as superior. Whatever is being played, sung, jammed, shouted, rapped, whispered, unto God it draws his presence and glorifies him no matter who is doing it.

All of it is beautiful!