The Beauty of Christian Music

My Story - God's Story

Worship. Adoration. Music. Silence.

Hands raised. Eyes lifted. Voices resounding.

Hands still. Eyes low. Thoughtful contemplation.

In my own life, I’ve often paused to marvel at the beauty of music and its place in the Church - shaping personal devotion, strengthening families, enriching small groups, and enlivening classrooms.

The very nature of music is a creative flood - overflowing into countless genres, purposes, and styles, each shaped for its own occasion, space, environment, time, and place. Music is anything but rigid or stagnant; it is alive, dynamic, and deeply connected to human experience. If we want to understand the purpose and place of music within the Christian life, we must begin at the beginning: with the simple definition of music itself.

music  

[noun]

vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion 

Okay. Now lets look at the definition of worship.

worship

[verb]

to have or show a strong feeling of respect and admiration for God

Let’s go deeper. What forms does worship embody?

praise

prayer

proclamation.

Now put them together.

worship music

[noun phrase]

a proclamation of the work of Christ, prayer to God, and praise to the Spirit of God who indwells believers.

In the following, I am going to share my personal experience of music within reformed churches, pentecostal churches, interdenominational organisations, and the wonder of Christian music within the classroom. My desire of this writing is to enrich your understanding of christian music within its different forms. I long for music to be more

than something you simply participate in, but a beautiful expression of faith, longing, hope, and joy. A meaningful articulation of praise, prayer, and proclamation.

The Primary Years: Creche, Sunday School, The Classroom

Developing Biblical literacy is crucial in the early years of a child’s life. The songs they hear, sing, shout, dance to, become beautifully embedded in their malleable minds.

Music in early childhood enhances memory, rhythm, language, and focus. Therefore, acting as a powerful cognitive tool, stimulating multiple brain areas, aiding the development of long-term memory.

According to the Queensland Government Education, “music is one of the few activities that use both sides of the brain; logical and creative”.

As an individual who grew up within the Christian context, I have been abundantly

blessed by Christian music throughout childhood.

As an infant, I attended Church music practice with my mother.

As she would rehearse for the Sunday gathering, I would sit, listen, and dance.

The music within this context was reformed theological, thoughtful, full of scripture and abundant in biblical truths. Some of these songs, I still sing these days. Some may say they are ‘outdated’, or ‘repeated too much’,

yet I say what an incredible reminder of God’s faithfulness.

The songs I sung as an infant, I still sing today - a remarkable, indescribable reminder

of God’s faithfulness.

Now, at the precious age of 5 years old, I began Kindergarten at a local Christian

school. On day one, my Kindergarten teacher brought her guitar. Once more, biblical truths were put to music - both the slow reflective form, and the boisterous - filled with movement and passion.

To illustrate the impact of Christian Music on early childhood, this is my story:

At the age of 8 years old, I found it extremely difficult to make friends.

I would collect lady bugs of trees, run around the playground,

and sit on the step of my classroom. One day, I decided that, if Jesus is my friend,

I can sing to him - and so my little 8 year old voice began to sing aloud

‘Be Strong and Courageous’ by Colin Buchanan.

Naturally, it was extremely challenging not having a buddy, so I would cry.

Yet. I would still sing...

Be strong and courageous

The Lord of the Ages

Hold all His little ones safe by His side...

Holds all His little ones safe.

I continued...

Do not fear the darkness

Do not fear the sadness

Jesus has conquered them all.

As I write this, with tears in my eyes, I listen to this song, absolutely in awe of God’s faithfulness and kindness to me. Through Christian music, the faithfulness of the adults around me, biblical truths were deeply embedded in my mind and spirit.

Listening daily to Colin Buchanan, Emu music, Morrow music, Sovereign Grace, and classic hymnals fundamentally formed my perception of music within the Christian life, simultaneously establishing a sound theological foundation.

The Highschool Years: Camps, Conferences, Changes

The powerful influence of Christian music continued.

As I aged, my exposure to Christian music shifted and evolved.

At the annual conference my family attended every year since I was one,

I first heard “One Who Saves” by Hillsong Worship in the 6-GR8 program.

This song was sung after discovering that 7,400 people groups have not yet been reached with the gospel.

The Joshua Project outlines that there are, this day, 135,000,000 unreached Shaikh of Bangladesh, 59,000,000 unreached Brahman of India, 58,000,000 unreached Yadav of India, and 37,000,000 unreached Java Pesisir Lor of Indonesia.

This is not accounting for all individuals. All lives. All souls. Around the world.

So we sang:

Come join the song

Lift your voice

As heaven and earth give praise

Turn from old ways

Lift your eyes

For the kingdom of God is here

Open your heart

Offer all

For Jesus Christ is here

And the chorus resounded:

we have found our hope

we have found our peace

we have found our rest

In the One who loves

He will light the way

He will lead us home

As we offer all

To the One who saves us

Tears were in my eyes - but the different kind. An indescribable reverence.

A desperate plee. An unfathomable grace. Yes - emotion in music.

The Holy Spirit deeply at work in my heart revealing God’s purpose for us - to take the gospel to all nations.

Concurrently, my Sister was 15, turning 16. She had introduced me to

‘Chains are Broken’ and ‘Praise Overflows’ by Soul Survivor.

In these fundamental pre-teen and teenage years, I discovered expression and may

I say it, the Holy Spirit, at work through music.

Now I have a theological foundation AND the incomprehensible realisation that God’s Spirit can be felt. Experienced. Realised.

Many years passed, and my best friend from school and I decided to move to a local Pentecostal church up the road. Admittedly, there was hesitation from brothers and

sisters within the reformed church. We went anyway.

WOW! We realised that the theological foundation we had acquired could be

brought into a vivid, dimensional, kaleidoscope of abundant colour and reality. The Scriptures were no longer black and white scribbles on a page, but a truth and actuality that could change our lives. The life of Jesus could be emulated, in us, 15 year old girls. So, we sang. We jumped. We went to Hillsong Conference - TWICE. We were in that Young and Free mosh pit, because if you can dance, sing, lift your hands in

celebration of popular music, how much more could you dance in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Through Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation music, I discovered a deep heart posture. Eyes that were truly fixed on King Jesus with a fearful reverence that would dictate the course of my life.

So life continued - I joined the worship team, attended bible study,

established a Christian group at school with some wonderful, faithful friends and

attended church on the weekly.

Time for a decision - LIFE

Now it is College - Year 11 and 12. It is decision time. What will I do with myself?

What is the purpose of my life? How can I reconcile years of seeing God’s faithfulness

into a future that proclaims his name?

That’s it - a gap year. A gap year that focusses on cross-cultural mission.

And to do that, I will need to move from Canberra to Sydney at just 18. God’s got this.

He always has. He always will.

God is sovereign. He is to be feared. Jesus is the Old Testament fulfilled. There is a desperate need to share the gospel - surely that must mean overseas mission.

Yet, on this gap year, I attended a Buddhist temple, an Islamic mosque, and tended to infants of Muslim women at an English Second Language (ESL) in the heart of Lakemba. Astounded, I realised that the world has come to Sydney.

Cross-cultural mission can begin now. Here. With me - with us - with the church. There are souls searching for purpose, meaning, and hope. How could we withhold such a resounding, urgent truth?

In light of this, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Global Studies and returned to Canberra. Yet, this degree is not what I expected. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul states that

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of

evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God.”

This degree was proudly preaching against the truths of scripture. So, I left.

As I moved back to Canberra, I met a handsome man. He is now my husband of

5 years - now that’s another God story!

Together, we thought - if not Global Studies - then what?

Children. Infants. I love them. They are precious. To be adored. To be nurtured. Jesus himself states

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

What if... I could help the little children come to Jesus. That’s it. Primary Education. So I moved back to Sydney, got hitched, and continued my degree.

During this time, I worked as Assistant Children’s Minister and SRE coordinator at my local Anglican Church. God is faithful.

In the moment - right here, right now

Now, I have graduated with a Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) and

teach both at a wonderful local Christian school. By God's grace, scripture can go into local public schools, so I teach the bible there too.

Yes - I am bringing my guitar.

Yes - The truths of the gospel will resound within each classroom that I step into.

6 years after finishing my Diploma of Theology, I am returning to complete my

Bachelor of Theology - forever praying to be;

Christ-centred

Gospel-focused

Spirit-lead

Graduation Day

Parting words

My darling friend, if you have read to this point. Thank you.

It is my deepest prayer and longing that you would remain in Jesus. In life, there are moments when you may not be able to see beyond the thick fog.

Life may be unbearable, unspeakable, hopeless, confusing - without direction. Medical diagnoses are real. Debilitating. Haunting. But they do not define you.

My love, please fix your eyes on Jesus and follow His ways.

There is forgiveness, there is grace, there is hope for you.

I have been there. I am through it. I can now look back and see God’s goodness, faithfulness, and abounding grace. One day you will see God’s big picture.

Now you may not - that’s okay. Just keep going. Keep breathing. Keep persevering.

Most of all, keep playing that Christian music - because one day you will listen to that same song and be brought to tears with the rich love, compassion, and grace found in Christ alone.

You are loved and have the most beautiful purpose in God’s great salvation plan.

My advice? Discover the gifts and talents that have been bestowed upon you.

Sweet friend, do not bury these gifts.

Grow them.

Share them.

Use them.

For HIS glory.

Yours in Christ,

Claire Walker

You can contact me at: hello@nancymaeco.com

Instagram: nancymaeco