Note: The author of this article, Pastor Zhu Guijin, is a teacher from the East China Theological Seminary and a member of the Shanghai Musicians Association.
I once studied at East China Theological Seminary when it was located in the north building of Mu'en Church in Shanghai, and there I met the senior pastor of Mu'en Church, Pastor Shi Qigui, who was a pioneer in the field of Christian music.
I remember that Pastor Shi once said, "A preacher who doesn't know music only counts half!" As I gained more experience in church ministry, I've found Pastor Shi's words to be increasingly profound.
Worship
In Sunday service, the congregation usually sings at least two or three hymns. I once heard a female pastor sing an octave lower when she was leading worship. While it sounded awkward and uncomfortable, it would also distract the congregation from the content of the hymns and even affect the quality of the service.
I had also seen several pastors who just stood quietly in front of the microphone while leading the worship. The reason could be they did not know how to sing the song, nor did they prepare for it. The whole service became dull and confusing just because the leading pastor did not know how to sing.
If the pastor can sing or is more skilled in music, he or she will be able to completely change the atmosphere of the service and lead the congregation to participate more fully in worship during the service.
Preaching
In gospel-centered churches, sermons tend to be relatively long. As a result, believers can easily fall asleep during the sermon. Therefore, the pastor can try to include an appropriate song in the sermon; he can sing it himself or ask the choir or the congregation to sing it. Such an arrangement can not only make the sermon more lively, effective, and acceptable but also allow the believers to become more involved.
Music is an advanced language. When people cannot express their thoughts in words, they often resort to music. Therefore, if pastors know how to use music to express certain parts of the sermon, it will have surprising effects.
Holy Communion
I had witnessed the officiating pastors in many communion services go horribly out of tune right after a brief prayer, even though they had sung the same hymn before the prayer with piano accompaniment. They would go up or down but could not hit the right pitch, causing the pianists to panic and ruining the beauty of the service.
In my opinion, while we cannot expect pastors to be skilled musicians, they should at least acquire a basic accuracy of pitch so that they will not be out of tune when they lead the congregation in singing.
Visiting
Once I went to visit Mrs. Shi, Pastor Shi's wife, who had suffered a stroke for a long time and had great difficulty speaking and greeting people. But when I told her that I was going to sing the hymn "Lead, Kindly Light, Amid the Encircling Gloom" to her, she was immediately in high spirits and said, "It is the 262nd hymn." After that, we sang some hymns together, and Mrs. Shi was in a good mood and cheerful the entire time.
If pastors can sing hymns while visiting and comforting the sick, it will certainly be more effective than just using words. This is because Christian music (especially traditional hymns) contains teachings from the Bible as well as important messages such as Christology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology. By singing these hymns, pastors will bring joy, comfort, and hope to the people they visit without even realizing it.
Communication
Since the church is open to the public, there will be many opportunities for the church to have exchanges with foreign visitors. If the communication consists only of talking, it can become dry and lifeless. But if it includes singing, it can help shorten the distance between the two parties because music is an international language. so even if you do not understand the lyrics, which are in another language, you will understand the sentiments conveyed by the melody.
Even in the internal communication between churches, in the communication between the church and social scientists, or in various social activities in which the church participates, the musical knowledge of pastors is indispensable.
Pastors will look stupid in front of foreign guests if they cannot answer even simple questions such as "What is a cantata," "What is a requiem," "What is a mass," or "Where did Bach and Handel come from?"
Knowledge
If a pastor has learned vocalization skills specifically, then such skills will help him reduce fatigue while preaching. Since no one likes to listen to a hoarse and breathy voice, knowing how to control your airflow and adjust your resonance while preaching will not only make your voice pleasant to the believers but will also help you reduce fatigue while preaching.
Preachers must hold the Bible in one hand and a hymnbook in the other—they should be people who understand the Scriptures and can sing, who are learned and artistic, and who have reason and sense as well as love and principles.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
笔者曾在上海沐恩堂北楼就读于华东神学院，当时认识了沐恩堂的主任牧师史奇珪牧师，他是一位圣乐的前辈。
记得他曾说：“不懂音乐的传道人只能算半个传道人！”随着在教会里服事经验的增加，越来越觉得史牧师的话是很有道理的。
主礼
在主日崇拜中，崇拜程序中至少有二三首会众唱诗。笔者看到过一位女牧师在主礼时用低八度在领会众唱诗，感觉特别奇怪和不舒服。这样打断会众对诗歌内容的专注，甚至影响到崇拜的质量。
还见过几位牧师，在主领会众唱诗的时候站在话筒前没有声音发出，可能是这首诗他不会唱，也对此没有任何准备。所以整个唱诗过程因为主礼牧者不会唱诗而变得沉闷混乱。
如果牧者懂得歌唱，或者有好的音乐素养，就会使崇拜的气氛完全改观，带领会众在崇拜中更好地敬拜上帝。
讲道
圣言为主的教会崇拜中讲道的时间往往比较长，因此常常看到信徒在讲道中打盹睡觉的情况。这时，牧者可以尝试在讲道中适当插入跟讲道内容配合的歌唱的部分，自己唱，或者诗班唱，或者请会众唱。这样不仅使讲道活泼有功效，令人喜欢接受和投入。
音乐是更高级的语言，当人们的思想没有办法用言语表达的时候，往往会诉诸于音乐。所以，讲道中牧者若懂得适当用音乐表达圣道中的某些部分，定会有出奇的效果。
圣餐
我在许多圣餐礼拜中，听到过主礼的牧师唱赞美诗走音很厉害。刚刚唱过的诗歌，虽有然钢琴伴奏，经过短暂的祷告后，再唱同一首诗歌，音准就找不到了。唱得非高即低，令司琴手忙脚乱，崇拜的美好感觉就被破坏。
笔者认为，虽然不能要求牧者能达到音乐学院里对视唱练耳的要求，但牧者至少能有基本的音准，在领唱赞美诗的时候不至于走音。
探访
有次笔者去探望史师母，当时她已经中风很久，说话打招呼都非常困难。但当我说给她唱首赞美诗《慈光歌》的时候，她马上精神好起来，告诉我说“这是赞美诗262首”。我们一起唱了几首赞美诗，整个过程她都很激动快乐。
如果牧者能在探访中多用唱诗来陪伴和安慰病痛者，会强过平白的言词。因为音乐（特别是传统经典的赞美诗）里面有圣经真理，也有基督论，教会论，末世论等重要信息。在唱诗的过程中，不知不觉就将喜乐、安慰、盼望都带给了被探访者。
交流
教会的开放总有许多与外宾交流的时候，如果一直都是不断地交谈，有时会显得干巴没有活力。但如果用歌唱的形式，双方就可能会很快没有距离感。因为音乐是国际性语言，你可能听不懂文字，但你会听得懂音乐语言所传递的感情。
即便是教会与教会之间的内部交流，教会与社会学者之间的交流，或者社会上某些需要教会参与的种种活动之中，牧者的音乐素养是必不可少的。例如“什么叫康塔塔”，“什么是安魂曲”，“什么是弥撒曲”，“巴赫、韩德尔是哪国人”等最最简单的问题，如果牧者在交流的时候连这些都不懂，会让外宾见笑的。
修养
一个牧者若有专门学过如何发声，那么声乐技巧会帮助减轻讲道时的疲劳。谁都不喜欢听既破又漏气的声音。懂得用气息讲道，懂得用共鸣位置讲道，不仅让信徒觉得你的声音好听舒服，而且也会减轻你讲道的疲劳。
传道人要一手拿圣经一手拿赞美诗，既懂解经也懂歌唱，既富有知识也懂得艺术，既理性又感性，既有原则又善爱人。
注：本文作者为朱贵金牧师，福音时报蒙允转载发布。
谈谈牧者音乐素养的重要性
Note: The author of this article, Pastor Zhu Guijin, is a teacher from the East China Theological Seminary and a member of the Shanghai Musicians Association.
I once studied at East China Theological Seminary when it was located in the north building of Mu'en Church in Shanghai, and there I met the senior pastor of Mu'en Church, Pastor Shi Qigui, who was a pioneer in the field of Christian music.
I remember that Pastor Shi once said, "A preacher who doesn't know music only counts half!" As I gained more experience in church ministry, I've found Pastor Shi's words to be increasingly profound.
Worship
In Sunday service, the congregation usually sings at least two or three hymns. I once heard a female pastor sing an octave lower when she was leading worship. While it sounded awkward and uncomfortable, it would also distract the congregation from the content of the hymns and even affect the quality of the service.
I had also seen several pastors who just stood quietly in front of the microphone while leading the worship. The reason could be they did not know how to sing the song, nor did they prepare for it. The whole service became dull and confusing just because the leading pastor did not know how to sing.
If the pastor can sing or is more skilled in music, he or she will be able to completely change the atmosphere of the service and lead the congregation to participate more fully in worship during the service.
Preaching
In gospel-centered churches, sermons tend to be relatively long. As a result, believers can easily fall asleep during the sermon. Therefore, the pastor can try to include an appropriate song in the sermon; he can sing it himself or ask the choir or the congregation to sing it. Such an arrangement can not only make the sermon more lively, effective, and acceptable but also allow the believers to become more involved.
Music is an advanced language. When people cannot express their thoughts in words, they often resort to music. Therefore, if pastors know how to use music to express certain parts of the sermon, it will have surprising effects.
Holy Communion
I had witnessed the officiating pastors in many communion services go horribly out of tune right after a brief prayer, even though they had sung the same hymn before the prayer with piano accompaniment. They would go up or down but could not hit the right pitch, causing the pianists to panic and ruining the beauty of the service.
In my opinion, while we cannot expect pastors to be skilled musicians, they should at least acquire a basic accuracy of pitch so that they will not be out of tune when they lead the congregation in singing.
Visiting
Once I went to visit Mrs. Shi, Pastor Shi's wife, who had suffered a stroke for a long time and had great difficulty speaking and greeting people. But when I told her that I was going to sing the hymn "Lead, Kindly Light, Amid the Encircling Gloom" to her, she was immediately in high spirits and said, "It is the 262nd hymn." After that, we sang some hymns together, and Mrs. Shi was in a good mood and cheerful the entire time.
If pastors can sing hymns while visiting and comforting the sick, it will certainly be more effective than just using words. This is because Christian music (especially traditional hymns) contains teachings from the Bible as well as important messages such as Christology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology. By singing these hymns, pastors will bring joy, comfort, and hope to the people they visit without even realizing it.
Communication
Since the church is open to the public, there will be many opportunities for the church to have exchanges with foreign visitors. If the communication consists only of talking, it can become dry and lifeless. But if it includes singing, it can help shorten the distance between the two parties because music is an international language. so even if you do not understand the lyrics, which are in another language, you will understand the sentiments conveyed by the melody.
Even in the internal communication between churches, in the communication between the church and social scientists, or in various social activities in which the church participates, the musical knowledge of pastors is indispensable.
Pastors will look stupid in front of foreign guests if they cannot answer even simple questions such as "What is a cantata," "What is a requiem," "What is a mass," or "Where did Bach and Handel come from?"
Knowledge
If a pastor has learned vocalization skills specifically, then such skills will help him reduce fatigue while preaching. Since no one likes to listen to a hoarse and breathy voice, knowing how to control your airflow and adjust your resonance while preaching will not only make your voice pleasant to the believers but will also help you reduce fatigue while preaching.
Preachers must hold the Bible in one hand and a hymnbook in the other—they should be people who understand the Scriptures and can sing, who are learned and artistic, and who have reason and sense as well as love and principles.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
The Importance of Musical Knowledge for Pastors
