Die funksionaliteit van die laat twintigsteeeuse kerklied

Abstract

The functionality of the late twentieth-century church song

In contemporary hymnbooks used by Protestant churches in South Africa, church songs display a variety in style and kind. This article is an attempt to investigate the general function and meaning of the church song.

Regarding the nature of the worship service characteristic of the church of today, the following contradictory observation can be made: the contemporary church experiences an apparent liturgical decline yet at the same time a vigorous reform of the church song is taking place.

The general modes of the New Testament church, i.e. kerygma, koinonia and leitourgia (see Acts 2:42) can also be applied to the communicative functions of the church song. These modes are also mentioned in the writings of the Reformers, Calvin and Luther, thus providing a Biblical foundation for the role and function of the church song.

Several songs included in the new Liedboek van die kerk are used to demonstrate how the modes of kerygma, koinonia and leitourgia influence and determine the function and use of the church song.

The conclusion arrived at in this article is that the variety of musical styles present in contemporary church music can only be understood and implemented meaningfully, if liturgicians and members of congregations are aware of the functionality of church music as revealed in the Scriptures.