Cahaba Valley Church, an ecumenical Church of Christ

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A Cappella Music

Or, "So you don't have music at your church?"

One of the things that many visitors to our worship services immediately notice is that we sing at Cahaba Valley.  In fact, when it comes to music, singing is really what we do, because we do not use a piano, or an organ or a guitar or any other type of instrumental accompaniment.

So, yes, we have music--lots of it.  But, no, it's true that we do not have instrumentation to go with it.   

Why?

Well, it starts with history, but then it goes on from there.  Many of us at Cahaba Valley grew up in non-instrumental congregations, most of whom did not use instrumental accompaniment in music for two basic reasons.  First, they generally believed that there was no Biblical support for it in the New Testament or the practice of the early church.  Second, they were a part of a movement that sought simplicity and active participation in worship, over against the huge expense and ornateness of much of the church life they saw around them.   Behind both reasons was a conviction that God had put everything needed for life and for worship into the lives of every believer and that worship was a daily experience far beyond the Sunday morning assembly.

Some of those believers took their beliefs to the point of believing that it was a sin to utilize musical instrumentation, at least in the Sunday morning assembly, and that anyone who did utilize it was displeasing to God.

At Cahaba Valley, that is not our reason for our commitment to a cappella music.  Our commitment, however, is found in that original drive for worship that is simple, that actively involves and includes everyone and which does not focus large financial resources simply on ourselves or the Sunday morning assembly.  For us, too, worship is a lifestyle, not a Sunday morning event, and worship is not something that we come to as a spectator.  Rather, it is something we bring. The obvious facts about a cappella music are that it is definitely a congregational effort in which we learn to relate to each other in a very direct way--and the music flows from us very personally, if there is to be music at all.

Therefore, we find the ancient, simple practice of unaccompanied vocal music as the most fitting and expressive of our Christian discipleship.  We enjoy music of all types, just as everyone does, and we respect the worship traditions of others who are also seeking to offer themselves to God through them. 

We hope we are keeping alive an important and vital reminder that worship truly begins in our own hearts and it can be done any time, anywhere, by anyone.