Is music neutral? Hollywood definitely doesn't think so.

One thought current among church leaders is that music is only an neutral vessel for carrying words. One tune is as good as another. One instrumentation is as good as another. It is only a matter of preference. If that is the case, though, why do movie directors carefully select and even have custom composed music for their films. Wouldn't anything off the shelf be fine?

Consider this scene from the movie The Matrix. In this scene Neo goes to a nightclub where he first meets Trinity. Take note of the music and the mood set by the background music. (Content Warning: Language)



Having observed that click here to see the same scene in which someone has creatively edited different music into the scene. (Same Content Warning Applies)

Finally, click here to see a different scene from The Matrix with even more unlikely background music. (Content Warning: Gratuitous Violence, Language)

Then tell me, is music a neutral vessel, or does it carry a message? What should this tell us about our selection of music for the Divine Service?