Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to header Skip to footer

Articles

Does music heal?

From the June 2021 issue of The Christian Science Journal


It’s not unusual for me to find myself humming music I’ve been practicing, even several days after I’ve performed that song at a church service. Whatever the music happens to be, if I enjoyed it or if it inspired me, there are times when I have been not only uplifted but physically healed by it. 

One Sunday many years ago, the words of the vocal solo at my local branch Church of Christ, Scientist, were based on the biblical words “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?” from Psalms 139:7. The words then led into Romans 8:38, 39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As the organist, I had been practicing the accompaniment all week, and after the service, the words and music were still ringing in my ears.

After church that day, however, I began to feel symptoms of a heavy cold, which made me wonder whether I would be able to meet up with friends later that afternoon. At the same time, I was still humming that solo. Suddenly, Romans 8:39 struck me in particular and helped me see that not even a virus could separate me from the love of God. Of course I couldn’t be separated from God, good! For several hours, the words and music and that new inspiration stayed with me. Soon, I was completely free of any cold symptoms.

Sign up for unlimited access

You've accessed 1 piece of free Journal content

Subscribe

Subscription aid available

 Try free

No card required

More In This Issue / June 2021

concord-web-promo-graphic

Explore Concord—see where it takes you.

Search the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures