La música cristiana es de origen judío: la liturgia musical de la sinagoga, en particular el canto psalmódico de los judíos como unidad poética musical, fue un legado preciado transmitido del Israel antiguo al cristianismo primitivo, como forma de manifestar tanto a nivel personal como comunitario las creencias religiosas y la fe en Dios.
Father, hear the prayer we offer
Not for ease that prayer shall be
But for strength that we may ever
Live our lives courageously
Not for ever in green pastures
Do we ask our way to be
But the steep and rugged pathway
May we tread rejoicingly
Not for ever by still waters
Would we idly rest and stay
But would smith the living fountains
From the rocks along our way
Be our strength in hours of weakness
In our wanderings be our guide
Through endeavour, failure, danger
Father, be thou at our side