If there is one subject that seems to attract a lot of attention it is "Praise and Worship." When people talk about it they are generally (not always, of course) talking about the music, prayer, conversation, direction and scope, of everything that precedes the “preaching.” Some people are looking for a “traditional” operation in this area, others, something much more “contemporary.” Still others are trying desperately to find that “middle of the road,” “try to please most folks” blend that incorporates a little of everything.
Paul, the Apostle, said in Ephesians 5:19 that there ought to be a variety of musical offerings, . . .Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
I am afraid that we have adopted that philosophy without remembering some other words of Paul when he said in Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
I, for one, am going to begin to take a closer look at the music I hear and sing to make certain that my concerns are less about when it was written (1796 vs. 1996), and the style with which it is sung (traditional vs. contemporary), and focus on the value of its presentation of the “Word of Christ” and whether or not it “teaches me Truth” and “counsels me wisely.”
Music performs a variety of tasks. I really like a broad spectrum of classical music. My favorite is the William Tell Overture by Rossini. And, though it may offend some, I really like a bit of fluff from Willie Nelson, and I llove to laugh a lot at Ray Stevens, especially the Mississippi Squirrel Revival.
But when it comes to worship, I want the music to speak to me the Words of life. I want it to teach me the great truths of the faith, the attributes of God, to speak to me of the holiness demanded of my life, and give me wise counsel from the Scriptures. And, oh yeah, I want it to allow me to praise Him for his wonderful, incredible, infinite, grace and mercy in my life.
Maybe we need to contact the music guys, ya’ reckon?
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2 comments:
I'm in lockstep with you on this one, Preach!
"Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs."
A bit of Reformed trivia.
You may or may not be familiar with the custom among some of the Reformed which favors "Psalms-only" singing. Their reason for doing so is based on the fact that the three Greek words Paul used in this verse referring to psalms, hymns and spiritual songs were three categories of selections from the book of Psalms in the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint (LXX)--the Bible Jesus and the apostles read and quoted often in the New Testament.
Therefore music controversy among the "Psalm-singers" is over whether to sing anything not written by David or any of those other fellows who contributed to his inspired psalter.
In defense of including hymnody, however, one only has to appeal to the fact that Mary was moved by the Holy Spirit to sing the Magnificat, Paul quoted an extra-psalter Christian hymn or two in his epistles.
But of course, neither hymn-singers, nor proponents of contemporary P&W choruses sing nearly enough psalms whether in hymn or chorus form!
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