I was just reading a blog Molly wrote about the different churches they've attended. She really enjoyed her contemporary worship with children able to go to programs so she could concentrate on the sermon...and other churches she'd been to...but now she's in a "family worship" styled church where she sings psalters, hymns and the family all sits together in the service. One of the things that I noticed from her blog is that whatever the new church, even though she may not have liked it at first, but she ended up loving it...Not because she learned to like the music, but because the choice was made based on the preaching of the WORD of God. I couldn't agree more. While the music is nice, it is the Word of God that transforms us...convicts us and draws us closer to our heavenly Father and more like His Son. In a "modern church" era that focuses more on music than the Word, it's becoming more difficult to find a good place where the "meat" of the Bible is preached. Even churches with more "conservative" music are not getting into the meat....rather focusing on the fact that they are "most definitely NOT contemporary" and bashing their brothers and sisters in Christ who don't "worship" (or rather "sing") like they do.
I personally LOVE the more traditional music and even some of the praise choruses that are popular today...but I have serious issues with some of the contemporary music because I fell it is "me"-centered...and really just plain shallow. Not all of it. There are a few really great songs that are being written, but the majority of contemporary music...I get to the end of the song and I think, "what was the point?" I sounds like a song with A.D.D. But It's not my purpose to bash Contemporary music. One thing I recall hearing from a great preacher (Voddie Baucham) is that worship is not about what we "like," our "style," or our "preference." If you haven't ever heard him preach...he is fabulous, funny, and knows how to reach into the heart. If you have never heard him speak...this is the topic that you should hear first. (Click on his name above for the full mp3 message on Authentic Worship) It is incredible. I first heard it about a year ago, but I have been constantly mindful of it.
I am very sensitive to music because I have been a soloist for years...and knowing that every time I stood in front of the congregation, I was responsible for "leading" others in worship....into the presence of God. That's not something to be taken that lightly. It's not a performance. It's not about me...even though I should be worshipping if I intend to "lead" others in worship.
I could have really been angry with my husband when he decided that the Lord was leading our family to a more contemporary style church family than I was used to. I not only wouldn't get to sing the songs I love corporately, but I wouldn't be able to do my "traditional" songs any more in the service. Yeah, a few people in the congregation might like them, but they don't fit into the "style" of the service. But since I knew that worship is not all about the music...or even about me, I could submit to my husband and go to a church that I was not "crazy about" at first because I knew I would miss my hymns.
You know...it's been 9 months...and I have learned new songs (a few that I love)...and I see others around me worshiping...and I can see that the music isn't about me. I have grown to love our church because I know it's where GOD wants us and not where I want us. I'd still like to sing a few more traditional songs (hymns, older choruses, etc.), but I don't want to sit back and pout...discounting all the new songs as being "bad" just because they're "new." There are plenty of songs in our hymnal written a hundred or more years ago that have bad or no "theology" (Silent Night for one... mostly "fluff")...and there are plenty of songs in contemporary music that have bad or shallow theology. Just because we find it in a certain book, or it was written in a certain time period in history doesn't make it "theologically correct" or "better" and vice versa.
The Bible also tells us that we are to sing unto the Lord a "new song"...God doesn't tell us that we are to stop singing the old ones, but not to "discount" the new ones. Every song ever written since the creation of the world was "new"...even the Psalms. Can you imagine David catching flack for writing new songs from the generation who was "comfortable" with Moses' songs of praise. But as you read through his psalms, you can see that the worship in David's heart couldn't be contained. And I am so glad that he shared what was on his heart. You would think that the ruler of a nation would have it all together and not have any anxiety or excessive joy...but David bared his heart to the Lord allowing others to see it as well. Throughout history, we have the blessing of his open honesty. I can't tell you how many times I have been going through something that David went through a few thousand years ago. Like his son Solomon said..."there is nothing new under the sun."
Going back to the point...worship isn't about singing...it's about responding to who God is...which can be done through singing...but also through tears, or conviction, or joy, or giving, or laying our lives at the Lord's feet....dedication all we are to Him...isn't that similar to what the wise men did when they brought their precious gifts to Jesus? The Bible says they laid it at his feet and "WORSHIPPED HIM." Their gifts were worship...along with any other thing they did...and although they may have sung him a song, historically speaking, they probably understood better what true worship was. Most cultures practiced some form of worship to their god(s). It was probably well known then that worship was not just singing. But we have lost that in the "fight" over whose music is the best or most appropriate for "worship."
It's all about the WORD of God...receiving the Word by hearing, responding in your heart to the Holy Spirit's urging, and doing outwardly what God calls you to do. The music is just icing on the cake. And everyone knows if you have a steady diet of icing, you'll get fat, tired, useless and unhealthy. Don't count on the music to be the only thing that draws us to the Lord or "feeds" our spirit...count on His WORD.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your LAW.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your LAW and obey it with all my heart.
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous LAWS.
I lift up my hands to Your COMMANDS which I love, and I meditate on your DECREES.
Your DECREES are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
Let me understand the TEACHING OF YOUR PRECEPTS, then I will meditate on Your wonders.
I rejoice in following your STATUTES as one rejoices in great riches.
I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to you STATUTES.
I will hasten and not delay to obey your COMMANDS.
May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your WORD.
If your LAW had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
Accept O LORD the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your LAWS.
May my lips overflow with praise, for You teach me your DECREES.
May my tongue sing your WORD, for all Your COMMANDMENTS are righteous.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for Your LAWS are not obeyed.
I open my mouth and pant, longing for your COMMANDMENTS.
My flesh trembles in fear of You; I stand in awe of your LAWS.
Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous LAWS.
Thy WORD is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
I have hidden your WORD in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Your STATUTES are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
My heart is set on keeping your DECREES to the very end.
I will always obey your LAWS for ever and ever.
"If you love Me, keep my COMMANDMENTS"
(Excerpts from Psalm 119, John 14:15)
Excellent post! How very true. I read Molly's post yesterday as well. We have found that so much of what is called "worship" at churches is really entertainment and is picked to please the people in the church, not the Father. I recently finished reading The Beauty of Holiness by Dr. Michael Barrett. It was an excellent book about worship that was not about the music. I found it on Amazon, but I don't know how to link it from the comment.
It sounds like an interesting book. My dh will be "thrilled" to hear that I've found another book I "have" to buy. :-) This is a book search engine link...(shorter than the Amazon link. :-) )
http://thecheapestbook.com/isbn/1932307621
I think you just have to copy/paste. I don't know how to "hyperlink" it either. :-(
I've read a 40-min Bible study by Kay Arthur on the Tabernacle (Living a Life of True Worship) and how it symbolizes the different aspects of worship. It was really neat to see how God mapped out worship with the Tabernacle. This is a link to it...
I have the opposite experience. We were saved in a contemporary music church and then transitioned to a traditional. At first I really resented it and really believed that those people singing hyms weren't "really" worshipping. But at that church I grew in my knowledge of God's Word and as I did, those hymns took on new meaning that I never saw before. I have been completely transformed into a hymn lover and have been teaching them to my children(even though I don't sing well at all!). My dh just accepted a position at a more contemporary church again and I am going to have to re-focus that it's not about the music, but worshipping God in all that I say and do and striving to glorify Him in EVERYTHING!
Blessings!
-Jennifer
Welcome to my blog...Why "gidget"? Well...my husband tried to teach me how to surf before we were married. I was lousy at it, but he called me his "gidget" and the name stuck.
Why "Treasure Trove"? I love sharing about my sweet little "treasures"...and God has blessed me beyond measure....and no, I didn't mean that to rhyme.
But It's not my purpose to bash Contemporary music. One thing I recall hearing from a great preacher (
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