What is the mix of songs that your church sings? Do you sing hymns? Modern praise songs? 70's and 80's choruses? Mix of everything? What are your preferences?
When it comes to singing in church, we must always remember what we're doing. We are responding musically to God's revelation of himself in his word. As God speaks to us, and as we know him more, we sing his praises and declare his greatness.
This immediately puts a slant on what we're doing when we sing. We're not a chart show, where we have to keep up with the latest tunes. Neither are we a music museum, where we carefully maintain and preserve historic church music. Nor are we an appreciation group, who holds tightly to a certain era of Christian music because that is what we like.
John Frame very helpfully in his book Worship in Spirit and Truth speaks of peoples' "language of worship". What this means is that in the many and varied people that make up the church, there are found different expressions of sincere worship. For some, the latest Tomlin stuff might be the best way for them to worship God. For others, it was the classic hymns that they learnt as children. And Frame counsels us to be sensitive to this.
After all, God's people are many and varied. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2v19: "So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."
The solution, then, is to sing everything. Don't create unnecessary categories in your worship. Our faith has a history, which makes older songs relevant, and God is active in the present, which makes modern songs relevant. There is no need to have one category at the expense of the other.
Of course, the difficulties present in this approach are twofold:
- Though may need to be put into the arrangement of songs in order to make them accessible to a diverse congregation. This may mean playing the hymns in a traditional way, on the piano or organ, and slowing down to a stop after each verse. Or it may mean driving those hymns with a drum-beat and single chords for each bar, while keeping the same recognisable melody and traditional words. Perhaps more modern songs need to be played simpler to make them accessible, or they need to be rocked out. Know the people you're ministering to.
- Love. This is probably the hardest thing to achieve when ministering to a diverse group of people. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." We need to love each other, humbly, gently and patiently. We have been joined by God's Spirit, in peace. If you are a musican, serve humbly by playing what is needed, and doing it well, rather than what you like. If you are in the pew and you don't like the songs being played, learn to love those for whom this is their sincere worship of God, and perhaps learn to worship with them, as you expect them to worship with you in the songs that mean something to you.
Jesus has loved us with an immeasurable, unending love. If we have been loved like that, how we can we not show love to those around us? It is a miracle that Jesus loves so many different people. In fact, it is a miracle that Jesus loves you.
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Have you read what Augustine had to say about church music? Essentially (and this misses much out...) it should only be allowed in a form which does not detract from the words. He also favoured singing with natural speech patterns rather than a fixed meter to ensure that the words are not distorted by the need to fit to the beat.
ReplyDeleteHey Clint - this is another caring post. And as someone who sits under your music ministry I can see that you are working within this framework and grappling with the difficulties. I wish to encourage you in this. We serve a mighty, holy and loving God and I personally have felt able to give voice to this and other inexpressible, joyful things as as I sing in our services. Sterkte my brother.
ReplyDelete@Vincent:
ReplyDeleteAugustine was an amazing man with an amazing heart for the gospel. I have certainly learnt much from reading his work. However, as with all frail humans, his work must be evaluated in the light of Biblical principles and Christian practice. I would never agree with the Bishop of Hippo that sex was a product of the Fall!
What I mean is this: The principle he had in mind is obviously commendable. The music we use in church should always serve the words. After all, the words are primarily what we offer God (though not exclusively). The music should never detract from the words, as sadly a lot of stuff in the P&W charts tends to.
Practically though, I have many concerns. At what point does the 'song' cease to become recongisable music, if we are going with natural speech patterns and an unobstructive beat? Might we just say our praises then with an ambient synth in the background? Or is the music even necessary in that instance?
Fixed meter and tempo, at least in most church contexts today (even internationally), are the most accessible ways to sing together. I think the fastest way to empty our churches would be to revert to plainsong!
The reason for singing to music of course is that we are engaged emotionally, with easy-to-remember words, and united as an inclusive body as we worship our Lord.
Come back at me if you want, I don't have all the answers. Thanks for your comment!
@Stephen:
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your encouragement! It means a lot to know that in spite of the difficulties of ministry that God is doing his work.
However, I hope you are not "sitting" under my ministry! Feel free to stand and sing out, raising your hands and voice to the God who saves!
And keep painting.