Village Schools of the Bible

THE MUSIC OF WORSHIP
by Max Frazier, Jr.
Part 3 of a 4 Part Series

Music...it is all around us. From the stirring anthem of the wind as it rustles through the trees, to the melody of the lark as it sings at sunrise. From the laughter of children at play to the quiet whispers of bedtime prayers. One ancient author declared, Music is a part of us, and either ennobles or degrades our behavior. Even the atheistic philosopher Nietzsche said that without music life would be a mistake.

Music...it is such an integral part of our worship. Just stop for a moment and consider the many hymns we sing that reflect music:

"O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise"
"All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia!"
"Sing unto the Lord a new song, Sing unto the Lord all the earth."
"We worship You, Oh holy God, and lift our voice to sing Your praise."
"I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, for Your name is great and greatly to be praised."

Ever watch people sing? Some people sing with a glow of joy on their faces that say, "Hey, I really love the Lord!" Some people just go through the motions of singing but never focus on what they are singing. Others focus more attention on what is going on around them rather than focusing upon Christ. Some people only sing if they know the song.

What does the Bible tell us to do? Psalm 149:1 declares, Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. That is a command from God. God wants us to join together as a body of believers to sing and to worship Him.

How Are We to Worship?

We read these words in Psalm 95:1, Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. We are to sing joyfully. We are to be exuberant. We are to be enthusiastic. We are to be alive when we worship. When we gather in the sanctuary, we are to get involved with God in our worship. Ever go to a concert or attend a speech and never have been moved to applaud either the speaker or the musicians? Ever go to a ball game and not have shouted at either the referee or a coach? Probably not! We go to a game or a concert and we get involved...sometimes too involved! But when it comes to worship, we sit so placidly!

Why can't we be enthusiastic? First, I think it is because we are away from God. Listen to these words from the Psalmist: By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:1-4). When Judah was in Babylon, they were out of fellowship with God because of sin. The result...no song. When you and I have been out of fellowship with God because of sin, the result is...no song. If I have had a dispute with my wife, it is very hard for me to be appreciative of the great evening meal she has prepared because I am out of touch with her. So it is with our music in worship...we are estranged from God. But obedience restores the song. We read in Isaiah 30:29, And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.

There is a second reason why we often are not enthusiastic in our worship. It is because we don't want to change. We come so set in our minds that God cannot work in our lives. We might sing, "Sweet hour of prayer that calls me from a world of care", but be thinking in our hearts, "Lord, I am not going to that small group prayer meeting." We might sing, "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus", but be saying, "Lord, I am going to do things my way!" With this attitude we cannot be joyful, exuberant, enthusiastic in our worship. We are already admitting to God that we are going to be disobedient.

There is also that attitude of "we have not done it that way before." Yes, change can be threatening. But change is also a condition for growth. As a baby grows into a toddler, it changes. And it continues to change as it progresses into the elementary and then teen years. When we don't recognize change in a child, we become alarmed. Change occurred at every phase of the history of worship. There was great antagonism to adding an organ into worship, until Bach made the organ the king of instruments, and then every church included an organ for worship. Feelings ran very high when pianos were first introduced into a church service because pianos had only been used in saloons and gambling parlors...it was an instrument of the world. Now we would not think of having a worship service without a piano, or at least an electric one. For many churches today the presence of drums and guitars is threatening, yet it should not be that way, for drums and guitars (stringed instruments) have been present in worship since the time of David. (Note: many have related that the presence of an orchestra or even a worship team reminds them of being at a concert rather than at a worship service. This can happen unless the musicians consciously point people, not to themselves and their musical abilities, but to the Lord Almighty.)

Secondly, we are to sing purposefully. I like the way the Psalmist addresses this issue in Psalm 33:3, Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. Friends, I believe God does not want our worship to be conducted in a sloppy manner. When I sing, I am to sing the very best that I can for the Lord. When I play an instrument, I am to play that instrument the very best that I know how because I am playing for the Lord. We are to worship God skillfully, that is, the very best that we are capable of doing.

I am reminded of the sobering truth presented in Psalm 95:3-5, For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. There is no one like God! Now do these verses present to us Someone who would be pleased with a careless presentation in worship, Someone who would accept inadequate preparation? Of course not! When you and I worship and sing in our private and corporate worship, we are singing before this great God. Can we afford to not give Him our very best? At times, while I am worshiping, I ask myself the following question: "If I could see God here this morning in His glory, would He be pleased with the method and manner in which I am worshiping Him, or would I be embarrassed to offer it to Him?"

What Is Worship to Accomplish?

The word of God states that our times of worship and celebration are to accomplish four significant things. First, the ministry of the Word of God is to be proclaimed. The Psalmist reminds us, Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge (Psalm 119:54). The music we share in our times of worship must communicate biblical truth.

Second, as we worship we are to give expressions of thanksgiving to God. Notice the instructions found in the following Psalms:

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song (Psalm 28:7)

I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me (Psalm 13:6)

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp (Psalm 147:7)

Friends, we certainly have much for which to praise the Lord in our worship. God has saved us. God has forgiven us. God has been faithful to us. God has carried our burdens. Both the old hymns and the modern choruses help us to render praise unto our God.

Third, the Bible tells us that it is through our worship, our singing, that others can be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Remember the words from Psalm 40:3, He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. This is one aspect of worship that is often overlooked. If we are singing biblical truth in a joyful and purposeful way unto the Lord, others will hear and perhaps their hearts will also be drawn unto the Lord. I have often thought that perhaps more people will be in heaven because their hearts were drawn to the Savior because of a song they heard than through a sermon.

Finally, our worship is to provide opportunities to teach and to encourage one another. An important text is Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. As you worship, you minister to the hearts of those around you in the sanctuary.

What Music Is Best for Worship?

The conflict over musical styles is the number one problem facing the evangelical church today. It is not witnessing to the lost. It is not missions. It is not training and disciple-making. It is what kind of music to sing. I find that very sad.

I think we have a clue as to what music is acceptable to God when we worship. It is found in the Colossians 3:16, the verse cited above. We are to use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

There is a place for psalms. The early church had as its primary hymnbook the book of Psalms. Many of the psalms were set to music and sung within the church. Psalms today are those portions of the Word of God that have been set to music. So we must ask, as we select the music for worship, "Do any of the songs teach us the Word of God? Is their text based upon Scripture?" Many of the newer praise songs are really portions of Scripture that have been set to music. Let me just give you an example:

He who began a good work in you,
He who began a good work in you -
will be faithful to complete it,
He'll be faithful to complete it;
He who started the work will be faithful to complete it in you.

(Words by Jon Mohr, based upon the text of Philippians 1:6)

He is Lord, He is Lord! He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue con fess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

(Words based upon the text found in Philippians 2:10-11)

There is a place for hymns. Hymns have as their focus the majesty and greatness of God. They focus on the many attributes of God. Hymn writing has become a lost art within the evangelical community, therefore, we must rely upon those great hymns written in a by-gone era. Their words are timeless. Their messages still encourage our hearts. We must never let them disappear from our worship. Again, let me give you an example:

Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drowns All music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee;
And hail Him as thy matchless King thro' all eternity.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

There is a place for spiritual songs. These are testimonies to God's grace in our own personal lives. These songs are very relational and personal. The writers express experiences with God with which many of us can identify. These songs focus, not so much upon who God is, but offer thanksgiving for what God has done. The following are examples of just such spiritual songs:

I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You.
O my soul rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what You hear:
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear. (Words by Laurie Klein)

Because He lives I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
(Words by William and Gloria Gaither)

The battle cry today is whether to be contemporary or traditional. Perhaps it is time for churches to become biblical. We need those songs that will help us learn God's Word, the psalms. We need those songs that allow us to rediscover the greatness of God and the dynamic truths of our doctrine, the hymns. And we need those songs that allow us to celebrate God's faithfulness to us, the spiritual songs. Each is important if we are to teach and admonish one another.

So, now the question is, what instruments are proper for worship? The more I study worship in Scripture, the more I am convinced that there is no instrument that is not proper for worship. If each is played well, and if the heart of the one who plays is right with God and desires to play for God's glory, then no instrument should be excluded. In fact, the concept of an orchestra or band fits worship well. It takes all the instruments performing together to bring glory to God. Organs, pianos, flutes, guitars, violins, drums, trumpets, and trombones...each has its part in helping us to worship the great God of heaven.

Conclusion

Allow me to share in closing a group of questions entitled, "What If...." It was shared with me by Dick Augustine, one of the worship leaders at Wayzata Evangelical Free Church here in Minnesota. I believe that if we would take the time to address each question prior to leaving for worship, our worship experience would be enhanced. Read them and see if you don't agree.

1. What if each of us prepared ourselves through a personal worship time each week to culminate during our Sunday worship service?

2. What if each of us prayed for the Worship team and for the Pastor throughout the week and throughout the service?

3. What if each of us arrived to the Sanctuary early and prayerfully prepared for the Worship Service?

4. What if each of us allowed our emotions to be involved in our worship experience?

5. What if we worshiped with expectancy that the presence of God would "fill this place" and that the Holy Spirit would manifest Himself in mighty ways throughout the worship time?

6. What if we came to God in worship with only the attitude of what can I give today in worship through my singing, listening and participation that will be pleasing to the Lord, and not what can I get out of this service?

7. What if our worship became such a part of our lives that others noticed it and were drawn to God?

8. What if we sang hymns and choruses as though they really meant something to us? Or, what if we sang them as meaningful prayers of worship and adoration to the Almighty God?

9. What if, after a time of true and meaningful worship, we fully expected the Lord to speak to us through the sermon?

Next Sunday, take one of more thoughts from the above list and apply it during your worship service as you lift your voice in praise to our wonderful God.

(Author's Note: I would very much like to hear of your experiences in worship, especially your experiences with the music used in worship. Do you prefer the traditional format of worship, or are you comfortable with a more contemporary setting? This is an issue that impacts each of us - so it is good to spend some time in dialogue about it. You can either send me a letter or an e-mail with your response. Our e-mail address is: village@gospelcom.net. I will look forward to hearing from you.)

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