Music in church.
What God has created for an awesome expression of praise, worship, solace, joy, meditation, conviction, challenge, surrender, and discipleship is sadly a major source of division in the Body of Christ and has been for centuries.
Continue reading “Get Rid of That Flute! Trash That Trumpet!”
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
(Psalm 2)
You want to start a possible firestorm in a conversation? Mention the word “music.” Even writing about this causes me to cringe a bit. There is much debate about the kind of music being used today in our churches. May I kindly offer the following?
Often the cry is heard, “We don’t sing the old hymns in our church anymore,” or “I sure miss the old hymns,” or “These old hymns will die if we don’t sing them in church.” No matter whether that is the case or not, may I ask, as I was reminded recently, “Do you sing hymns at home?”
The best place to learn the great hymns of the faith is at home. Sing them at supper. Sing them in the car. Sing them around the fire pit. Sing them during your family devotions. Sing them on the way to church. Sing them while holding your child in your arms. Sing them while washing dishes. Sing them at family gatherings.
On any given Sunday, a congregation may sing around 30 minutes. How many opportunities do you have at home each week? Take advantage of those hours to disciple and worship with your family and guests. Make your home a house of praise! I have a hunch your worship time on Sunday will be more Godward-focused and heart-expressed.
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people (Psalm 9:1).
I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me (Psalm 13:6).
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name (Psalm 18:36).
Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy (Psalm 33:3).
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18).
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 (Colossians 3:16).
Thank the Lord He created music! Sing!!
fromapastorsheart.com 