Hymns and Worship

I approach this subject subjectively for sure.  I grew up with hymns and the hymnal meaning much to my own growth in the Lord.  I love hymns.  I love playing hymns and singing hymns.  

A few weeks ago during our worship I repeated a statement I had heard . . . "We don't sing hymns because they are old; we sing hymns because they are great."  There are many reasons for that statement.  Hymns have great theological teaching and instruction for the body.  Hymns reflect centuries of the church responding to God in worship, which again is inspirational and instructional.  For the church there have always been hymns that create a congregational unity in purpose and worship.  

As a former music missionary, I know the importance of studying and knowing the people and culture among which you are ministering.  That is no different here in the states.  Every church is somewhat of a subculture.  We worked very hard on the mission field to encourage our brothers and sisters to create hymns and songs in their indigenous language and musical language.  And, they did.  However, they still would use, along with "their" music, great hymns of the faith that had been translated into their language.  

I think the importance of hymns has even shown up in the "contemporary" worship scene, in that many hymns are being re-set or "con-temporized musically" for use in stylistically more modern church settings.  Many still recognize the importance of the hymns.  

We are currently in a church that is very multi-generational.  There are some families with as many as four or five generations represented.  We work to stay on the cutting edge of good and worthy modern music, but have always kept the hymns in our worship along with other new resources available.  It takes careful attention both musically and in the worship flow to create an environment where all can worship.  We are living in a time where The Hymnal goes from Gutenberg to Google.  

There are sometimes gaps in what is offered in modern songs compared to the classic hymns.  We need to "mind the gaps" as one modern worship leader has suggested.  We need to acknowledge that a huge investment of time and talent and resources has been left to us by Godly predecessors.  We should profit from and embrace what they learned in their journey of faith as they walked this troubled world.  Again, "We don't sing hymns because they are old; we sing hymns because they are great" . . . and have much to offer our pilgrimage in the Lord.  mjm

Set free for Worship

It is kind of interesting to hear people talk about how we need to be set free in our worship.  Now, usually they are talking about being set free in our expressions of worship.  However, to be truly set free in worship, Jesus has to be central to our worship because He is the truth, . . . and the truth will set you free.

Inadequate and inaccurate information about God will hinder authentic worship.  God not only calls us to love Him, but to "love the truth about Him" (2 Thessalonians 2:10).  It is the desire of our Lord that all "come to the knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 2:4).  He also reveals His anger against those who "suppress the truth" (Romans 1:18).  In John 16:13 and 17:17 Jesus says He would send "the Spirit of Truth" for the sole purpose of God sanctifying His disciples "in truth" which He declares is God's Word.  

The more on target our knowledge of God through His Word, the more genuine our worship.  The truth is, the moment we veer from what is true about God we begin engaging in idolatry.  No matter what we think or feel, there can be no true worship of God without a correct understanding of God.

Worship leaders, worship choirs, worship and praise teams who don't "dwell in the Word" cannot be effective in leading worship.  

Not only do we need to study the Word but we also need to study Theology and Doctrine.  Unfortunately we have allowed those words to become unpopular among believers.  Very simply, Theology is the "study of God" and Doctrine means "what is taught". Being a good theologian is making sure all we say and think about God is true to Scripture.  Doctrine is everything that Scripture teaches on a particular subject.  Paul instructed Titus that a church leader "must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and be able to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus1:9).  

There are no shortcuts.  We as worship leaders must read and study faithfully as long as we live.  Mind and heart in worship go together.  Passionate desire for God flows from and brings on the faithful, thoughtful study of God - His nature, His character, and His works.  And that will always lead to worship.  mjm

Worship and the Word??

There are churches who advertise, "Come join us for worship and the Word", or people who invite others  to worship saying the same thing.  It is a misunderstanding of worship to state it as separate things.  

Some think that worship is when we sing and experience God's nearness or presence, express our adoration and love, and allow His Spirit to move in our midst.  (right-brain)  On the other hand, hearing God's Word is food for the mind. (left brain)  Its purpose is to stimulate our intellect - designed to make us think rather than feel.

There are some believers who have separated worship and the Word so much that they will attend only the part of the service that is important to them.  Or some have gone so far as to attend one church for the "worship" portion of the service and another church for the teaching. This is not a Biblical understanding of worship.  Singing and preaching are not in opposition one to the other.  Both are intended to exalt the glory of the Lord in our hearts, our minds, and our wills.  The whole gathering is worship; all of it.  

Our church can not be Spirit-led apart from being Word-fed.  The moving of the Spirit of the Lord and the Word of God go together.  God's Spirit inspired the Word and illuminates the Word (2 Tim. 3:16).   Worship should be Word-centered.  All through Scripture the people of God gather to worship, with God's Word and Will seeking the obedience of His people.  True worship is always our response to God's revelation of Himself through His Word.  He has to speak to us before we have the liberty to speak to Him.   He must reveal Himself to us before we can offer Him who and what we are in worship.  

In our worship we need to treasure God's Word, preach and teach God's Word, sing God's Word, pray God's Word, and obey God's Word.  All of it integrated together is our act of worship.  mjm

Putting Him First . . . Worship

In Joel 2:12 the Lord says, "Turn to Me with all your heart." Other translations say return to me while there is time.  Later in this passage comes the gathering of the congregation assembling for worship.  Putting God in His rightful place has everything to do with worship.  We know that we are "prone to wander from the God we love" and on a regular basis need to return to Him if we are to put Him in His rightful place both as individuals, as the church, and yes, even as a nation.  Our forefathers knew this and expressed it on a regular basis. 

Early in Chapter 3 of Lamentations we are reminded of the faithfulness of our God.  Our response to that revealing of Himself is seen in verses 40, 41, and 42 where we are challenged again to examine our ways and return to the Lord!  Again, then comes the worship - " . . . lifting our hearts and hands in confession" and seeing what happens when we don't put Him first.  Worship is putting Him in His rightful place.  It is so in our own hearts and lives.  It is so in the life of His church.  And, it is so in the life of a nation. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."

As we have celebrated our Declaration of Independence this week, let us make a declaration of our dependence upon the One who is to be honored with first place - because of His work in our lives and in our land.  Our supreme trust is not in man, not in government, but rather in our God.  In God and God only do we trust!  May our prayer for America be that we return as a people to putting Him first!  mjm

Musical Instruments in God's Plan

I was reading yesterday in 2 Kings 3 and took notice that Elisha said, " . . . bring me a musician.  And, when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him."  Throughout scripture we see God using instruments in different circumstances to accomplish His purposes.  

In 1 Samuel 10 we see the Prophets coming down with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them prophesying.  Then it talks about how the Spirit of the Lord would come mightily. 

I Samuel 16 speaks of finding a good musician to play the harp whenever a tormenting spirit troubles  one, making one well again.

In I Chronicles 13 folks are found celebrating before God, singing and playing all kinds of instruments.  In I Chronicles 25 we find men making music in the house of the Lord responsible for serving, including the playing of instruments.  

The Lord instructs the using of instruments in dedication of the new wall in Jerusalem with thanksgiving.  Of course throughout the Psalms we see instruments being used in praise and thanksgiving.  We also can see in Daniel 3 and Amos 3 how instruments can be miss-used.  

It is also with interest that we note the use of instruments at the throne in heaven, shown to us in the Revelation.  

Reading in 2 Kings 3 made me start thinking about how many times I have sat at the piano from childhood through adulthood, playing.  And in the midst of the playing I sometimes worshipped, praised, celebrated and even had my troubled spirit made better in the power of  the Lord.  God obviously has always had a plan to use instruments to bring the power of the Lord into our lives.  mjm

Living Our Worship for God's Glory!

"For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, . . ."(Rom. 8:29)  It is no secret that even though we will never be perfect in this life, God's purposed intention is to make us like Jesus. In 2 Cor. 3:18 we are told that  as we behold His glory, the Spirit of God is at work transforming us into the image of God's Son.  Worshipping transforms us into those who live for God's glory.

Worshipping Him makes us humble.  When we truly encounter God it is a humbling experience.  We see that response through scripture in the lives of those who behold God's majesty.  Worshipping God does not leave us thinking more highly of ourselves.  To worship at the foot of the cross is a humbling experience.  John Piper has said, "People never leave the Grand Canyon more in awe of themselves."  We are worshippers because Jesus died and rose to make us worshippers, not because we earned the right to be one. 

Worshipping Him makes us secure.  Security is found in the unchanging love of the Father.  If we are faithful to keep the crucified, risen Savior at the center of our worship the result is that we feel safe in Him.  Romans 8:39 reminds us that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Worshipping God makes us grateful.  Nothing opens our eyes to God's amazing grace more effectively than authentic worship.  When we look on the cross and realize that we should be the one hanging there, we have a response of overflowing gratefulness to Him.

Worshipping God makes us Holy.  Holiness is sometimes mocked in our culture and our day.  But, those who bear His name and dwell in His presence are called to be holy even as He is holy.  Confession both privately and corporately increases our awareness of God's Holiness and contributes to our holiness in Him.

Worshipping God makes us compassionate.  When we gaze upon His glory, our caring and affection for those He created should increase.  I John 4:20 tells us that we can not love God and hate our brother.  And, in John 15:12, Jesus is clear that we are to love one another the same way He loves us.  

Worshipping God makes us mission-minded.  Our passion to help people see why God deserves to be worshipped makes us want to share the joy of knowing Him through our words and our lives.  And, in seeing God's glory, we come to know His heart for all peoples, nations, and people groups.  

True, authentic, honest worship transforms us.  May we behold His glory and be changed to be more like Him!  mjm

Hindrances to Praise . . . and Worship

The hindrances to our worship grow out of the very things in our lives that keep us from acknowledging His presence, not only in our private and corporate worship . . . but in our daily living.

Fear, doubt, worry, depression, anxiety,  . . . on and on we could go.  These things ultimately are sin because our spiritual eyes are on self and circumstances -  rather than on Him.  In the midst of these things, we are failing to acknowledge His presence.  We are failing to trust in Him.  We are living like practicing atheists, as opposed to living as those who are redeemed and kept in His love.  These kinds of things in our lives are sin and sometimes we also have a particular sin which has a hold on our lives that keeps us from worship and praise. 

The importance of acknowledging our sin before God and asking forgiveness is absolutely a prerequisite to effective worship. We can not expect to come into His presence holding on to sin.  We are promised that "if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)  That is only one of the passages that deals with our sin and forgiveness.  Isaiah 6 also talks about sin and God's forgiveness and of course there are many other passages that do, as well.  We as Baptists have tended to shy away from confession of sin, especially in our corporate worship, because of our perception of the mis-use of confession by other groups.  But I believe more awareness of this in our worship would not only be healthy but would actually un-hinder our worship.  

We need to acknowledge His presence and acknowledge our sin if we are to worship Him in freedom.  mjm