A critical creative look at issues of Economics, Politics and Finding a Purpose in Life - Let's talk about it. I try to leave the woodpile higher than I found it.
I know you may have seen this before, but it's worth seeing again. You could use it in Church.
2 comments:
Anonymous
said...
A Changing Worship? Will the worship wars never cease? How long must the battle be waged between those who desire hymns and those who desire choruses? Between those who relate to the majestic tones of an organ and those who relate more comfortably to the strumming of a guitar? Why must we use such words as “traditional” and “contemporary” to describe our worship? Is there an “olive branch” that can resolve such separations so that each of us can feel connected to God during our times of corporate worship? Amazingly the answer is a resounding “yes!” It is not found in the catchy phrase of a “blended service,” but in a return to a “biblical” service of worship. Let me share with you these words from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae: 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 (Colossians 3:16, emphasis added). Can worship be any more plainly stated than that? Let’s look at each element Paul alludes to in this passage. First – psalms. This has reference to the singing of the Book of Psalms. It was really Scripture placed into a musical setting. Today it might include the reading of Scripture, sometimes in a responsive way, while other times shared alone. Second – hymns. Dr. Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on Colossians titled, Be Complete, writes: Hymns were songs of praise to God written by believers but not taken from the Psalms. John MacArthur, in Living the Risen Life, further states: It is believed, by many scholars, that Colossians 1:15-20, Philippians 2:6-11, and other New Testament passages, were actually sung as hymns by the early church. So, a hymn is a verbal celebration of God and His attributes. Third – spiritual songs. Again allow me to let Dr. Wiersbe say it best: Spiritual songs were expressions of Bible truth other than in psalms and hymns. When we sing a hymn, we address the Lord; when we sing a spiritual song, we address each other. Spiritual songs emphasized a person’s testimony of what God had done in their lives. Fourth – “and.” That’s right. Paul uses the word “and.” He did not say, “Sing psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs.” He said, “Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” The problem in today’s Church is that we have declared that we either have hymns or spiritual songs. The Apostle Paul would challenge us to use psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Friends, psalms connect our worship to the Word; hymns connect our worship to God; and spiritual songs connect our worship to one another. In addition, with the singing of hymns we connect with the Church in its past. When one sings such a grand old stately hymn as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” one connects with the countless throngs of believers who have sung that same hymn over the past nearly five centuries since Martin Luther wrote it. When I sing a hymn I realize that I am part of something that is greater than the small pew in which I am worshiping. And when I sing a spiritual song I join with others around me in affirming what God has done or will do in my life. When all we sing are hymns, then we miss the important connection we can have with each other in affirming what God is doing in our lives and in our world. Conversely, when all we sing are spiritual songs, then we miss that critically important connection with the Almighty God Himself who is our refuge and strength. And, why can we not use all the various instruments in our worship? It seems as one reads through the Psalms, God’s hymnal, that one sees a wide variety of instruments being used. Organs and pianos – absolutely. Drums and cymbals – why not! Trumpets and saxophones – remember the archangel has a trumpet. Guitars and basses – David played a harp, his version of a guitar. Why should we practice exclusion when we should be practicing inclusion? Perhaps it is time that we stop trying to be either “traditional” or “contemporary” and start being “biblical.” If that begins to happen, then many of us will not feel so disconnected from God and each other during our times of worship. Conclusion In these last days, one of the most potent ways Satan is trying to divert the energies of the Body of Christ is through “worship wars” and “diluted messages.” With the former he keeps Christians battling one another; with the later he prevents the unsaved from hearing the Truth that has the power to set them free. It is time that we ask ourselves two important questions. First, is our worship biblical? Second, is the message we proclaim based upon the unwavering conviction that the Bible is absolute truth? How we address those questions will greatly impact how effective we are in reaching our community for Christ.
This is by by Max Frazier, Jr. of Village Schools of the Bible
2 comments:
A Changing Worship?
Will the worship wars never cease? How long must the battle be waged between those who desire hymns and those who desire choruses? Between those who relate to the majestic tones of an organ and those who relate more comfortably to the strumming of a guitar? Why must we use such words as “traditional” and “contemporary” to describe our worship? Is there an “olive branch” that can resolve such separations so that each of us can feel connected to God during our times of corporate worship?
Amazingly the answer is a resounding “yes!” It is not found in the catchy phrase of a “blended service,” but in a return to a “biblical” service of worship. Let me share with you these words from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae: 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 (Colossians 3:16, emphasis added). Can worship be any more plainly stated than that? Let’s look at each element Paul alludes to in this passage.
First – psalms. This has reference to the singing of the Book of Psalms. It was really Scripture placed into a musical setting. Today it might include the reading of Scripture, sometimes in a responsive way, while other times shared alone.
Second – hymns. Dr. Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on Colossians titled, Be Complete, writes: Hymns were songs of praise to God written by believers but not taken from the Psalms. John MacArthur, in Living the Risen Life, further states: It is believed, by many scholars, that Colossians 1:15-20, Philippians 2:6-11, and other New Testament passages, were actually sung as hymns by the early church. So, a hymn is a verbal celebration of God and His attributes.
Third – spiritual songs. Again allow me to let Dr. Wiersbe say it best: Spiritual songs were expressions of Bible truth other than in psalms and hymns. When we sing a hymn, we address the Lord; when we sing a spiritual song, we address each other. Spiritual songs emphasized a person’s testimony of what God had done in their lives.
Fourth – “and.” That’s right. Paul uses the word “and.” He did not say, “Sing psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs.” He said, “Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” The problem in today’s Church is that we have declared that we either have hymns or spiritual songs. The Apostle Paul would challenge us to use psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Friends, psalms connect our worship to the Word; hymns connect our worship to God; and spiritual songs connect our worship to one another. In addition, with the singing of hymns we connect with the Church in its past. When one sings such a grand old stately hymn as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” one connects with the countless throngs of believers who have sung that same hymn over the past nearly five centuries since Martin Luther wrote it. When I sing a hymn I realize that I am part of something that is greater than the small pew in which I am worshiping. And when I sing a spiritual song I join with others around me in affirming what God has done or will do in my life.
When all we sing are hymns, then we miss the important connection we can have with each other in affirming what God is doing in our lives and in our world. Conversely, when all we sing are spiritual songs, then we miss that critically important connection with the Almighty God Himself who is our refuge and strength.
And, why can we not use all the various instruments in our worship? It seems as one reads through the Psalms, God’s hymnal, that one sees a wide variety of instruments being used. Organs and pianos – absolutely. Drums and cymbals – why not! Trumpets and saxophones – remember the archangel has a trumpet. Guitars and basses – David played a harp, his version of a guitar. Why should we practice exclusion when we should be practicing inclusion?
Perhaps it is time that we stop trying to be either “traditional” or “contemporary” and start being “biblical.” If that begins to happen, then many of us will not feel so disconnected from God and each other during our times of worship.
Conclusion
In these last days, one of the most potent ways Satan is trying to divert the energies of the Body of Christ is through “worship wars” and “diluted messages.” With the former he keeps Christians battling one another; with the later he prevents the unsaved from hearing the Truth that has the power to set them free. It is time that we ask ourselves two important questions. First, is our worship biblical? Second, is the message we proclaim based upon the unwavering conviction that the Bible is absolute truth? How we address those questions will greatly impact how effective we are in reaching our community for Christ.
This is by by Max Frazier, Jr. of Village Schools of the Bible
It works for me.
It works for me too!
Post a Comment