For those of us growing up or attending at present a Protestant mainline liturgical church, the type of songs that are chosen to be used on any given Sunday as a part of corporate worship... are sometimes challenging to me....
The reason I consider it a personal challenge is...there are simply times I would rather be listening to some "Top 10 Hits" on the radio... than to sing some of these unfamiliar, old-fashioned, theologically enriched songs we include in our weekly acts of worship. And quite honestly, when I look around my congregation and view some of the facial expressions...I don't think I am alone.(lol)
Ok...so the question becomes for me..."What is so wrong with going to a primarily Contemporary Christian type music...instead of all this traditional stuff? The answer to this question seems to "lurk" behind the curtains, under the church pews, and maybe even up near the altar...and that answer is: " Because My son...the old ones will"flip out". (lol...just kidding...no I DID NOT receive ANY message from Providence that would indicate that.)
I was just speaking with one of my own relatives the other day ( long retired and yet active in the community), and when the the subject of "contemporary Christian music" was brought up, this dear relative was quick to identify this music as "stupid, crazy, and quite repetitive."
I am just glad she didn't tell me how she really felt about it (lol).
So, with this thought, I bet you think I am against the more traditional longstanding hymns of the church, and am a proponent of "doing away" with this form of corporate worship? Well, slow down "a tad", because that is really not where I am going with this...not at all! My personal quest in this little venture is to wonder why I would be more wanting to hear "Adele" or "Christina Perri" on the radio rather than be at church singing "Wondrous Love that cannot Falter"?
Is it just me?...Is it because I have no appreciation for "real music"? Or is it a type of worship that I cannot seem to identify with....in the midst of our weekly gatherings to give Glory to Him?
Why do we sing songs in our "worship service" anyway?
This question seems to be one of "eternal questions" of the ages, and there are various opinions, Scriptures, and theological thoughts that have been handed down over time. One reason I have always understood since entering the lifestyle of a Christian...is our main purpose of worship songs is to give glory to our Creator...for diverse and obvious reasons.
I think that is why we sing songs to God in our weekly services, to acknowledge His Presence in our daily lives, and to put in remembrance of why this is possible...because of the Lord Jesus.
Now, whether our corporate songs of worship are of older and traditional origin, or whether we are more able to identify with the newer contemporary style of Christian worship songs, I think for both it begins with "matters of the heart."
It's kind of like the story of the deacon in a pentecostal church that wore the same suit Sunday after Sunday until it almost became thread bare. Some of the people in the congregation decided to take up a collection... and one day gave to this deacon the money they had gathered and expressed their excitement that he could now go out and purchase himself a new suit. The following week, the deacon of this particular church was no where to be found, and the people thought they might have offended him taking up this collection for his new suit. So, a few of the elders of the church decided to go to the home of this deacon and clear up any unsettling matters from this collection...for the last thing they ever wanted to do was hurt or embarrass their beloved deacon. Upon arriving at the deacon's home, they soon discovered the deacon had indeed purchased a new suit and was very grateful for the money he had received from them for obtaining a new suit. Well, the elders were relieved and said they had concerns because he had not been at service today. The deacon then replied, "Well, I put this new suit on...and I thought I looked so good...I went to the Episcopalian church here in town...I had always wanted to see how their worship services were conducted."
Old traditional hymns...contemporary Christian songs....I think we need both.
Recent studies on Americans have indicated that at our best, approximately 33% of us are "happy". Americans are in positions today we are more self-sufficient than anytime in history...yet it is equally striking to note loneliness is at epidemic proportions. Americans are found to be more financially prosperous than anytime in history...yet finding contentment and peace in their lives are voiced by so few. Freedom is often a word Americans take great pride in...yet many speak of "vices and chains" in their personal lives that keep them from experiencing the very word "freedom" of which we are so proud of. Our education has advanced to it's highest levels in recent history...yet despair and "teen suicides" have also grown to record levels. The countless choices of personal pleasures...vacations, trips, going to places like Disney World or Las Vegas have never been at higher levels...yet broken relationships, miserable marriages, and children facing unique problems from the breakdown of the family unit...are also at record levels.
So, weekly Christian worship services, including the songs we sing....have more of a necessity to identify with our modern culture...more than perhaps we have ever known.
In the letter in the New Testament named 1 Peter, it was a letter written by one of "The Originals"...Peter, a disciple chosen by the Lord Jesus Himself. Actually, Peter was named Simon but Jesus changed his name to Peter...meaning "a rock" ( John 1:42). Peter was a man often described in the New Testament as one who clearly expressed his emotions in different scenarios he faced.
In this letter, Peter addressed those who were presently suffering because of their lifelong commitment to Christ Jesus, and wanted to send a letter of encouragement. He brought up things in the letter like: this present world is not our real home, Heaven is our real home, and how one day we as Christians will arrive there...and be a part of God Himself...in all His Glory!
Peter goes on and gives emphasis to the need for us as Christians to grasp the meaning of the Grace of God, to continue in pursuing Him with all our hearts, and to seek and to know what God has already done for them (and us).
As I begin to research the type of songs we sing at our Christian services, it begins with this thought for me...we are called to sing praises...to Him!
A Gleaning from 1 Peter 1: 9-10
" ...Yet, you are not like that. You have been chosen...by God Himself!
In fact, He has made you priests!...priests of the King! You are now made holy...and pure...because you are God's very own! You are a very special people with a purpose driven life that is made...to declare the praises...of Him!
For let this truth be known, He has brought you out of an extreme Darkness,
and now you have entered the "Inner Sanctuary" of this marvelous Light...the very Light of God!"
The songs we sing each week, whether it be of traditional older hymns or contemporary style...our heart felt motive... is to give Glory to Him...and to let others know...He is there for them as well.
Hmmm? Got to look into this a little further....
The reason I consider it a personal challenge is...there are simply times I would rather be listening to some "Top 10 Hits" on the radio... than to sing some of these unfamiliar, old-fashioned, theologically enriched songs we include in our weekly acts of worship. And quite honestly, when I look around my congregation and view some of the facial expressions...I don't think I am alone.(lol)
Ok...so the question becomes for me..."What is so wrong with going to a primarily Contemporary Christian type music...instead of all this traditional stuff? The answer to this question seems to "lurk" behind the curtains, under the church pews, and maybe even up near the altar...and that answer is: " Because My son...the old ones will"flip out". (lol...just kidding...no I DID NOT receive ANY message from Providence that would indicate that.)
I was just speaking with one of my own relatives the other day ( long retired and yet active in the community), and when the the subject of "contemporary Christian music" was brought up, this dear relative was quick to identify this music as "stupid, crazy, and quite repetitive."
I am just glad she didn't tell me how she really felt about it (lol).
So, with this thought, I bet you think I am against the more traditional longstanding hymns of the church, and am a proponent of "doing away" with this form of corporate worship? Well, slow down "a tad", because that is really not where I am going with this...not at all! My personal quest in this little venture is to wonder why I would be more wanting to hear "Adele" or "Christina Perri" on the radio rather than be at church singing "Wondrous Love that cannot Falter"?
Is it just me?...Is it because I have no appreciation for "real music"? Or is it a type of worship that I cannot seem to identify with....in the midst of our weekly gatherings to give Glory to Him?
Why do we sing songs in our "worship service" anyway?
This question seems to be one of "eternal questions" of the ages, and there are various opinions, Scriptures, and theological thoughts that have been handed down over time. One reason I have always understood since entering the lifestyle of a Christian...is our main purpose of worship songs is to give glory to our Creator...for diverse and obvious reasons.
I think that is why we sing songs to God in our weekly services, to acknowledge His Presence in our daily lives, and to put in remembrance of why this is possible...because of the Lord Jesus.
Now, whether our corporate songs of worship are of older and traditional origin, or whether we are more able to identify with the newer contemporary style of Christian worship songs, I think for both it begins with "matters of the heart."
It's kind of like the story of the deacon in a pentecostal church that wore the same suit Sunday after Sunday until it almost became thread bare. Some of the people in the congregation decided to take up a collection... and one day gave to this deacon the money they had gathered and expressed their excitement that he could now go out and purchase himself a new suit. The following week, the deacon of this particular church was no where to be found, and the people thought they might have offended him taking up this collection for his new suit. So, a few of the elders of the church decided to go to the home of this deacon and clear up any unsettling matters from this collection...for the last thing they ever wanted to do was hurt or embarrass their beloved deacon. Upon arriving at the deacon's home, they soon discovered the deacon had indeed purchased a new suit and was very grateful for the money he had received from them for obtaining a new suit. Well, the elders were relieved and said they had concerns because he had not been at service today. The deacon then replied, "Well, I put this new suit on...and I thought I looked so good...I went to the Episcopalian church here in town...I had always wanted to see how their worship services were conducted."
Old traditional hymns...contemporary Christian songs....I think we need both.
Recent studies on Americans have indicated that at our best, approximately 33% of us are "happy". Americans are in positions today we are more self-sufficient than anytime in history...yet it is equally striking to note loneliness is at epidemic proportions. Americans are found to be more financially prosperous than anytime in history...yet finding contentment and peace in their lives are voiced by so few. Freedom is often a word Americans take great pride in...yet many speak of "vices and chains" in their personal lives that keep them from experiencing the very word "freedom" of which we are so proud of. Our education has advanced to it's highest levels in recent history...yet despair and "teen suicides" have also grown to record levels. The countless choices of personal pleasures...vacations, trips, going to places like Disney World or Las Vegas have never been at higher levels...yet broken relationships, miserable marriages, and children facing unique problems from the breakdown of the family unit...are also at record levels.
So, weekly Christian worship services, including the songs we sing....have more of a necessity to identify with our modern culture...more than perhaps we have ever known.
In the letter in the New Testament named 1 Peter, it was a letter written by one of "The Originals"...Peter, a disciple chosen by the Lord Jesus Himself. Actually, Peter was named Simon but Jesus changed his name to Peter...meaning "a rock" ( John 1:42). Peter was a man often described in the New Testament as one who clearly expressed his emotions in different scenarios he faced.
In this letter, Peter addressed those who were presently suffering because of their lifelong commitment to Christ Jesus, and wanted to send a letter of encouragement. He brought up things in the letter like: this present world is not our real home, Heaven is our real home, and how one day we as Christians will arrive there...and be a part of God Himself...in all His Glory!
Peter goes on and gives emphasis to the need for us as Christians to grasp the meaning of the Grace of God, to continue in pursuing Him with all our hearts, and to seek and to know what God has already done for them (and us).
As I begin to research the type of songs we sing at our Christian services, it begins with this thought for me...we are called to sing praises...to Him!
A Gleaning from 1 Peter 1: 9-10
" ...Yet, you are not like that. You have been chosen...by God Himself!
In fact, He has made you priests!...priests of the King! You are now made holy...and pure...because you are God's very own! You are a very special people with a purpose driven life that is made...to declare the praises...of Him!
For let this truth be known, He has brought you out of an extreme Darkness,
and now you have entered the "Inner Sanctuary" of this marvelous Light...the very Light of God!"
The songs we sing each week, whether it be of traditional older hymns or contemporary style...our heart felt motive... is to give Glory to Him...and to let others know...He is there for them as well.
Hmmm? Got to look into this a little further....
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