Our post today is regarding highlights of musical use in scripture.
I encourage you to use any and all of these references to present to your music departments or singers/musicians/drama teams/liturgical dance teams/signing teams, etc. I believe it is important for us all to understand the scriptural basis for how/why we minister as we do. If someone was to ask me today why my church music department does certain things, would I be able to show some sort of biblical basis to it all? Or do I do things in my ministry out of traditions passed to me by others?
Music in Bible Times
Paul clearly puts forth the Christian's view that things are not good or bad in and of themselves (see Romans 14 and I Corinthians 14:7, 8, 26). The point should always be to worship the Lord or help others by means of the things of this world, including music. Music was created by God and can be returned to him in praise. Does the music you play or listen to have a negative or positive impact upon your relationship with God?
Highlights of Musical Use in Scripture
Jubal was father of all musicians. . . . . Genesis 4:21
Miriam and other women sang and danced to praise God . . . . Exodus 15:1-21
The priest was to have bells on his robes . . . . Exodus 28:34, 35
Jericho fell to the sound of trumpets . . . . Joshua 6:4-20
Saul experienced the soothing effect of music . . . . I Samuel 16:14-23
The King's coronation was accompanied by music . . . . I Kings 1:39, 40
The ark was accompanied by trumpeters . . . . I Chronicles 16:6
There were musicians for the king's court . . . . Ecc. 2:8
From David's time on, the use of music in worship was much more organized. Music for the temple became refined . . . . . I Chronicles 15:16-24; I Chronicles 16:4-7; II Chronicles 5:11-14
Everything was to be used by everyone to praise the Lord . . . . Psalm 150
In the New Testament, worship continued in the synagogues until the Christians became unwelcome there, so there was a rich musical heritage already established. The fact that music is mentioned less often in the New Testament does not mean it was less important.
Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn . . . . Matthew 26:30
Paul and Silas sang in jail . . . . Acts 16:25
We are to sing to the Lord as a response to what he has done in our lives . . . . Ephesians 5:19,20; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13
As indicated previously in this post, these scriptures are but highlights - I will post many more scriptures dealing with music ministry in the months ahead. Now go share this information with your fellow ministry friends!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Common Questions about Worshiping Jesus Part Five
In the final portion of this series I list four commonly asked questions relating to worshiping Jesus. You will notice aspects of worship that we routinely think of as a part of our respective music ministries.
1. Why are many church worship services boring and not like the worship we find described in Revelation?
In Revelation we see such things as singing, musical instrumentation, brilliant lighting, and visual imagery incorporated in the worship of Jesus. Elsewhere in scripture we also see that the worship of God includes God's people bowing and kneeling (Psalm 95:6), clapping and shouting (Psalm 47:1), and raising their hands (Neh. 8:6; Psalm 28:2, 63:4, 134:2, 141:2, 143:6, Lam 3:41, I Timothy 2:9). In comparison, many churches today seem committed to being as boring as possible. Others seem just as committed to doing the latest cool thing and you may wonder who they are actually worshiping.
Nonetheless, in being reconciled to Jesus we are also reconciled to his people and made part of the church. So it is our responsibility as Christians to find a congregation of people who are devoted to real Jesus-directed worship and join them. While the style of architecture and music may be important, what is most important is that you connect with both Jesus and his people. But remember, worship is about Jesus, not about us.
2. Is singing all that there is to worship?
Not at all. Coming together with God's people to proclaim the wonder of Jesus is important. But probably the most sincere worship is how we live our life after we leave the church building.
In Isaiah 1 the Lord became angry at Judah. They were going to church, singing songs, spreading their hands in prayer, even giving tithes. But the Lord wouldn't receive their adoration. The rest of their life wasn't glorifying to him. They needed to do whole life worship and not just a few hours one day a week. So God commanded them to remove the evil of their deeds from before his eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow's cause as acts of true worship (Isa. 1:16-17). Serving people in the name of Jesus and in the character of Jesus is the most satisfying form of worship ever.
3. Why does God need all that praise?
Worship isn't about meeting God's needs. Worship is first of all about direction for our lives. Worshiping God means honoring or valuing him above everything else. Someone who worships Jesus will refuse to give honor to anything that dishonors Jesus. They will not purposely do things that don't promote his character and honor. Worship is also about devotion or relationship. From the beginning, God made us like himself (Gen. 1:26-28). He made us for relationship with each other and with him. When we build the relationship between God and ourselves, then we are doing worshipful things. Because we were made for worship, God allows us to worship him both for his glory and our good. Through the worship of God we are liberated to live freely and joyfully without worshiping people and things that would make us miserable.
4. Why does God jealously require that we worship only him?
God is like a home in a tough neighborhood. The loving parents in the home tell their kids to finish their homework and to do their chores. There are others in the neighborhood who would never make their children finish their homework and do their chores. Instead they would allow or even encourage their children to sin and spend their time drinking, doing drugs, having sex and making trouble. The reason godly parents ask for exclusive obedience and worship is not that they have insatiable egos that need constant stroking, but that they are the only ones who really love the kids, who want to give good things to them for the kids' deepest pleasure. Likewise, God is a jealous God who wants only the best for us, his children, and his jealousy is nothing but his love seeking our good. Hence, Exodus 20:3-5: "You shall have no other gods before me. . . . You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God."
This concludes this five-part series about why we should worship Jesus. I pray it has been a blessing to you and that you have been able to share it with your music department. Please feel free to contact me with any comments you have. God gets the glory?
1. Why are many church worship services boring and not like the worship we find described in Revelation?
In Revelation we see such things as singing, musical instrumentation, brilliant lighting, and visual imagery incorporated in the worship of Jesus. Elsewhere in scripture we also see that the worship of God includes God's people bowing and kneeling (Psalm 95:6), clapping and shouting (Psalm 47:1), and raising their hands (Neh. 8:6; Psalm 28:2, 63:4, 134:2, 141:2, 143:6, Lam 3:41, I Timothy 2:9). In comparison, many churches today seem committed to being as boring as possible. Others seem just as committed to doing the latest cool thing and you may wonder who they are actually worshiping.
Nonetheless, in being reconciled to Jesus we are also reconciled to his people and made part of the church. So it is our responsibility as Christians to find a congregation of people who are devoted to real Jesus-directed worship and join them. While the style of architecture and music may be important, what is most important is that you connect with both Jesus and his people. But remember, worship is about Jesus, not about us.
2. Is singing all that there is to worship?
Not at all. Coming together with God's people to proclaim the wonder of Jesus is important. But probably the most sincere worship is how we live our life after we leave the church building.
In Isaiah 1 the Lord became angry at Judah. They were going to church, singing songs, spreading their hands in prayer, even giving tithes. But the Lord wouldn't receive their adoration. The rest of their life wasn't glorifying to him. They needed to do whole life worship and not just a few hours one day a week. So God commanded them to remove the evil of their deeds from before his eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow's cause as acts of true worship (Isa. 1:16-17). Serving people in the name of Jesus and in the character of Jesus is the most satisfying form of worship ever.
3. Why does God need all that praise?
Worship isn't about meeting God's needs. Worship is first of all about direction for our lives. Worshiping God means honoring or valuing him above everything else. Someone who worships Jesus will refuse to give honor to anything that dishonors Jesus. They will not purposely do things that don't promote his character and honor. Worship is also about devotion or relationship. From the beginning, God made us like himself (Gen. 1:26-28). He made us for relationship with each other and with him. When we build the relationship between God and ourselves, then we are doing worshipful things. Because we were made for worship, God allows us to worship him both for his glory and our good. Through the worship of God we are liberated to live freely and joyfully without worshiping people and things that would make us miserable.
4. Why does God jealously require that we worship only him?
God is like a home in a tough neighborhood. The loving parents in the home tell their kids to finish their homework and to do their chores. There are others in the neighborhood who would never make their children finish their homework and do their chores. Instead they would allow or even encourage their children to sin and spend their time drinking, doing drugs, having sex and making trouble. The reason godly parents ask for exclusive obedience and worship is not that they have insatiable egos that need constant stroking, but that they are the only ones who really love the kids, who want to give good things to them for the kids' deepest pleasure. Likewise, God is a jealous God who wants only the best for us, his children, and his jealousy is nothing but his love seeking our good. Hence, Exodus 20:3-5: "You shall have no other gods before me. . . . You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God."
This concludes this five-part series about why we should worship Jesus. I pray it has been a blessing to you and that you have been able to share it with your music department. Please feel free to contact me with any comments you have. God gets the glory?
Monday, January 6, 2014
Why Should We Worship Jesus" Part Four
Why Should We Worship Jesus? (Part 4)
Worshiping Through Jesus
Though we bought the serpent's lie that we can be our own god and live for our own glory, we remain worshipers. As such we are sometimes inwardly focused toward ourselves and the "me" syndrome. But because Jesus lived the perfectly sinless life of unceasing worship, his life, death, and resurrection alone can reconcile us to God. Therefore, only through the power of God can we be made worshipers instead of idolaters and glorify Him. Romans 6:4 teaches that our worship includes a new life lived to the glory of God and patterned after the life of Jesus: "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life." (KJV).
Worshiping Like Jesus
Not only do we worship through Jesus, we must also worship like Jesus. Jesus lived a life of perfect glory and thus we can look at everything in His life - from the ordinary to the extraordinary - as born out of a life of ceaseless worship that glorified God. Jesus' life destroys any notion that worship is a sacred thing we do at a special time or place. Cutting our grass and cleaning our dishes can be as sacred and God-glorifying as raising our hands in church. Jesus himself modeled this. He spent roughly 90 percent of his earthly life doing chores as a boy and working a carpentry job as a man. All of life is to be lived as ceaseless worship. I Corinthians 10:31 reinforces these statements with this: "Whether therefore ye eat, drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (KJV) I Corinthians 6:20 also supports a life or worship: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (KJV).
Worshiping Jesus
Through the worship of Jesus Christ alone there is joy, freedom, holiness, and life. Only by worshiping God our creator are we free to enjoy creation by rightly eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, working, laughing, loving, weeping, marrying, parenting, living, and dying to the glory of God. I am a Christian because I want to be happy and, after trying lesser things, I am convinced that my desires are from God and can find their satisfaction in Him alone.
Worshiping Through Jesus
Though we bought the serpent's lie that we can be our own god and live for our own glory, we remain worshipers. As such we are sometimes inwardly focused toward ourselves and the "me" syndrome. But because Jesus lived the perfectly sinless life of unceasing worship, his life, death, and resurrection alone can reconcile us to God. Therefore, only through the power of God can we be made worshipers instead of idolaters and glorify Him. Romans 6:4 teaches that our worship includes a new life lived to the glory of God and patterned after the life of Jesus: "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life." (KJV).
Worshiping Like Jesus
Not only do we worship through Jesus, we must also worship like Jesus. Jesus lived a life of perfect glory and thus we can look at everything in His life - from the ordinary to the extraordinary - as born out of a life of ceaseless worship that glorified God. Jesus' life destroys any notion that worship is a sacred thing we do at a special time or place. Cutting our grass and cleaning our dishes can be as sacred and God-glorifying as raising our hands in church. Jesus himself modeled this. He spent roughly 90 percent of his earthly life doing chores as a boy and working a carpentry job as a man. All of life is to be lived as ceaseless worship. I Corinthians 10:31 reinforces these statements with this: "Whether therefore ye eat, drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (KJV) I Corinthians 6:20 also supports a life or worship: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (KJV).
Worshiping Jesus
Through the worship of Jesus Christ alone there is joy, freedom, holiness, and life. Only by worshiping God our creator are we free to enjoy creation by rightly eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, working, laughing, loving, weeping, marrying, parenting, living, and dying to the glory of God. I am a Christian because I want to be happy and, after trying lesser things, I am convinced that my desires are from God and can find their satisfaction in Him alone.
Why Should We Worship Jesus? Part Three
Why Should We Worship Jesus? Part 3
Example of False Worship
According to the first two commandments there is only one God, and that God alone is to be worshipped (Exodus 20:1-10). Martin Luther once said that we break the rest of the commandments only after we have broken the first two. I believe that what he meant is that if the one true God is my only God, and I worship only that God, then I will not end up committing idolatry by worshipping my job (and not taking a Sabbath), worshipping my anger (and becoming violent), worshipping sex (and committing adultery), or worshipping success (and coveting what other people have).
The opposite of worship is idolatry, or the worshipping of something or someone other than the one true God of the Bible alone. In fact the theme of worship versus idolatry is in some ways the theme of the entire Old Testament. Before I touch on some examples of false worship, here are some questions we may ask ourselves to understand if we have idols in our lives:
Some men worship automobiles and houses and spend all of their time and money to renovate them while neglecting time with God and the people He has called them to love, such as their wife and children. Some women worship their beauty and spend so much of their time, energy and money on their looks that they are prone to neglect God and others such as their husband, children, and friends. Others are prone to worship their favorite band and even spend hours every day online gathering the latest news, downloading the latest songs, tuning in to the latest interviews, buying the latest merchandise, and even traveling around the country and world to catch the latest concert.
Do you worship modern technology? Smart phones have revolutionized the world during the past five years and millions of people all over the world - actually hundreds of millions now - are so consumed with emails, text messaging, and social media websites that they no longer can find time to read their Bibles fifteen minutes a day or pray daily. Are you more worried about what happens daily with those on your "friends" list than you worry about your interaction today with God? It may be time to log off and plug in to the Creator.
Finally, do you participate in our culture's worship of naked crazy-making? In Paul's day, he accused some people of worshipping their stomachs as their god, and in our day it appears that our god has simply moved a short distance south. Americans alone spend more money each year on pornography than country music, rock music, jazz music, Broadway plays, and ballet combined. We spend more money on pornography than we do on professional baseball, basketball, and football combined! Clearly, perversion is a major American pastime and a ten-billion-dollar business.
The annual rentals and sales of adult videos now top four billion dollars annually. Eleven thousand porno movies are made every year, twenty times the number of mainstream movies made by Hollywood! The porn industry now claims over 30 percent of all video rentals in America. Nationally there are over 3,000 strip clubs. On the Internet, the top word searched is "sex", with "porn", "nude", "Playboy", and "erotic stories" also in the top twenty. Seventy percent of porn traffic occurs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. while people are sitting at work unable to focus on their job because the god of Eros continually beckons. The top research priority in the pornography business is getting good quality porn to a cell phone or mobile device so that everyone can feed any twisted desire anytime and anywhere.
By their graduation date, students will have watched fifteen thousand hours of television, compared to only twelve thousand hours in the classroom. While watching television, they will see fourteen thousand sexual references every year, with only 165 of those occasions mentioning birth control, self-control, abstinence, or mentioning anything about the risk of pregnancy or STDs. Undeniably, people are worshipers and will worship someone or something. Thankfully, Jesus came to enable us to worship the Creator instead of the creation.
Stay tuned for Part 4 !!
Example of False Worship
According to the first two commandments there is only one God, and that God alone is to be worshipped (Exodus 20:1-10). Martin Luther once said that we break the rest of the commandments only after we have broken the first two. I believe that what he meant is that if the one true God is my only God, and I worship only that God, then I will not end up committing idolatry by worshipping my job (and not taking a Sabbath), worshipping my anger (and becoming violent), worshipping sex (and committing adultery), or worshipping success (and coveting what other people have).
The opposite of worship is idolatry, or the worshipping of something or someone other than the one true God of the Bible alone. In fact the theme of worship versus idolatry is in some ways the theme of the entire Old Testament. Before I touch on some examples of false worship, here are some questions we may ask ourselves to understand if we have idols in our lives:
- Who or what do I make sacrifices for?
- Who or what is most important to me?
- If I could have any thing or experience I wanted, what would that be?
- Who or what makes me the most happy?
- What is the one person or thing I could not live without?
- Who or what do I devote my spare time to?
Some men worship automobiles and houses and spend all of their time and money to renovate them while neglecting time with God and the people He has called them to love, such as their wife and children. Some women worship their beauty and spend so much of their time, energy and money on their looks that they are prone to neglect God and others such as their husband, children, and friends. Others are prone to worship their favorite band and even spend hours every day online gathering the latest news, downloading the latest songs, tuning in to the latest interviews, buying the latest merchandise, and even traveling around the country and world to catch the latest concert.
Do you worship modern technology? Smart phones have revolutionized the world during the past five years and millions of people all over the world - actually hundreds of millions now - are so consumed with emails, text messaging, and social media websites that they no longer can find time to read their Bibles fifteen minutes a day or pray daily. Are you more worried about what happens daily with those on your "friends" list than you worry about your interaction today with God? It may be time to log off and plug in to the Creator.
Finally, do you participate in our culture's worship of naked crazy-making? In Paul's day, he accused some people of worshipping their stomachs as their god, and in our day it appears that our god has simply moved a short distance south. Americans alone spend more money each year on pornography than country music, rock music, jazz music, Broadway plays, and ballet combined. We spend more money on pornography than we do on professional baseball, basketball, and football combined! Clearly, perversion is a major American pastime and a ten-billion-dollar business.
The annual rentals and sales of adult videos now top four billion dollars annually. Eleven thousand porno movies are made every year, twenty times the number of mainstream movies made by Hollywood! The porn industry now claims over 30 percent of all video rentals in America. Nationally there are over 3,000 strip clubs. On the Internet, the top word searched is "sex", with "porn", "nude", "Playboy", and "erotic stories" also in the top twenty. Seventy percent of porn traffic occurs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. while people are sitting at work unable to focus on their job because the god of Eros continually beckons. The top research priority in the pornography business is getting good quality porn to a cell phone or mobile device so that everyone can feed any twisted desire anytime and anywhere.
By their graduation date, students will have watched fifteen thousand hours of television, compared to only twelve thousand hours in the classroom. While watching television, they will see fourteen thousand sexual references every year, with only 165 of those occasions mentioning birth control, self-control, abstinence, or mentioning anything about the risk of pregnancy or STDs. Undeniably, people are worshipers and will worship someone or something. Thankfully, Jesus came to enable us to worship the Creator instead of the creation.
Stay tuned for Part 4 !!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Why Should We Worship Jesus? Part Two
Why Should We Worship Jesus? Part 2
What Worship Is
Worship is living our life individually and corporately as living sacrifices to the glory of a person or thing. Please pay close attention to the following concept as it is key in building a case for what worship is. A couple sentences ago I tied worship to the glory of a person or thing. This connection between glory and worship is clear in verses such as Romans 11:36 - 12:1, which says, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." (NIV)
In this section of scripture Paul connects a number of vital truths regarding worship. First, we hold a person or thing in a place of glory. Second, we then worship that person or thing. Third, our worship of that person or thing we hold in glory is done by means of making sacrifices. You may be asking yourself, "Why do you insist that I worship anyone or anything in my life?" Or, "Why do you insist that I should start now?" The answer is this: the Lord, through His written word (the Bible), requires our worship. If you have any doubts about this please read the following scriptures: Exodus 34:14; Psalm 22:27, Psalm 29:2, Psalm 45:11, Psalm 66:4, Psalm 86:9, Psalm 95:6, Psalm 99:5, Psalm 132:7, Matthew 4:10, John 4:23-24, John 9:31.
Glory means weightiness, importance, priority, or that which is our greatest treasure, deepest longing, and fountain of hope. In a functional sense, what we hold in the place of glory is in effect our real god. Whether we realize it or not we can and do hold various people and things in a position of glory and then worship them by making sacrifices. Because we have limited resources (time, energy, money), we must allocate those things to what we consider most important or glorious to us - and in doing this we make sacrifices to our functional god. Whatever we hold in the position of highest glory is by definition our god(s). Practically, worship is making sacrifices for what we are living to glorify.
Also, the biblical word for worship is sometimes translated "sacrifice". This insight is helpful because what we make the greatest sacrifices for reveals what we truly live to glorify and worship. Ouch! I know these are strong, sober words. But they are truth and I myself, while writing this, am forced to take a critical look at my own set of priorities in life and how I perceive worship from the perspective of someone called to music ministry. Let us dig a little deeper. . . Let us look at some real-world examples of this concept of glory and worship. If we eat and drink in excess, we are worshipping our stomach and sacrificing our health. If we sacrifice relationships with God and people for a hobby (sport, music, craft), then we are worshipping that hobby. If we are giving our bodies to sexual sin, we are worshipping sex and/or another person whose glory is our highest aim, sacrificing holiness and intimacy with God in the process. In short, we give our time, energy, body, money, focus, devotion, and passion to that which we glorify most - and we make sacrifices to worship that person or thing. Because we were made for the express purpose of worshipping God, everyone is a worshipper. The only difference is who or what we worship.
As we work through this series of discussions on worship please feel free to share these thoughts with others in your music department. I believe this type of honest, self-critiquing study is benefiting and necessary to the spiritual health of all church music departments. I will also be the first to admit this understanding has become real to me only after learning the hard way, through trial and error. And by stumbling, making mistakes and rising again to press forward in Jesus' name. Stay tuned for part three of this series, when we will discuss examples of false worship.
What Worship Is
Worship is living our life individually and corporately as living sacrifices to the glory of a person or thing. Please pay close attention to the following concept as it is key in building a case for what worship is. A couple sentences ago I tied worship to the glory of a person or thing. This connection between glory and worship is clear in verses such as Romans 11:36 - 12:1, which says, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." (NIV)
In this section of scripture Paul connects a number of vital truths regarding worship. First, we hold a person or thing in a place of glory. Second, we then worship that person or thing. Third, our worship of that person or thing we hold in glory is done by means of making sacrifices. You may be asking yourself, "Why do you insist that I worship anyone or anything in my life?" Or, "Why do you insist that I should start now?" The answer is this: the Lord, through His written word (the Bible), requires our worship. If you have any doubts about this please read the following scriptures: Exodus 34:14; Psalm 22:27, Psalm 29:2, Psalm 45:11, Psalm 66:4, Psalm 86:9, Psalm 95:6, Psalm 99:5, Psalm 132:7, Matthew 4:10, John 4:23-24, John 9:31.
Glory means weightiness, importance, priority, or that which is our greatest treasure, deepest longing, and fountain of hope. In a functional sense, what we hold in the place of glory is in effect our real god. Whether we realize it or not we can and do hold various people and things in a position of glory and then worship them by making sacrifices. Because we have limited resources (time, energy, money), we must allocate those things to what we consider most important or glorious to us - and in doing this we make sacrifices to our functional god. Whatever we hold in the position of highest glory is by definition our god(s). Practically, worship is making sacrifices for what we are living to glorify.
Also, the biblical word for worship is sometimes translated "sacrifice". This insight is helpful because what we make the greatest sacrifices for reveals what we truly live to glorify and worship. Ouch! I know these are strong, sober words. But they are truth and I myself, while writing this, am forced to take a critical look at my own set of priorities in life and how I perceive worship from the perspective of someone called to music ministry. Let us dig a little deeper. . . Let us look at some real-world examples of this concept of glory and worship. If we eat and drink in excess, we are worshipping our stomach and sacrificing our health. If we sacrifice relationships with God and people for a hobby (sport, music, craft), then we are worshipping that hobby. If we are giving our bodies to sexual sin, we are worshipping sex and/or another person whose glory is our highest aim, sacrificing holiness and intimacy with God in the process. In short, we give our time, energy, body, money, focus, devotion, and passion to that which we glorify most - and we make sacrifices to worship that person or thing. Because we were made for the express purpose of worshipping God, everyone is a worshipper. The only difference is who or what we worship.
As we work through this series of discussions on worship please feel free to share these thoughts with others in your music department. I believe this type of honest, self-critiquing study is benefiting and necessary to the spiritual health of all church music departments. I will also be the first to admit this understanding has become real to me only after learning the hard way, through trial and error. And by stumbling, making mistakes and rising again to press forward in Jesus' name. Stay tuned for part three of this series, when we will discuss examples of false worship.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Why Should We Worship Jesus?
Greetings to all my friends in blogland! Today I am very excited to kick off the first in a five-part series titled, "Why Should We Worship Jesus?" Last month it came to me that as participants in various types of music ministries, we often use the word worship interchangeably with other terms. For example, worship service, worship music, a time of worship, etc. But exactly why should we worship Jesus? And how does worship affect each of our respective ministries? Come along with me as we explore worship and how it is vital to our calling.
Why Should We Worship Jesus? (Part 1) by Nathan Kesler
What Worship Is Not
We will define what worship is but we must first define what worship is not. This is because there is a tendency among some Christians to define worship too narrowly and thereby overlook the fullness of what worship is according to scripture. First, worship is not something solely by Christians or "spiritual" people. Rather, because everyone was made to worship God, everyone is in fact a worshiper whether or not he or she has any religious or spiritual devotion.
Second, worship is not merely a style of music. In conversation I often classify Christian music by genre. For example, I refer to albums by Hillsong as 'contemporary praise and worship', an album by Selah as 'traditional praise and worship', a Gaither Homecoming album as 'southern gospel' and a Ricky Dillard album as 'black gospel'. But in reality a song from any genre of Christian music is essentially worship music - only arranged and presented in different venues and contexts. If you have been involved in church ministry for any length of time you undoubtedly have witnessed spirited debates between those promoting one style of Christian music over another, usually in the context of corporate singing. Sadly, such conflicts can reduce the concept of worship to little more than a style of music or preferred kinds of instrumental accompaniment. When the Bible speaks of worship, it does include God's people gathering to sing praises to God (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16), but worship is also something much bigger than simply singing or musical tastes.
Third, worship is not something that is connected to a time and place. In John chapter four there is a discussion between Jesus and a woman who is uncertain of where and when worship is to occur. Jesus responds to her by stating that worship is an ongoing, unbroken life of communion with God empowered by the Holy Ghost and informed by the truth. Therefore, while worship does happen in specific places at specific times, such as Sunday services at a church building, worship is not limited to any time or place. Rather, worship is to exist as a ceaseless lifestyle of God's people in every time and every place.
Fourth, worship is not something that starts and stops. Church worship services may start and stop but the worshipful life of a Christian is to continue unceasingly. As has been said, if you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him one day a week.
Stay tuned for my next post in this series. Now that we have discussed what worship is not we will discuss what worship is.
Why Should We Worship Jesus? (Part 1) by Nathan Kesler
What Worship Is Not
We will define what worship is but we must first define what worship is not. This is because there is a tendency among some Christians to define worship too narrowly and thereby overlook the fullness of what worship is according to scripture. First, worship is not something solely by Christians or "spiritual" people. Rather, because everyone was made to worship God, everyone is in fact a worshiper whether or not he or she has any religious or spiritual devotion.
Second, worship is not merely a style of music. In conversation I often classify Christian music by genre. For example, I refer to albums by Hillsong as 'contemporary praise and worship', an album by Selah as 'traditional praise and worship', a Gaither Homecoming album as 'southern gospel' and a Ricky Dillard album as 'black gospel'. But in reality a song from any genre of Christian music is essentially worship music - only arranged and presented in different venues and contexts. If you have been involved in church ministry for any length of time you undoubtedly have witnessed spirited debates between those promoting one style of Christian music over another, usually in the context of corporate singing. Sadly, such conflicts can reduce the concept of worship to little more than a style of music or preferred kinds of instrumental accompaniment. When the Bible speaks of worship, it does include God's people gathering to sing praises to God (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16), but worship is also something much bigger than simply singing or musical tastes.
Third, worship is not something that is connected to a time and place. In John chapter four there is a discussion between Jesus and a woman who is uncertain of where and when worship is to occur. Jesus responds to her by stating that worship is an ongoing, unbroken life of communion with God empowered by the Holy Ghost and informed by the truth. Therefore, while worship does happen in specific places at specific times, such as Sunday services at a church building, worship is not limited to any time or place. Rather, worship is to exist as a ceaseless lifestyle of God's people in every time and every place.
Fourth, worship is not something that starts and stops. Church worship services may start and stop but the worshipful life of a Christian is to continue unceasingly. As has been said, if you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him one day a week.
Stay tuned for my next post in this series. Now that we have discussed what worship is not we will discuss what worship is.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Hello to all my music ministry friends and acquaintances. First I would like to apologize for my lengthy absence since my last post. Truly I have been through a season of difficulty, self-examination and change (with the help of the Lord). I would like to echo Paul as stated in Philippians 3:13-14: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (KJV).
Today I would like to touch on the passion we all share as Christians who have been called to some aspect of music ministry - whether it be vocal, instrumental or the leadership of such ministry. Ephesians 4:1-3 is my focus for today and it reads: Verse 1: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Verse 2: with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love." (KJV).
For the sake of this discussion let us consider our respective music ministries as the spiritual vocation we have been called to in this text. Ephesians 4:1 in the NIV says, "As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." If Paul had not thought it important for us to walk worthy he would not have appealed to us in this manner. In verse two Paul proposes we do this by exercising lowliness, meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love - endeavoring to keep unity and peace.
In other words, by being humble, gentle, patient, understanding and peaceful. We could fill volumes discussing applications of these precepts as they pertain to our lives and our music ministry callings. For today though let us turn our focus inward and examine the application of the aforementioned attributes as they pertain to service within the walls of our churches.
Ask yourself these questions: When I attend a music/vocal rehearsal what is my demeanor? Do I strive to create a positive, joyful atmosphere? Do I give my team the impression I know it all? Do I come across as a microphone hog? Would others feel my instrument/voice is usually louder and overbearing as compared to the others? Do I end up singing the majority of song solos? And ultimately if I wasn't a leader in my department would I desire to serve someone just like me?
I will be the first to admit during the past twenty-two years of involvement in church music ministry I have been guilty of such behavior at times. Thankfully the Lord has taught me maturity over time and allowed me to minister in a variety of denominal settings and culturally diverse venues.
Ask yourself: Prior to ministering in church services do I spend time in prayer and spiritual meditation? Is my mind focused and determined to enter into the presence of a holy God by offering my sacrifice of praise and worship? For that matter, what is my motive behind taking a place behind an instrument/mic? Do I give less effort if I am ministering before a congregation of ten people or ten thousand? And ultimately am I living a life worthy of this musical calling He has placed in my heart?
Once we have examined ourselves let us humbly bring these questions of personal introspection to our church's music departments. Encourage each member of your music department to examine themselves and to be accountable to Jesus. Finally, allow Jesus to continue being the center of our music ministries. As the Colorado Mass Choir titled an album, "God Gets the Glory".
Today I would like to touch on the passion we all share as Christians who have been called to some aspect of music ministry - whether it be vocal, instrumental or the leadership of such ministry. Ephesians 4:1-3 is my focus for today and it reads: Verse 1: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Verse 2: with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love." (KJV).
For the sake of this discussion let us consider our respective music ministries as the spiritual vocation we have been called to in this text. Ephesians 4:1 in the NIV says, "As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." If Paul had not thought it important for us to walk worthy he would not have appealed to us in this manner. In verse two Paul proposes we do this by exercising lowliness, meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love - endeavoring to keep unity and peace.
In other words, by being humble, gentle, patient, understanding and peaceful. We could fill volumes discussing applications of these precepts as they pertain to our lives and our music ministry callings. For today though let us turn our focus inward and examine the application of the aforementioned attributes as they pertain to service within the walls of our churches.
Ask yourself these questions: When I attend a music/vocal rehearsal what is my demeanor? Do I strive to create a positive, joyful atmosphere? Do I give my team the impression I know it all? Do I come across as a microphone hog? Would others feel my instrument/voice is usually louder and overbearing as compared to the others? Do I end up singing the majority of song solos? And ultimately if I wasn't a leader in my department would I desire to serve someone just like me?
I will be the first to admit during the past twenty-two years of involvement in church music ministry I have been guilty of such behavior at times. Thankfully the Lord has taught me maturity over time and allowed me to minister in a variety of denominal settings and culturally diverse venues.
Ask yourself: Prior to ministering in church services do I spend time in prayer and spiritual meditation? Is my mind focused and determined to enter into the presence of a holy God by offering my sacrifice of praise and worship? For that matter, what is my motive behind taking a place behind an instrument/mic? Do I give less effort if I am ministering before a congregation of ten people or ten thousand? And ultimately am I living a life worthy of this musical calling He has placed in my heart?
Once we have examined ourselves let us humbly bring these questions of personal introspection to our church's music departments. Encourage each member of your music department to examine themselves and to be accountable to Jesus. Finally, allow Jesus to continue being the center of our music ministries. As the Colorado Mass Choir titled an album, "God Gets the Glory".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)