Supernaturally Natural
My wife, Shari, and I attended a Barry Manilow concert in 2012. It is hard to imagine the emotions that certain songs brought to the concert-goers (Tryin’ to Get that Feeling Again). There were certain songs that were performed with multiple instrumentalists and singers and dancers that brought people to exuberance and to tears. It was fun because I knew most of the songs. I seriously kept catching myself moving my mouth to the lyrics and doing the headbob thing. People left smiling and happy. They had a real, true experience. But, not a spiritual one.
Please know that I like folk music. Plain and simple. But, I am not naive to the fact that folk "worship" (which is really in right now, BTW) is not the end-all be-all. People that perform or "lead" worship through a more folk medium can miss the boat just as easily as a hard Christian rock performer/leader. And, vice versa : ).
I believe the Church has leaned too far toward over-production rather than focusing on simple substance. Why can’t the Church find joy from simple, beautiful, deep-truth songs? The focus should be on God and not how one feels about the songs. The Church should not be trying to get something out of worship. (I Write the Songs that make the whole world sing).
Any emotion should be spirit-driven and based on real experiences with God Almighty. Like someone totally fascinated with the Creator of the world that His presence drives one to tears.
If one is to look at worship logically--music is not necessarily worship. Singing “worship” songs or majestic hymns does not impose an automatic worship experience. Yet, it seems that there are several ideas of worship in the evangelical church that move forward with the argument that certain styles of music in certain settings brings forth a “worship service.”
It is true that singing songs of praise to our God is so important and this has been true since God’s folks walked dryly through a miraculously blown open Red Sea following a stuttering Moses.
[Exo 15:1-4, 6-19 ESV] 1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name. 4 "Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea. 5 The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.6 Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. 7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. 8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.' 10 You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. 13 "You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. 14 The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. 18 The LORD will reign forever and ever." 19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea.
God moved and God’s people sang a heartfelt, powerful, they-experienced-every-moment-of-it song to the Lord. Their song didn’t rhyme or have a cool rhythm. Actually the song didn’t even (hold your breath) have a bridge. Not one person stood up and directed this heartfelt song while waving his hands like he was flying a kite, special lights did not spotlight the “song leader”, nor a finger-picking guitar player singing with the requisite sensual, scratchy voice woo the crowd while nearly eating the microphone. This was a reaction to the movement of God.(It’s a Miracle…Ok, enough Barry Manilow references)
In God’s logic, we worship HIM! Why? He is worthy of our praise! Our beginning and end aspiration should be to Glorify HIM. He supernaturally moves us to a natural praise-response. Music is one way the Church praises God. With unique benevolence; God has gifted His body with music as a vehicle of unity.
We unite our voices with the message to:
Edify the Body of Christ
--Acknowledge God’s bigness
--Fascinated with His attributes and character
--Fascinated with Might Works
Proclaim His Work in daily living.
Are there examples of song throughout the Scriptures that are focused on anything but edifying the Church or Praising God for His bigness?
The use of song in the fellowshipping of the Saints is a joyful uniting of voices focused on God alone. The use of big organs, grand pianos, praise bands, big sound systems, special lighting, aesthetic staging, over-planning, etc. may have become a hindrance to the simple aspects of what a song should mean to a gathering of the Saints.
Sing to God’s Glory!
After leading worship for years, many “song leaders” or “worship leaders” have come to a realization that no one can truly lead worship. God is both the beginning and end of our need for song in the Body. He exists…so we sing of His existence. He moves…so we sing of His mighty acts and great deeds. He loves…so we accept His love by praising Him for it. He bestows grace…we sing of His unending grace.
If the Church were to search her heart, she would find a void, many times due to the manipulative and/or cold manner in which songs are used on a weekly basis. Plan them out and then “lead worship.”
The choir sings powerfully and people are moved to tears. This same emotional explosion is found during large choir and orchestra productions performed by secular city/regional choruses and choirs.
A great hymn is introduced and powerfully sung with a mighty pipe organ getting louder with each verse and those involved get goose bumps. Yet, so many people are moved by the power of the presentation instead of the words.
A well-rehearsed praise chorus is performed and many sing, but most listen, as the contemporary sounding voice of the leader whisper-sings and his/her words moves from an expensive microphone through a reverb setting and then blasted through exclusive and specially-made-for-music speakers. Sometimes folks are jolted into excitable happiness or tearful emotional outbursts. Yet, it seems folks are reacting in a similar manner to that of a concert of a major band (country, top 40, rock and roll, etc.)?
Non-believers and Believers have the same reactions at lighted and sound system-driven concerts. Praise bands get excited when people respond to their songs with lifted hands, clapping or applause. Is the applause to God? Sometimes…but is it all of the time?
The instruments and leader are set in the middle of the stage and the bulletin (many younger folks have never seen one of these) is printed and the words are put on the screen and the show begins. The leadership, whether hymn leader or worship band lead singer, is the focus of the music. Why is it so hard to employ a simple approach of putting the focus on God alone?
If there is someone leading--they should be encouraged to see themselves as a servant. The leader should realize that they are simply a member of the Body of Christ using their gift to nudge others towards a corporate time of FOCUSING ON GOD.
Worship, again, is not necessarily music. Reading together the Word of God, responsive readings to the glory of God, testimonies of God’s bigness in one’s life and other God-centered outpourings have a significant place in the Church’s overall gathering. There are sayings such as “God is our Audience of One” or “We want God to touch our heart as we sing.” Neither of these ideas is correct. We are not performing for God nor are we seeking to be blessed. Our greatest blessing comes from humbly singing about God Alone and He being glorified.
If He is glorified: He may or may not choose to do anything. He may or may not choose to listen. He is God alone. We are not guaranteed to be a delightful fragrance in the nostrils of God by following a high church worship pattern or by putting on a praise and worship concert. Actually, many of the mega-churches are proactively performance-oriented due to the fact they are seeking to reach people on the “fringe of Christianity.”
God’s people are the only ones who can sing High Praise to the King of Kings. The Spirit dwells in Saints alone. Many can sing, but only Believers worship.
The focus should be for God to be the only One getting any glory. Those helping guide this should never “take the glory” away from God.
Aside: This doesn’t mean that a worship leader should be held captive to act stoic or incapacitated by the immense duty of being a humble servant. Actually, it is the opposite of this premise. Don’t take yourself too seriously! Be who God made you using the gifts He has given you. The encourager of worship should not get caught up in the worship movement’s style or delivery methods. “You are not Chris Tomlin or Kim Hill: so don’t try to mimic them.”
May the Church Worship!
In the book of Job, the morning stars sang together and heavenly beings shouted for joy (Job 38:7). John wrote that all creatures in heaven and on earth will sing to the Lamb on the throne (Revelation 5:13). Christ’s Body sings as an outpouring of God’s magnificence.
God has Spiritually birthed a choir into His fold to sing in unity to Himself. This is one of those “God things” that doesn’t make sense to a world looking for selfish pleasure. The Church should be compelled to stay away from the trappings of music that are self-focused and carnal.
Rarely does the Scripture declare a song of perfect rhyme; yet there is a song of Godly reason. From David’s lamenting to David’s high praise; God’s character is revealed.
As Believers gather to sing with different types of voices, backgrounds, talents and gifts, let there be one communal expression of faith unified by the Spirit with a passion to glorify God. The Believers of one faith saved by One’s perfect grace singing of the One True God! A great representation is Steve Fry’s lyric of “though our lives are many streams---one river flows.”
The one target of the congregational singing is to God as found in Psalms 96:
[Psa 96:1-13 ESV] 1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
There is music for entertainment and music for worship to our God. Entertaining music can be God glorifying, however, this does not make it worship. Just as a blossoming tree is beautiful or a sunrise is stunning; beautiful music is a pleasurable gift. However, there should be a more deliberate thought-process when considering songs that truly bring forth a united front. This unity of Body should be focused on God: His works, His character, His attributes, His power, His mercy, His grace, and His everything. These songs can reflect a mighty God doing mighty or simple things that the Body of Christ affectionately responds to with heartfelt praise.
A concern arises when worship is designed or put together in a way to “make” people worship or to “lead” people into worship. The use of repetitive lines or increased volume to stir a group into a frenzy of manufactured “worship” should alarm the Saints to consider a need for substance.
May the Church Sing!
Many songs are condensed books of theological truth that the Church can sing together praising the King of kings. Many songs are simple Body testimonies of God’s goodness. Many songs aid new Believers and children in seeing God’s beauty and bigness.
Songs that open our minds to Godly wisdom, increase our knowledge of God’s attributes and character, replay God’s historic narrative and speak of God’s persistent relationship with His church are most wonderful favors to the Church.
Sing Psalms, new songs, old songs. Sing old hymns and new hymns. Sing hymns with new melodies. As long as there is real truth and beautiful melodies: sing about a mighty and awesome God!!!
Many fellowships totally focus on hymns. Many reformed groups follow the regulative principle and only sing Psalms (usually reworded to rhyme). Many won’t sing a hymn unless they change the melody and words to be more “relative.” What is wrong with the Church that it would move towards style rather than substance? Why don’t we ask truth bearing questions like: Were the hymn authors of the 19th Century “more highly” saved than those living today? Or, on the other end of the spectrum, does a song need to be written by a group from Nashville?
Consider: Singing psalms or scriptures put to music cannot be a bad thing since the lyrics are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
There are many hymns that are wonderful examples of strong truth and beautiful melodies that should be strongly considered even by those in the “seeker” and mega-church circles.
There are some great songs for the Church being written today and within the last 30 years.
The Body should again get to the heart of worship and not be caught up in the style of worship. “Glorify God in unity, oh Saints of the Lord!” Sing, sing, sing! Families gathering together can meet together and in unity sing to God and proclaim His greatness. The Church gathers together to proclaim the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and their power towards their people from the beginning of time to eternity.
May the Church be Moved?
Music evokes emotion. Music should not be, however, planned out to evoke emotions. The powerful message of “who God is” should be the emotive incentive. People saved from sure and pathetic death by a God of grace; Believers are privileged with the opportunity to sing with others who are also set aside from ruin! Shouldn’t this emit powerful sentiment. People who are the workmanship of God (a piece of clay being molded by the Creator of the universe) should release wonderful and joyful passion.
Music should not be manipulatively planned by the dimming of lights and whispering voice to produce an emotional response. The congregants should not be caught up in repetitious phrase and powerful music to be pumped up to a frenzied state: this technique is used by secular, rock/country bands in concert settings to elicit planned responses. The response of the Church should be real and personal and focused on God’s glory and not earthly feelings of self-satisfaction.
The Church should not get caught up in planning concerts or praise gatherings in the interest of setting up the pastor’s sermon. There is a point where too much is just too much. Can the movements of God be manipulated or should we speak truth and let the Spirit do as He pleases?
It is important to accept emotion as a natural reaction to responding to the One True God. The Believer’s mind should be safeguarded against pre-planned sensations that aren’t there. God desires to hear the true hearts of His people. He desires for His people to Glorify Him in a way that is deep and real. He wants tears flowing from a response to His goodness, love and power.
May the Church Worship Naturally Supernaturally
The worship of God in the Bible is attached to a real, awesome, Godly experience. God moves, which in turn changes hearts and turns God’s people (or person) towards Him in Praise. A supernatural occurrence drives a natural heart-cry towards God.
The Body of Christ can never run out of things to be in wonder about when it comes to God’s bigness. This is why Paul tells us to pray without ceasing and find joy in all situations and give thanks for all things (I Thess. 5:16-19). Pray or praise without ceasing is significant in that praise is preempted by listening or seeing and then responding to God’s actions.
God has and will continue to show Himself in ways that prompt true worship of Him. Believers should be constantly praying for opportunities to see God’s handiwork and let the Spirit drive them to heartfelt worship.
When the Church comes together, she should let God’s bigness naturally drive the power of the worship time together. Singing together is a way to remember and behold anew the Great Creator of the Universe, the personal God of our salvation.
Closing
Singing can be a wonderful addition to congregational worship. The Church should consider being more diligent in her thought process about the way in which songs are used.
Sing songs of Spiritual depth with understandable lyrics and beautiful melodies. Never try to emulate “worship.” Let God’s worship be centered on and driven by Him alone. Supernaturally natural!
Questions to ponder:
Is the music theologically correct?
Is the music comprehensive by all in attendance? Can all Believers be involved because the lyrics are good and not jumbled in efforts to sound intelligent or to be poetic?
Do the songs strengthen our foundation as Believers?
Are the songs manipulatively performed to invoke emotion?
Is the music performed as a solo or is it sung in a way that encourages the whole body to sing without reservation?
Are the melodies easily sung or are they filled with unnecessary syncopation? Are the songs played in the vocal range of most of the Body?
Are there new songs introduced that are full of truth and have beautiful melodies?
Is the music time focused on the choir, band, production, performance or the leader or on God alone?
Does the leader see himself as a servant and simply a part of the congregation who has the privilege to encourage the Worship of God?
Is the emphasis on God being glorified Alone?