Music and Worship
I have seen the effects of True Worship.
When there has been True Worship I have seen Deliverance, I have seen Healing, I have seen The Cloud of His Glory and I have seen half the congregation laid out in Blissful repose in Our Lord’s Presence.
So, I think I would think, as one who observes and dissects technically, that I might know a little about what True Worship is, and what True Worship is not.
There is an awful lot of the not happening today. Gone are the Jesus People of the sixties and early seventies; gone are those of the Fervent Charismatic Renewal; gone is the expectancy of seeing the Miraculous: we pray for headaches (and not even migraines) and don’t even get seriously fervent for eyesight or medically verifiable healings.
From observation I firmly believe that a congregation learns more theology from the Music it sings than from Sunday School (those few churches that still have it) and the pastors sermons. So, when I nitpick about lyrics it is with just cause. My Lord is not far beyond the universe, He is right here in my heart and daily life! And, His love was not reckless it was methodical, deliberate and carefully laid out, and if The Garden of Gethsemane doesn’t put the lie to the idea that Jehovah’s love was reckless, do you really know the same Jesus who deliberately died so that you and I might be adopted into Jehovah’s Family?
In a very real sense we are, deep inside, the music we choose to listen to. My tastes are eclectic, ranging from Classical to Rock, even Heavy Metal at times. Though almost always from a Christian Recording, sometimes I do use selected Secular to blow the cobwebs out. But I always return to my heart, which is: Worship anthems, songs that I can sing from deep in my heart as either a prayer, to exult in my Father or exalt my Lord and King. Lately I keep coming back Paul Wilbur’s For Your Name Is Holy - I Enter The Holy of Holies.
I also read a bit here and there, one of the Worship Blogs I read is Jamie Brown’s Worthily Magnify Jamie is an Anglican Worship Pastor, and I was surprised that he has such a grasp as to what being a Worship Pastor is all about. Especially, when I started reading his blog at: Are We Headed For A Crash? Reflections On The Current State of Evangelical Worship, I don’t think I’ve ever read anyone who “nailed it” so well. Granted his style, musically is not to my long-term tastes, but he has a heart for Worship and the Administration of a Worship Pastorate like none other I have read.
I’ve written a few things myself… Not as well thought out, and some quite dated… As I proof read them “one more time” I will add links here.
· Some Contemporary Music Notes
· Instructed In The Song Of The Lord – This is a teaching by Jack Hayford I copied from a Cassette Tape. I consider this one of the premier teachings on the subject. If you are blessed by this teaching, PLEASE buy a copy for yourself.
· Kiss The Son Lest He Be Angry – This is an article written by Glenn Kaiser of Resurrection Band. Except for the banner the text is unedited. I had saved the original web page from Glen’s site, which is no longer up.
· Some basic concepts in the administration of a Music Ministry – This is one I wrote a good while back. I’ve added a few thoughts, but Worthily Magnify has much better advice to offer, look for keywords practice and preparation.
· True Worship can produce Holiness – Something I wrote while visiting a denominational church back in April of 2018.