9.5 Theses on Worship
I was referred to this article (Hat tip to Muta and Pupa) weeks and weeks ago, and just now got to reading it and contemplating it... As someone personally involved in the music aspect of worship, Christianity Today's take on it interested me.
First impression: Parrett's got some great things to say about worship; he seems pretty much right on. I particularly liked the following quotes:
Next, on to the style of the music itself. Now, I'm definitely a fan of rocking guitars and tight 3-part vocals. But I also recognize the value (especially theologically) of the old-school traditional hymns that seem to have disappeared from the pews of any church under 10 years old. As Parrett says,
Sometimes a light surprises, The Christian while he sings
It is the Lord who rises, With healing in His wings
When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining, To cheer is after rain
In holy contemplation, We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God‚s salvation, And find it ever new
Set free from present sorrow, We cheerfully can say
Let the unknown tomorrow, Bring with it what it may
Tomorrow can bring us nothing, But He will bear us through
Who gives the lilies clothing, Will clothe His people too
Beneath the spreading heavens, No creature but is fed
And He who feeds the ravens, Will give His children bread
Though vine nor fig-tree neither,
Their wonted fruit should bear
Though all the fields should wither,
Nor flocks or herds be there
Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice!
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice!
The lyrics are great, and so is the music: It's an excited melody based around a quick and clear guitar lick. (There's an amazing bridge with a key change at the beginning, but still ends up in the original key....yeah, baby!) Anyways...
As this article reveals, there are many ways for worship music to develop positively. Perhaps I can be a part of that revolution.
First impression: Parrett's got some great things to say about worship; he seems pretty much right on. I particularly liked the following quotes:
Many in our churches have their theology formed principally by our hymnody. When we recognize young men and women in our congregations as gifted in the areas of musical composition, performance, or leading, we should encourage them to pursue theological training and support them to do so. This may mean sending them off to seminary, Bible college, or some other venue.I totally agree with that! Much of modern worship music is theologically shallow and incomplete. What a perfect combination: gifted musicians and correct theology! Which leads into the next quote:
Others, for whom such training seems inaccessible, should be mentored by those in the congregation who are more biblically literate and mature. Pastors must not relinquish "worship leading" to a theologically unequipped person simply because that one is musically gifted. Song selection and composition can be conducted in partnership with those who are, or ought to be, teachers in the flock.
...what God has revealed about himself is not always what we would like to acknowledge. Do our songs address the full range of his attributes and actions, or only those that we delight in? We sing often of his love and kindness. But what of his wrath, his jealousy, his inscrutability—do we sing honestly of these things? Surely we should.Amen! These services could use a bit of mixing up of theological concepts besides "God loves me and saves me, and He brings me joy and happiness..." How about a hymn that portrays the mournful spirit of David's repentance of his sins against Uriah and Bathsheba? How about some songs that quote from the "imprecatory" psalms--you know, the ones that cry for God's vengeance against Israel's enemies. (OK, perhaps I'm being a tad extreme, but you get the point--we need more subject matter in the lyrics.)
Next, on to the style of the music itself. Now, I'm definitely a fan of rocking guitars and tight 3-part vocals. But I also recognize the value (especially theologically) of the old-school traditional hymns that seem to have disappeared from the pews of any church under 10 years old. As Parrett says,
...we must move beyond the chronological snobbery that insists that "newer is better" when it comes to our songs of worship.Which is why I love the Indelible Grace movement; these folks take old and obscure hymns with rich, theologically-meaningful lyrics and put modern music to them. I get the best of both worlds when I listen! One great example is "Sometimes A Light Surprises," lyrics by William Cowper (1731-1800), music by Keven Twitt, and sung by Derek Webb:
Sometimes a light surprises, The Christian while he sings
It is the Lord who rises, With healing in His wings
When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining, To cheer is after rain
In holy contemplation, We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God‚s salvation, And find it ever new
Set free from present sorrow, We cheerfully can say
Let the unknown tomorrow, Bring with it what it may
Tomorrow can bring us nothing, But He will bear us through
Who gives the lilies clothing, Will clothe His people too
Beneath the spreading heavens, No creature but is fed
And He who feeds the ravens, Will give His children bread
Though vine nor fig-tree neither,
Their wonted fruit should bear
Though all the fields should wither,
Nor flocks or herds be there
Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice!
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice!
The lyrics are great, and so is the music: It's an excited melody based around a quick and clear guitar lick. (There's an amazing bridge with a key change at the beginning, but still ends up in the original key....yeah, baby!) Anyways...
As this article reveals, there are many ways for worship music to develop positively. Perhaps I can be a part of that revolution.
posted by Seth at 1:17 PM
1 Comments:
Careful...the emotions of jealousy, fury, and vengeance are sinful when they are felt by humans, usually--there is righteous anger, for example.
God's jealousy is not human; neither is it sinful. I don't desire more depth of subject in hymns because I want to feel less of a "shitty human being," because for one, that's what I am. But more importantly, Parrett advocates more theological variety in hymns because he wants God's attributes to be fully represented, not just the ones that make us feel warm and fuzzy on a Sunday morning.
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