Certain things have been on my mind about worship lately. I have been cautious of pleasant sounding and entertaining music during worship, as I think that one may think they are feeling the Spirit when really they are just being moved by the music. From this perspective it seems that plainer and less extravagant tunes and services would be better, since one would be less likely to mistake musical appreciation for the Holy Spirit moving them.<br><br>But on the other hand, music itself is a form of art. Is a worship service necessarily less glorifying to God if one takes the art of music and enacts an extravagant and emotionally moving worship time? Is it bad for ones emotions to be influenced by music? If i take a more holistic perspective of the person, it seems that perhaps our emotions are part of our being and the moving of them can be part of the worship experience.<br><br>One thing i thought of is, why do we sing at all? Why not just read liturgy? What is the point or relevance of putting something into song, as opposed to ordinary speech? I'm wondering if one reason people started using song to worship God was precisely because it was an artform that moved them emotionally. Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but it seems that people opt for song in the first place is because of the emotional impact of the art of music.<br><br>So basically I'm confused. On the one hand i tend to cringe with suspicion when i see a worship team performing songs in a pleasing and entertaining fashion. When the congregation is excited and reverent after a song was it because of the lyrics and/or the Holy Spirit or was it because the music pleased them? But on the other hand, what if part of the function of music is to move one emotionally? What if emotions aren't deceptive, but rather part of one's worship experience?<br><br>Maybe there is a medium. I know some times when I am by myself i'll sing some short made-up melody off the top of my head to God. Music appeals to me and I am more moved when i sing than simply speak. If i take the former view to its logical conclusion, it would seem that emotional and/or extravagant preaching would be bad too, since a listener might assent to the message because he is being emotionally moved by the preacher's zeal and not by the Spirit. Are the two(emotion and the Holy Spirit) even mutually exclusive necessarily? The Spirit will affect one emotionally, but emotions don't necessarily mean the Spirit was the cause. <br><br>Any thoughts, answers?
Dan,<br><br>Certainly music can and should stir emotions. However the emotions should come in response to truth--not at its expense. By themselves, emotions never qualify as worship. Of all the battles in the worship wars, the battle over music probably has been the most evident and the most emotional.<br><br>Music is a powerful and vital element in the worship life of God’s people. But precisely because it is so significant, we need to give careful thought to it. We must be sure that we are pleasing God and not entertaining ourselves. The temptation to turn worship into entertainment is great because as sinners we are much more inclined to be self-centered than God-centered. We are much more inclined to amuse ourselves than to serve God.<br><br>If you're interested in pursuing these thoughts a little further you may want to read these two links I've provided below which discuss music in worship. Can the Holy Spirit be leading us away from the preaching of the word to focus more on our singing? In contemporary worship this seems to be the trend. As you explore this topic I think you'll sense the difference between what appeals to our flesh and what is pleasing to God.<br><br>Congregational Singing and the Ministry of the Word by Leonard Payton<br><br>Worship in the Melting Pot by Dr. Peter Masters<br><br><br>Wes
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. - Isaac Watts
Dan,<br><br>On some issues it is good to be confused to an extent. This keeps us looking to God continually instead of thinking we have arrived. <br><br><blockquote>1. God gave us emotions. <br><br>2. Some music is very soothing, moving, and worshipful, et. al. God expects us to have emotions in worship. I literally weep (controllably) during some songs because the words are driven to my heart and I am responding to the truth of the message therein. At other times I am rejoicing.<br><br>3. We are also to control our emotions as seen in the Scriptures as well (we should not over-weep or over-rejoice, but always responsive to the truth in worship). Thus, the Church and you personally have a responsibility to insure things are done decently and in order.<br><br>4. The Church is a place for each person's individual worship to come into community with others to glorify God alone. Each of us affect another's worship in "community." Thus, it is imperative to worship in Spirit and Truth.<br><br>5. In our present state, there may only be momentary synchronicity, and you will always be adjusting and readjusting to insure, to the best of your God given ability, you are glorifying God to the highest. Some times you will be able to worship God "more fully" than at other times. But, also remember that worship is far more than a "feeling" (yes, it does include them), it is reverence, the realization of who God is, who you are, what He has done, what He is doing, et. al. </blockquote> Having all this in mind your statement says much, "The Spirit will affect one emotionally, but emotions don't necessarily mean the Spirit was the cause."
Dear Dan:<br><br> I do not come on here often, but have partipated on the Highway for almost 7 years. As a Christian and Pastor that is still learning and growing, I also continue to deal with this matter. There used to be a time when we did nothing but hymns. Then we went to doing one "praise chorus." Now we do a "blended music worhip" that is still mostly hymns but also more praise choruses than we used to do. We also still sing some songs acapella. My conviction although certainly not authoritative is this: I believe there are more "meaty" and biblically accurate hymns out there than there are "praise choruses." But I also find nothing in Scripture that says no "praise choruses" or any contemporary music can be used at all, even considering the Regulative Principle of Worship. By the grace of God we are very cautious, careful, and selective on what praise choruses and contemporary music we use. To make sure that they are biblically accurate and God-centered rather than man-centered, and do not enetertain or feed the flesh so to speak. We do more hymns than praise choruses because we believe that more hymns talk about sin, the cross and repentance, etc., than do the praise choruses. Even though many praise choruses sing the psalms and other passages of Scripture, they often don't get deep and just repeat what lyrics are there. In my church since we are small I also have the priviledge of being the song leader :^ ), so I have more control of it that way. A typical service for us will have 3 hymns, 2 contempory choruses, 1 O.T. Scripture Reading, 1 N.T. Scripture Reading, Worship in Tithes & Offering, all totalling 30-35 minutes, and then an aproximate 45 minute sermon.<br><br>Well, that is my 2 cents worth, time to back into hiding, LOL<br><br>Brother Bret
