|
Posts: 146
Joined: August 2021
|
|
|
|
Forums31
Topics8,349
Posts56,545
Members992
| |
Most Online2,383
Jan 12th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,856
Needs to get a Life
|
Needs to get a Life
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,856 |
doulos said:
So here's the bottom line for me: If its the attitude of the heart that matters most, why do we clutter our worship service up with rules and expectations? I think its because most folks are content to dust off their worship on Sunday morning and cart it to church, then take it home and put it up for another week. They don't want to think about the idea of worshipping with their lives day by day, minute by minute--which is the way it ought to be. Doulos, I haven't previously replied in this thread because music can be such an emotionally divisive topic. While I think the attitude of one's heart is very important I think there are other important factors too. When discussing what music is your personal preference and/or appropriate to use in the church we seem to come up with a lot of opinions and some are very emotional. In our day I think music is where the post modern and contemporary churches put a lot of emphasis. Based on some of the choices that are made today we can see music can be very man-centered as opposed to God-centered. In Paul's letters to the Colossians and Ephesians he describes the use of music as a means to teach and admonish. Think about it... music should also help us to learn from the Word. I think that is an interesting admonition that is often overlooked when preferences are shared. Col. 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”Commentary by A.R. Faussett
The oldest manuscripts read "psalms, hymns, spiritual songs" (see on JF & B for Eph 5:19). At the Agapae or love-feasts, and in their family circles, they were to be so full of the Word of Christ in the heart that the mouth should give it utterance in hymns of instruction, admonition, and praise (compare Deu 6:7 ). TERTULLIAN [Apology, 39], records that at the love-feasts, after the water had been furnished for the hands and the lights had been literally, according as any had the power, whether by his remembrance of Scripture, or by his powers of composition, he used to be invited to sing praises to God for the common good. Paul contrasts (as in Eph 5:18, 19 ) the songs of Christians at their social meetings, with the bacchanalian and licentious songs of heathen feasts. Singing usually formed part of the entertainment at Greek banquets (compare Jam 5:13 ).
with grace--Greek, "IN grace," the element in which your singing is to be: "the grace" of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This clause expresses the seat and source of true psalmody, whether in private or public, namely, the heart as well as the voice; singing (compare Col 3:15 , "peace . . . rule in your hearts"), the psalm of love and praise being in the heart before it finds vent by the lips, and even when it is not actually expressed by the voice, as in closet-worship. The Greek order forbids English Version, "with grace in your hearts"; rather, "singing in your hearts."
to the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "to God." Commentary by A.R. Faussett
speaking to one another Hence soon arose the antiphonal or responsive chanting of which PLINY writes to Trajan: "They are wont on a fixed day to meet before daylight [to avoid persecution] and to recite a hymn among themselves by turns, to Christ, as if being God." The Spirit gives true eloquence; wine, a spurious eloquence.
psalms--generally accompanied by an instrument.
hymns--in direct praise to God (compare Act 16:25 1Cr 14:26 Jam 5:13 ).
songs--the general term for lyric pieces; "spiritual" is added to mark their being here restricted to sacred subjects, though not merely to direct praises of God, but also containing exhortations, prophecies, &c. Contrast the drunken "songs," Amo 8:10 .
making melody--Greek, "playing and singing with an instrument."
in your heart--not merely with the tongue; but the serious feeling of the heart accompanying the singing of the lips (compare 1Cr 14:15 Psa 47:7 ). The contrast is between the heathen and the Christian practice, "Let your songs be not the drinking songs of heathen feasts, but psalms and hymns; and their accompaniment, not the music of the lyre, but the melody of the heart" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].
to the Lord--See PLINY'S letter quoted above: "To Christ as God." "Some branches of the Reformed faith, eager to protect the church from the addition of human tradition, impressed by the continuity between Israel and the church, and noticing that the terms "psalms," "hymns," and "songs" are used in the Book of Psalms, believe that Paul envisioned only the singing of the psalms from the Old Testament in public worship. This restriction appears, however, to miss the point. He piles up the terms to highlight the wide range of musical expression that grateful and heartfelt praise to God calls forth from the body of Christ. The word "psalms" refers at least to the use of the Old Testament psalter (Luke 20:42; 24:44; Acts 1:20; 13:33), but may also refer to fresh compositions for worship (I Cor. 14:26). The word "spiritual" (Greek pneumatikos) qualifies the potentially secular term "songs" as being taught or led by the Spirit (cf. I Cor. 2:6; 15:44, 45) Christ's redemptive work brought an outpouring of hymns of praise from His people, often patterned after the songs of the Old Testament (e.g., Luke 1:46-53, 67-79; 2:14, 29-32). Paul personally employed music within his own worship (Acts 16:25), and it has long been observed that his letters contain portions of early Christian hymns (Eph. 5:14; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-20; I Tim. 3:16). Early Christian songs of praise appear also to underlie John 1:1-14; Heb. 1:3; I Pet. 1:18-21; 2:21-25; 3:18-22. The "new songs" of the Book of Revelation are themselves a study in the vibrancy of early Christian worship (Rev. 4:8, 11; 5:9, 10, 12, 13; 7:10, 12; 11:15, 17, 18; 12:10-12; 15:3, 4; 19:1-8; 21:3,4)." [Music in the Church - notes from my New Geneva Study Bible] 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 277
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 277 |
Thanks Wes. This sounds about right to me.
Josh "...the word of God is not bound."--2 Timothy 2:9
|
|
|
|
|
0 members (),
117
guests, and
33
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
