Naomi's Notes - 06/10/07
[My last column dealt with worship services vs. evangelistic services. This column explores how that concept impacts what music is chosen for worship services.]
If we use an evangelistic model rather than a worship model when planning services, then an "anything goes" musical approach is fine because everything is considered to be just a warm-up for the sermon, the only time of serious worship. Music will be mostly upbeat, feel-good music--usually favorite gospel songs or praise choruses--designed to enliven everyone through their emotions.
Some might say, "So what's wrong with that?" The problem is not so much what's in the service; it's what's left out. (I'm referring here to text, not necessarily style.) Gospel songs tend to focus on salvation/conversion (the "initial" Christian experience) or on heaven (future experience.) But an enormous amount of Christian life happens between our "getting saved" and our going to heaven. We still sing gospel songs in our services, but not exclusively. The goal is to have a well-rounded worship experience where music helps everyone connect with God in a variety of ways.
Praise songs are also a regular part of our worship - every service begins with at least one song of praise - but they are not all we should sing. Yes, all of our lives should be based on our praise for God and we ought to tell God regularly, "I love You with all my heart." But one does not have to look further than the Psalms, which contain expressions of lament and despair, petition and frustration, hope and faith, etc. to see that worshiping God is more than expressing only love and praise. Or consider a loving, committed marriage relationship where much more is expressed and experienced than simply saying "I love you" every moment.
Similarly, worship music should be chosen to help everyone worship and experience our complex God in all of God's fullness - for the here and now as well as for past and future.
[My next column will explore using both our minds and our emotions during worship.]
See you in worship this Sunday -
Naomi