Music Ministry
I had an opportunity for ministry recently where I was talking with someone who was going through a struggle. This person has had a difficult time relating to God from a "going to church" or "reading the Bible" kind of perspective, but in the moment, the words of scripture came to me in song. And so I sang. And God touched that person through music.
It is easy for us to overlook the difference music can make in our everyday life. When we think of music ministry we usually look to the worship leader or praise singer or instrumentalists. Or we look to the "special" musical selection. But we need to be aware of the opportunities there are to reach people on an individual level through music.
What about going to a nursing home and playing or singing some old songs? The songs may even be from a Presbyterian or Methodist hymnal, or whatever the majority of residents are. Just a thought.
I've followed with interest the thread on whether we should cater a musical style to reach the youth all the while seeking to retain a balance in our services and ensuring that the hymns are never replaced. Of course I believe it is good to maintain a diversity of musical styles. But how many of our churches have silver-haired worship leaders? In addition to ensuring that the songs we sing were written or made popular within the last ten years, wouldn't it also be good to have at least one of our rotating cadre of worship leaders be one that has had fifty or sixty years' of experience singing Pentecostal music? I have no doubt there are some churches that do, but those seem few and far between.
Lastly, when we talk about the need to incorporate a hymn into our worship services here and there, (at least one per service, if not more) I think it would be good to emphasize the positive qualities of such songs as opposed to viewing it from the perspective of the need to minister to the elder saints. It seems to me the quality and depth of message in most hymnal songs outweighs that of most contemporary worship songs. Granted, some of the songs currently making the rounds skimp less on message than those that were popular a few years back. But we still face a serious shortage of original music trumpeting the distinctives of our Oneness message.
It is easy for us to overlook the difference music can make in our everyday life. When we think of music ministry we usually look to the worship leader or praise singer or instrumentalists. Or we look to the "special" musical selection. But we need to be aware of the opportunities there are to reach people on an individual level through music.
What about going to a nursing home and playing or singing some old songs? The songs may even be from a Presbyterian or Methodist hymnal, or whatever the majority of residents are. Just a thought.
I've followed with interest the thread on whether we should cater a musical style to reach the youth all the while seeking to retain a balance in our services and ensuring that the hymns are never replaced. Of course I believe it is good to maintain a diversity of musical styles. But how many of our churches have silver-haired worship leaders? In addition to ensuring that the songs we sing were written or made popular within the last ten years, wouldn't it also be good to have at least one of our rotating cadre of worship leaders be one that has had fifty or sixty years' of experience singing Pentecostal music? I have no doubt there are some churches that do, but those seem few and far between.
Lastly, when we talk about the need to incorporate a hymn into our worship services here and there, (at least one per service, if not more) I think it would be good to emphasize the positive qualities of such songs as opposed to viewing it from the perspective of the need to minister to the elder saints. It seems to me the quality and depth of message in most hymnal songs outweighs that of most contemporary worship songs. Granted, some of the songs currently making the rounds skimp less on message than those that were popular a few years back. But we still face a serious shortage of original music trumpeting the distinctives of our Oneness message.
posted by everettg at
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
4 Comments:
Everett,
AH!! Good point!!! "Lastly, when we talk about the need to incorporate a hymn into our worship services here and there, (at least one per service, if not more) I think it would be good to emphasize the positive qualities of such songs as opposed to viewing it from the perspective of the need to minister to the elder saints." This statement debunks the need to "apologize" or come up with lame excuses for singing hymns. I wholeheartedly agree with you that we overlook or cast aside some of the most beautiful messages when we avoid hymns. Take for instance, "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" by Isaac Watts. Read those verses carefully, slowly and try not to weep. "See from his head, his hands, his feet sorrow and love flow mingled down..." Who writes stuff like that?!!?!! Yes, you're right - let's view it from a positive rather than negative angle.
AA
I was at Barnes & Noble last night and saw they have a book newly released on the subject of music and its literal affects on our body and on our psyche. It is supposed to be all very scientific. It certainly proves everything you're saying from a very scientific side. i'll have to check the title and bring it back to you!
I haven't seen a lot of negative reaction to hymns in my church or those around me. A lot of the "modern" worship bands are doing hymns on their albums. I do see a negative reaction to our Pentecostal songs such as "Let Me Tell You Who Jesus Is" and "He's God On The Platform". I have seen a lot of negative reaction to the newer song "I'm A Pentecostal" which seems to follow the traditional lyric/melody lines of those sort of Pentecostal songs. Any thoughts?
Thank you Sarah. I would be interested in that title.
Ann. You always brighten my day with your replies. Thanks for being an ever faithful responder!
Anonymous: I'm curious when you say "negative reaction" what do you mean? Who is negative? Do negatives outweigh positives in such songs?
I will provide a little food for thought on this last question. I was just reviewing the song "I'm a Pentecostal" as performed by CLC. In my brief review, I found eight lines or parts of lines which gave me pause, the one standing out the most being "they're leaving their dead churches."
We do have a certain way of characterizing other faiths that could be read as rather offensive to folks from other faith traditions. This is one such example.
Sometimes I think a certain degree of pride in speaking in tongues, expressive worship, and doing things the way they did it in the book of Acts can become excessive. While Paul wrote that he was glad that he spoke in tongues more than everybody, he also was careful to note that he gloried in his infirmities. He was proud that he had suffered.
I will leave the rest well enough alone -- I have a great deal of respect for CLC -- great school, great music and I do not want to sound too many negative notes!
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