While I agree the last thing we need is another article on “Worship Wars”, I have had to learn and admit some things for myself over the last few weeks that I hope will be relevant in your life as well.
To start, I have the great blessing to be able to play drums in our church orchestra. I will admit to you there are songs that are more fun to play than others. The musician in me likes fast-paced, rhythmic songs that are a bit challenging. But those songs satisfy something in me and, as such, are not offerings to Christ. Also, as a musician I have quite varied tastes in music, I love to listen to, sing along, and thoroughly enjoy many different kinds of music. While there is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying secular music (within reason), this type of music is also for my own entertainment, not a gift given to our Lord Jesus Christ.
I also enjoy music that might be classified as sacred, but in reality actually leans more toward entertainment like good old 4-part, syncopated, toe-tapping Southern Gospel but if my feet are all that is moved and if it gives more pleasure to me than it does God, then it too should be categorized as entertainment.
We all have our favorite Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, along with many other classifications of music. These could be our favorites because it reminds us of our youth, of our old home church, of family members, or of some other nostalgic chord within us. But to come to a corporate worship service and give our exceedingly worthy Heavenly Father a set list from a juke box of our personal favorites stops far short of a sacrificial gift of praise.
Church is not to be like American Bandstand where we “Rate a Record” and decide a song’s worth based upon our personal tastes and opinions. Nor is it that juke box of favorites just previously discussed. To refuse to lift our voices in worship because of the choice of song is to place our own opinions and preferences above God and we all know that is idolatry.
Have you ever noticed that the loudest protests regarding music selection in church are most often provided by those who hardly ever sing anyway?
“Father, forgive our selfish hearts and fill us with love and joy and a desire to express that, along with gratitude and praise, as a sacrifice of praise to You and You alone.”
Rather than complaining about the selections on the smorgasbord of the song service, let us raise our voices together using the music as a vehicle by which our worship and praise can be carried to the portals of heaven and the sincerity and genuineness therein received as a sweet smelling savor to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Isn't He worth it?
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 NKJV.
For He Alone is Worthy,
Jeff Hulsizer, Worshipper
