Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world. Isaiah 12:5
What are your thoughts about music in church? I know many of you love the organ, many love a worship band, and often in church we rely on pre-recorded tracks. But what about the hymns and songs themselves?
What makes a good worship song? Maybe you like the tune, it's catchy and you find yourself humming it during the week. Maybe it reminds you of your wedding, or possibly the funeral of a loved one, or it reminds you of your childhood.
For me, whilst the tune matters a lot, the lyrics are also really important.
Some great tunes have lyrics that are less than inspiring, or even theologically dubious. Others have powerful words but are let down by forgettable music. Some worship songs are spiritually sound, but the language can seem a complex or archaic: this can prove very hard for youngsters or for those whose first language is not English.
Whilst they may have an air of reverence and tradition, they can be less
accessible for today's church.
I love hymns that have lifted the words of scripture and set them to
music - these can become a great foundation for learning scripture by
heart. Some years ago I was leading a youth Bible Study and as we read
the passage one of the girls started beaming as she realised she knew
the words from one of the worship songs.
Others give a simple Christian message to live your life by. You may
remember a worship song from the late 1990s that had a very simple
chorus:
He said, "Freely, freely you have received,
Freely, freely give!
Go in my name, and, because you believe,
Others will know that I live”
There's so much truth in those few words. We have all received so much from God at no expense to ourselves. Yet how much do we actually give back? I don't mean financially, but in time and service. How many of us could be helping in Sunday School to teach the next generation? Or
helping to cook for the homeless at 5&2 lunches? Or becoming a Street
Pastor or School Pastor in our local community?
How many of us actually talk to others about our faith, thus using God-given opportunities to do so?
There are so many ways for you to give back to God - come and have a chat with me if you'd like to know how.
Because unless we live out line 2 of that chorus, then line 4 won't happen!
However, whatever style of worship you prefer, the most important thing
of all is to keep on praising! Be bold in sharing your faith.
And sing out to God in confidence of a secure future in and through Him.
Nigel