Praise and Worship

There is something wonderful that happens when we are in the condition of Praising and Worshiping our Father God. This feeling that is deep inside our hearts can express the joy that overcomes our very being as we give our whole selves over to Him. When we worship we are connecting with God in ways that are well beyond our human comprehension.

When we praise God in song and give praises of thankfulness for the situations in our lives, we are overwhelmed with a feeling of peaceful contentment which excites and calms us in order to deal with any situation in which we find ourselves. Being in this state of Worship and Praise is never ending but in this day and age where anyone can write a song we must be able to discern the heart of the writer and examine the truth of the song.

The Truth of Song  

A song is an expression of the heart and mind of the person who writes it. When it comes to Christian music there must absolutely no faltering from the Ten Commandments. There are three Commandments that specifically come to mind. 

They are:
ב 3 “You are to have no other gods before me. 4 You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. 5 You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.
ג 7 “You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly. Exodus 20: 3-7 (CJB)

Simply put, song of worship and praise are from us to Him and for Him. We are not to write songs from His perspective because even though we are given a glimpse into what He can do for us, we must not express that in a way that can be misinterpreted. When one writes a song that places God in the first person, that person is putting words into God’s mouth which is in direct violation of the Third Commandment and definitely should not be sung openly. Also, do not allude to God but He is to be mentioned outright. The songs are to and for Him after all.  

Worship and Praise in song are expressions of what God does in our lives and how it has affected our faith, our trust in Him. They are to speak of God’s work in our lives and pronounce the Good News of the Gospel in ways that compel others to learn more and work towards a closer, more personal relationship with Him. Many of the hymns prior to the 1930s had evident Scripture in the words. This is something that is missing in most Contemporary Christian music.   

If you were to listen to modern music from Middle Eastern Christian and Messianic Jews, every song is taken directly from Scripture. From full Psalms to portions of Psalms and other Scriptures, the praise and worship there is filled with Scripture. God tells us to keep His Word hidden in our hearts which means to treasure the Word. In this way we remember the Word and are able to express it in every facet of our lives. If the Word is not treasured then we run the risk of sin taking over us.

Instrumentation in the Church

Some folks are still at odds with having full instrumentation in the church and prefer a single  organ, piano, acoustic guitar, or no instruments at all. That didn’t seem to bother our ancestors. Praise and worship with instruments was part of the everyday celebration. The old cathedrals were acoustically designed for the organ to be heard blasting throughout. Psalm 150 tells us to celebrate in praise with instruments and dance.

Halleluyah!
Praise God in his holy place!
Praise him in the heavenly dome of his power!
Praise him for his mighty deeds!
Praise him for his surpassing greatness!

 Praise him with a blast on the shofar!
Praise him with lute and lyre!
Praise him with tambourines and dancing!

Praise him with flutes and strings!
Praise him with clanging cymbals!
Praise him with loud crashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise Adonai!
Halleluyah!

The loud ruckus of wind, stringed, and percussion instruments is part of praising God. Granted. The instruments should not be louder than the voices but it is still part of it. We are to celebrate His Almighty Power, His Grace, His Mercy, and all He has done and does for us in the best way we know how. This is praise and worship in song and dance. When did we get so stuffy?

Leaders Of Worship

The main job of leaders in music worship is not to put themselves on a pedestal but to help others through directing the corporate praise and worship. Too many worship leaders try and put themselves in a high place when all they are doing is changing the direction of worship. The stage on which the band plays and the vocalists sing on should be considered as part of the altar where sacrifices are made to God. When we play and sing we are using the gifts God gave us to glorify Him and Him alone.

Since we are no longer required to give blood sacrifices thanks to God sacrificing His Son, Jesus, we are giving the sacrifice of praise and worship which resounds throughout the church. It should also be heard outside the church and not contained in a building. The plants, trees, rocks, and animals are also part of God’s creation so should they not also hear it so that they may join in?

Concerts?

Leaders of music worship are leaders who have been entrusted to bring others to God through song, reading of the Word, and prayer. It is not a concert, do not treat it as such. Do not take accolades and let them rule the heart but send the accolades to God. Christian artists should not be awarded for their efforts by man and material means. They are awarded in the heart and receive the best when they reach heaven because of the hearts they touch.

Capitalization and fame are two things that are not on God’s good graces list. I will admit to wearing song verses on shirts but I see them as conversation starters. When we place names and faces on things we are basically idolizing them a violation of Commandment #s 1and 2. We can enjoy without idolizing we just have to be cautious and recognize what we are doing.

We can enjoy the music and don’t get me wrong I do enjoy listening to and singing along with certain Contemporary Christian Music but I do not idolize the person(s) who sing it. I have attended some just to get the exposure of what Christians do and in some cases meet with the people who sang and played. You can definitely tell the difference between those who are in it for the Glorification of God and those who desire the recognition and money.

What Can We Do?

Brothers and Sisters, the current situation in which we find ourselves has the youth coming to Christ through contemporary song. When we see or hear of any person deciding on Christ through music worship alone we are responsible to make sure it is genuine. It is the responsibility of those closest to the person to watch and guide the growth into right Christianity and not “Jesus worship”. Teach discernment, disciple them, and follow-up, but mostly shower them with God’s Love.  

If you see a worship leader start changing for the worst, bring it up to the person in a Christian manner. Do not chide but express the Love of God and His Glory needs to be above all else. If you hear a Christian song that does not sound right, turn it off. Do not let the confusion of others become your own. If a song is sung in church that does not sound right, stop singing and start praying. If you are in a praise and worship band express your concern for songs that do not Glorify God. I care for your spirit and the spirit of those who are close to you. Keep His Word on your heart and let it give you strength.

Wrapped in His Love,

 Rob, Servant of God