It has me thinking about worship and tastes in music. If we "like" the music in worship, does it mean we have a heart that's after the same things God is after? If we attempt to introduce into worship the kind of music that we like, rather than traditional worship music, does that mean we're pushing our own idols into God's house? Or does it mean that we're simply using our (for lack of a better word) natural inclinations (a.k.a. tastes) to praise God?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands
I'm reading this book titled Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, by Paul David Tripp. Chapter 4 deals with the heart, and how your actions follow directly from your heart. What you're worshiping in your heart (either God or some idol) dictates your actions and the motivations behind those actions.
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Good post, Dave, I can't wait to hear what Joe pipes in on this one!
ReplyDeleteI would say that the use of one style over another is not as important as the purpose of music in the service, and the clarity of the definition of worship. Let's start with the second part of that, the definition of worship. So often today, worship has come to refer to those actions we do for God. If you ask people why they go to church, at least part of the answer, for many is to sing praise to God; as if that offering is something pleasing to Him, in and of itself. Whereas a confessional Lutheran definition of worship ought to have as its focus what God does for us. True praise will flow from that, but oughtn't be the focus.
The Word, "service," in "divine service" really refers to God's coming to us in His Word and Sacrament. We see this spelled out more clearly, perhaps, when some hymnals divide the divine service into the subsections of "the service of preparation" during which we confess our sins and receive God's forgiveness in the words of absolution; "the service of the Word" when God comes to us in the reading of His Holy Word; and "the service of Holy Communion" through which God communes with us in His Holy Supper once again, forgives our sins.
Within this context, the music is auxiliary. But it ought to add to the theme of God coming to us through His Word and Sacrament; giving us the forgiveness won by Jesus' suffering and death.
It it too late to make a long story short? If the music focuses us on Jesus and His forgiveness, it's good. But if it focuses on us and our fervor or experience; or if it implies God's coming to us in a way other than the Word and Sacraments, it is weak and even heterodox. The musical style itself is not the main issue, but the lyrics.
And to be even more verbose, a secondary consideration, which will be used differently according to each pastor's conscience (or the collective conscience of his flock), is what associations are we implying by using a certain liturgical form over another. I'd have to write a book to hit all these bases, but I'll give a few brief examples. If we insist on a more "modern" liturgical style, are we implying that the former is not good enough? Are we feeling a need to be more like other denominations, which may not accept the Sacramental workings of God? If so, are we remembering to focus on that distinction so worshipers are not confused? Are we neglecting in any new worship style any of the ways God has promised to come to us? If so, we weaken our service. We miss opportunities to serve attendees with God's forgiveness.
There is nothing innately more God pleasing in the harmonies and melodies found in, for instance, the TLH. But our reason for changing and the content to which we change is the important thing. I have become convinced, (yes, thanks to my husband) that our traditional Lutheran order of service best fits God's desire for Christian worship. It hits on all the important commands and institutes He's given His church.
Bringing this back to your original idea of personal idols in worship, that is something each has to examine for him or herself. If a musical selection falls within the parameters of the above focus and cautions, it is truly Christian worship. "All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial." (Paraphrase of St. Paul, in case it's too loose to recognize.) As with any human endeavor, our intentions are never pure; if we wait for pure intentions, however, we'd never do anything.
Thanks for your thoughtful post, Mary! You're helping me figure out the answer to the question:
ReplyDelete"Was that music spiritually uplifting, or did I simply like it?"
or the related (in my mind) question:
"Is this music appropriate for worship if I enjoy it to the same degree as my favorite secular songs?"
Or the corollary:
"I really didn't care for that hymn - is it my fault?"
I really like your first question. It makes an excellent distinction. I will remember it.
ReplyDeleteYour second questions confuses me. Do you mean:
1) Is this music appropriate for worship only if I enjoy it to the same degree as my favorite secular songs? or
2) Is this music appropriate for worship because I enjoy it to the same degree as my favorite secular songs? or
3)Is this music appropriate for worship when I enjoy it to the same degree as my favorite secular songs? or
4) none of the above.
My answer to your third question: I'm so glad I'm Lutheran. We are saved by GRACE and isn't it an amazing thing? We come feast upon the Word and Sacraments. We rest assured on the promises God has attached to those Means of Grace. We don't have to figure out perfectly how it all holds together in our daily life.
When we still have concerns, we can remember how the writer of Hebrews lauded Isaac for blessing Jacob instead of Esau. And it was credited to him as righteousness. Even when our human wisdom says Isaac never intended so to bless. But Jesus blessed perfectly here on earth and that's what God credits.
With us, also. Jesus had perfect musical appreciation. Therefore we can say, "Even so, Bear85 joined in heartily in the singing of Ye Olde Boring Hymn with Difficult Intervals and Poetry, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Mary,
ReplyDeleteHere's what I meant by the second question. Assuming that "in me there is no good thing," will my own judgment and taste always lead me down the wrong path?
If there's a worship song that I like just as much as "Twist and Shout" or "Walking on Sunshine" or "99 Luftballons" or even "You Shook Me All Night Long", it makes me wonder...why exactly do I like that particular hymn so much? Do I have some sinful human reason for really digging a sacred song?
Mary, I want to thank you for taking all my fretting about this seriously, and putting together such thoughtful replies.
Uh, as Angelica Graynamore would say, "I have no response to that."
ReplyDeleteI mean, I could make something up, but I'm not feeling really creative tonight. I'm sure there is some blaring logico-doctrinal fallacy present, but I'm going to sleep on it.
Ok, I changed my mind. I think that "in me there is no good thing" is the pre-saved you. Even Paul makes the distinction, when he says in the phrase you (so conveniently) omitted, "in me, *that is in my flesh*, there is no good thing." I think by distinguishing the flesh part of himself, he's differentiating it from the new man.
Certainly in the greater context of Pauline epistles, he clarifies, that although still saddled with the flesh, our new man is ever-present, freeing us from the burden of the law.
Just in that same chapter (), I see verse 4-6, "Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."
Our marriage to Christ delivers us from the law.
And also verses 24-25, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."
Although Paul repeats that the flesh will always serve sin, he prefaces it with that wonderful confession of victory through Christ.
OK, see I was so long winded, I had to divide this into two.
ReplyDeleteThen there is , "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
And also , "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
I also found "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."
I'm not sure what it means. It feels like it fits, though. I'm not sure what the two are. Jesus' two natures? The Jews and Gentiles? The old covenant and the new? or, in us, the old Adam and new man? They all seem to fit, in context, so maybe it is all of them. I don't want to play lose with Scripture, but it really seems like a "full to the brim" nugget of Scriptural truth.
And remember all the passages that refer to God judging us through our works. In the context of Scripture, especially in light of that Hebrews Isaac reference, We can see how God imputes Jesus sinless life to us. So then, your choice of music preference, offered in faith, is a pure fragrance wafting heavenward. It really doesn't matter if it is the *best* choice or the *richest* doctrine or whatever. Because of your faith in Christ and His works is imputed upon your choice.
And this is not to say we should neglect discretion. Or as Paul would say, "Should we therefore sin more so that grace may abound?"
Just that we need not fret or worry about our decisions and actions. They are covered.
Re. your fretting and my responses...I enjoy the challenge of Spiritual questions and it is part of the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints. It blesses both of us.
I hope you don't get sick of my responses. As you know, I nearly always have something to say. Even on those rare occasions when at first I think I don't. :-)
Joe went downstairs at 11:00 to watch a movie and I declined since I was on my way to be. Oops. Now he is up and on his way to bed.
ReplyDeleteSigh!
I think your little time thing on your blog is off somehow. It says I posted at 11:21. I won't tell you what time it is.