25 June 2024
If it were left to me, I would make it a doctrine that austerity in church organization, worship in particular, is a dire necessity for our time.
The symbol of our age is Laodecia, the church of lukewarm religion. This is has been used rhetorically for a long time to whip up a fervor that is fleshly. We have preaching that is culturally moving, but doesn't really touch the needs of our heart. Even more so does the music keep us in the flesh.
Like everyone else, I grew up experiencing cultural Christianity. There are forgotten songs that still warm my flesh with enthusiasm, but I have to admit that I'm shocked how many do not spark my spirit. In our private home worship, my wife and I have begun excluding songs we used to love, because it turns out they were musically interesting, even culturally relevant, but there's nothing else behind them.
Too much Christian music never touches on eternal themes. I won't name them because the whole point is that we need things to stir conviction, and yours must of necessity vary from mine. Instead, I'll share one that I think does us some good:
Imperials Quartet -- "Try Again" (YouTube link)
The point is not to get lost in the artistry of the music. Nor is it the doctrine or the emotional appeal; it's about the underlying message of encouragement. Indeed, I could wish for recorded performances with a whole lot less auditory filling. It doesn't have to be acapella, but it needs to be aimed at letting you worship.
Over the decades of my life, there were times when I have been asked to lead church music. I will tell you why: It's not my singing talent, but that something happened to get folks singing more fervently. I'm not any notable musician, and I don't know a whole lot about music theory. What I do know is the needs of wounded hearts that need to climb out of the flesh and spend time in God's Presence.
God gave me that, and He used it.
Let me make an appeal for far simpler worship until we can recover what has been lost. It's been years since I've been in a church worship service that didn't emphasize the cultural stirring of the flesh. We can bring back the full orchestra later when we know how to use it.
Comments
Jay DiNitto
I seem to remember hearing the Imperials before, or at least hearing of them, despite them being before my time. But it looks like they've been around forever.
Anyways, music was a big active thing for me, not very much anymore, although I still listen to and support bands that I think are worthy. There's a lot out there in the Christian scene that I'm tangentially involved in that have exhibit little sense of divine calling. Maybe other people see it, but I don't. A lot of bands that get big seem to tone down or ditch any open admissions to belief in their lyrics, or they get political, etc. Fame seems to do bands worse than enjoying middling success.
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