 GCO Mission and Goals | GCO Ministry Testimonials | Projects | Resources/Donations/Contact | SEARCH | |
Upgrade! Pt. 3 (of 3), Reverence Series (Singing)
Presenter: Larry Kirkpatrick
Location: Mentone SDA Church, CA, USA
Delivery: 2008-02-23 20:48Z
Publication: GreatControversy.org 2008-02-23 20:48Z
Type: Sermon
URL: http://www.greatcontroversy.org/gco/ser/kir-upgrade3.php
And now, the last segment in our series on reverence. Reverence is not a “style” among other styles. God is not worshipped according to styles, very holy here and very casual there. Reverence is either present or lacking in a church. Maybe it seems like doing this series on reverence is just preaching to the choir (this is, after all, the Mentone church.) But from time to time we need to remind ourselves where we are and for what purpose we are assembled. When have you seen reverence lost in a church and later restored? Reverence is like virginity.
Reverence is not an artificial thing or a covering; it cannot be superglued onto an irreverent church or an irreverent people. Reverence is offered by people who respect God and demonstrate so. Every Seventh-day Adventist church congregation needs to ask itself whether it will offer to heaven and to the world a concrete demonstration of reverence for God.
Today, music. This will not be a discussion of the supposed merits of “traditional” music versus “Christian rock.” We are on the same page on that question. You are not here for Christian rock. You are not here for traditional music either. We refuse to place in the past the music of the hymnal. The music in the hymnal is current Seventh-day Adventist worship music in 2008.
Our music should flow out from us automatically. It should be like our breath. We naturally exhale, we do not have to think about it, or exhale differently when in the presence of other people than we do when we are working in the garage. Jesus insisted that a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit (Matthew 7:17, 18). If we are reverent our music will be reverent. And so, today we are going to deal with reverence in our singing in church, yes, but also with being reverent disciples of Jesus Christ in our daily lives.
Reverent Lips
In this spirit then, open to Colossians 3:16 and read:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
There is much to notice here. First, the whole issue of singing has to do with whether or not the word of Christ dwells in you richly in all wisdom. It is not just about the word of Christ being in you; it is about it being in you with wisdom. This rules out trite little repetitions. Our worship of God should be a knowing worship, an intelligent worship. If one is skilled he may sing nonsense words with technical excellence, but if one understands and agrees with the meaning of the words, one can sing with heart.
We also notice that the singing described here involves teaching. Do our psalms and hymns and spiritual songs teach? Do they provoke worshipful thought? Or are they cold and tired and uninteresting and do they put us to sleep?
Here some make another mistake. They think that the problem lies in the music. In theory, it could; not all songs are created equal. But it has been my observation that more often, the problem is not in tired songs; it is in tired people. If we come to worship encompassed by the cares of this world, the things that we are told will choke the word (Mark 4:3-20), we will be struggling when we try to worship God. Have you ever tried singing while you were choking? For that matter, have you ever tried thinking rich, spiritually-pungent thoughts while you were choking?
If someone is uninterested because the cares of this world are choking the word, then how can changing our music to make it more like the music of the world have positive spiritual effect? If someone is drowning, shall the church labor to give them more water? It is not the music that needs changing. It is the heart.
Jesus said, “from within, out of the heart of men” proceeds that which defiles them. And I say that from within, out of the heart of men, proceeds that which defiles worship, that makes it irreverent. We are coming to worship God on our terms. How can that be acceptable to a holy Being?
Godly music teaches godliness. It reminds us where we are going and the holiness necessary to go there. Far from teaching us to enfold ourselves in the world, it teaches us to live godly in an ungodly world. It is not about feeling although there will be feeling. The lyrics of a song from 2006 included these lines: “if I can’t feel, I’m not mine, I’m not real.” I tremble to think that some apply the same valuation to Christian music. If it does not make us feel then we refuse to own it. If it does not make us feel, if it does not sooth the self somewhere, then we’re not real. On the contrary. If it does not call us to deny self, it is confirming us in unreality.Godly music also contains admonishment. It urges us to come up to a higher standard, to stand on higher ground. It condemns our backsliding and refuses to make peace with the world. The angels at God’s throne repeat “holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” they do not emphasize their feelings or their perceptions; they emphasize God’s holiness.
Reverent music will call us to the higher way. It will lead us to speak to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Our singing will be with grace in our hearts.
If Ye Be Risen With Christ
But Colossians 3:16 is part of a much longer passage that begins at the first verse of the chapter.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).
These lines challenge us. When we sing to or of our Maker and redeemer, we are seeking those things that are above. We are setting our affection on things that are above. We are affirming that we, the old we, are dead and that our present life is hid with Christ in God. When a Christian sings, in other words, he is making a claim. Onlookers have a right to understand that when we sing as Christians we are representing to them what true Christian singing sounds like and what true Christianity looks like.
While we are not here just to have our endorphins juiced-up, still, worship should be a positive, joyful, thoughtful kind of experience. When we stand to sing, what is our demeanor? Do we appear bored, or even to be having a bad day? Are we uninterested or inattentive as we express our praises to God our Redeemer?
Secular performers of popular songs have concerts where they will play for their fans a trite song that was a hit decades before, and that they have sung over and over again until they can only just barely stand it. For the sake of their fans who are paying to hear it, and possibly with a remembrance of past glory, they smile; they go through the motions. They at least appear to take seriously the song that they had grown weary of so long before.
They do this for a song of no real consequence. But when we think of God the Father giving for us His Son Jesus, and granting us eternal life, we realize that our songs and words should be ripe with meaning. How deeply grateful we should be for what God has done and is doing for us.
Paul continues:
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all (Colossians 3:5-11).
We need to leave behind our idolatry, our blind preference for the music that moved us back when we were unconverted. Those old songs are in their own way, if we should sing them, filthy communications out of our mouth. Have we put on the new man? When you put on the new man you have to put him on with his deeds. What are our current deeds? Is Christ all and all to us?
What strong counsel comes to us via God’s prophet for these last days:
When human beings sing with the spirit and the understanding, heavenly musicians take up the strain and join in the song of thanksgiving. He who has bestowed upon us all the gifts that enable us to be workers together with God, expects His servants to cultivate their voices so that they can speak and sing in a way that all can understand. It is not loud singing that is needed, but clear intonation, correct pronunciation, and distinct utterance. Let all take time to cultivate the voice so that God’s praise can be sung in clear, soft tones, not with harshness and shrillness that offend the ear. The ability to sing is the gift of God; let it be used to His glory (Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 143, 144).
Consider the significance here. If we sing with the spirit and with understanding, the angels join us in song. Song leaders, how does that strike you? We are also told that God expects His servants to cultivate their voices. Our singing should be such that all can understand it. Remember now, we are addressing reverence in the sanctuary. Can we sing more reverent here at Mentone? See that it is not loudness that is needed, although loudness is not here condemned. But clear intonation, correct pronunciation, and distinct utterance are especially highlighted.
So how do we put this into practice? When you sing in worship, start by standing straight. Breath in deeply. Think about the words and ideas of the hymns. If you mean them, sing like you mean them. Open your mouth wide when you sing, so the words can be offered distinctly and with volume. Some of us are too timid. If someone had saved our life or the life of a loved one, we’d be shouting for joy. But what has Jesus done for us?
We have the benefit of a song leader. You will have noticed that when we enter into congregational singing we have someone skilled in song-leading come to the front to guide us. Watch the movement of the song-leader’s hands to get the timing and emphasis in the song. Watch when the song comes to a finish and stop singing in the moment when she makes that motion. Congregational singing should be accomplished “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40) as are other elements of worship.
And learn to smile when you sing; we are not at a funeral. If we appear to be forcing ourselves to be joyful, it gives the wrong impression about the God whom we serve. His service is pleasant. Then let’s suggest that it is, by attending to our smile.
Let the sunshine from a loving, grateful heart light up the countenance (Child Guidance, p. 148).
If there is anyone who should be continually grateful, it is the Christian. If there is anyone who enjoys happiness, even in this life, it is the faithful follower of Jesus Christ. It is the duty of God’s children to be cheerful. They should encourage a happy frame of mind. God cannot be glorified by His children living continually under a cloud and casting a shadow wherever they go. The Christian should cast sunshine instead of a shadow. . . . He will bear a cheerful countenance (Child Guidance, p. 147).
You have been forgiven for your sins. You are being helped to live a Christian life today. You are promised eternity in bliss. You have much to smile about. Call these things to mind, and cultivate in yourself a spirit of thankfulness. Then you will smile! But at first, you may have to consciously move yourself to smile. Old habits die hard. But new habits can be beautiful. Cultivate the habit of a gentle smile.
For Those Who Think They Cannot Sing...
Some of you will argue to yourself that you cannot sing. If you know that, you may be sure that God knows that. That is why the counsel is, “let all cultivate the voice.” I am a strong believer in the principle of learn-by-doing. That is how I learned to sing hymns; that is how you can learn to sing hymns. You are not being asked to learn to read musical notation, but to learn how to sing with spirit with understanding. And the reply of Heaven to us when we hesitate, is still God’s reply to Moses: “Who hath made man’s mouth?” (Exodus 4:11).
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful (Colossians 3:12-15).
Conclusion
If we come to worship, if we open our mouths to sing with this spirit, our singing will be reverent. We will indeed be ready to let the word of God dwell in us richly and we will sing with spirit, understanding, and with wisdom.
Yes, we can be a reverent church. But we will only be truly reverent, not only by ceasing from inappropriate talk in the sanctuary, but if what does come out of our mouth comes in a way that purposefully, intelligently, intentionally uplifts God. Let our singing be characterized by a positive reverence. And when guests have worshipped with us, when they pass through those doors to depart, may they know that they have participated in an uplifting, reverent worship of the Christian God. GCO
© 2008 by GreatControversy.org. GCO grants permission to individuals, wholeheartedly encouraging them to copy and reproduce documents and files appearing on this site, in an unaltered state, and for non-commercial use, unless otherwise noted. All other rights reserved. Other groups or entities wishing to reproduce these materials are encouraged to contact us with reproduction requests.
 |