Biblical Worship

On several occasions I have seen advertisements for Christian concerts or worship recordings that made statements like:  “This worship music will send you into the presence of God,” or “Buy this [insert name of Christian Artist] worship CD. - it will connect you to God.”  Can music connect a Christian to God?  The answer to that is no.  Music is not a mediator between God and His people.  There is only one mediator that can ever  ‘connect’ us to God or ’send us in the presence of God.’  His name is Jesus Christ.  I am reminded of several Bible verses that make this truth very clear:

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  (John 14:6)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1

“And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:11)

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” (I Timothy 2:5)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

How much more will the blood Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant…” (Hebrews 9:14-15)

“For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”  (Hebrews 9:24)

 It is clear from these Scripture passages (and many more that could be listed), that Jesus Christ is the one and only mediator for us before God, the Father.  We have no approach to the throne of God above except through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ.  Why have we allowed people to get the idea that certain kinds of music can send us into God’s presence?  If we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are already in God’s presence because of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross on our behalf.  

Perhaps what we mean to say is that certain worship songs remind us of our position in Christ; therefore, we rejoice as we remember what Christ has done for us . . . or . . . Some songs cause to become emotional when we are reminded that we draw near to the Father because of the work of His Son.  Worship Leaders should strive to help those in their congregations understand that when we feel emotional with certain worship songs it should be because we are responding to the objective truth of the Gospel.  If we think that it is the music that causes us to “feel close to God,” then we as worship leaders are allowing our people to revel in subjective emotionalism without helping them to understand why they get those feelings. 

Music is not the mediator for us before the throne of God.  We do not need certain songs to magically usher us into God’s presence.  Jesus has already done that for us.  Music in worship is a sacrifice of praise to God and a great tool for teaching us Bible truths.  Let us help our congregations not to seek a subjective emotional high through music, but seek to joyfully sing because of what Christ has done for us.  Through Him let us draw near to God with a sincere heart. (Hebews 10:19-25)    

Recently, my son and I were traveling in the car listening to the ‘oldies’ station on the radio.  When I was growing up this kind of music was music of the fifties and sixties.  Now it is the music that I listened to as a youth.  (A little troublesome to me, but that’s another discussion).  So, when my son is hearing these songs sometimes for the first time, I can actually remember the detailed lyrics of these songs I heard thirty years ago.  Does that remind us of the power of text set to music?  It is amazing how I can remember some rather ridiculous songs from my teenage years.  This reminded me of the responsibility we as parents and music ministers have to provide songs with great texts for our children and youth today. 

I think it is interesting that even in the days of Martin Luther (1483-1546) there was a problem with the secular music of the day.  Luther sought to give the youth of his day a Christian musical alternative.  Luther encouraged the publishing of hymns and songs for the church. He wanted to get the church singing about their faith.  In the preface of a Christian songbook, Luther wrote:

“These songs were arranged in four parts (some are in three, others in five) to give the young - who should at any rate be trained in music and other fine arts - something to wean them away from the love ballads and carnal songs and to teach them something of value in their place, thus combining the good with the pleasing, as is proper for youth…”(from Geystliches gesang Buchleyn).

Even in Luther’s day there was a concern for the music of the younger generation and what it was teaching them.  What are we doing today to encourage our youth to listen to music that has a redeeming value?  If the music we learn in our childhood days stays with us throughout our lives, we as parents and music ministers should do as much as we can to give our young ones music that will help them in their walk with the Lord.

What are some things we can do to encourage them to listen to music with Christian texts?

1.  Like Luther suggested, let’s encourage the writing and producing of music with great Christian lyrics in a style that is attractive to the younger generation.

2.  We should know what kind of music are children and teens are listening to and understand the messages these songs are sending.  The old adage that “I just like the sound of the music and don’t pay attention to the lyrics” is not true.  The lyrics do find a way into our hearts and minds.

3.  Help our students find music that is redeeming.  If our children are listening to non-stop music on their Ipods let’s help them download some redeeming music.

4.  In our churches we should be encouraging the teaching of new worship songs that speak in the language of today so that the younger generation finds a substitute for the tempting ‘carnal’ songs of today.

All of this does not mean that we should abandon the great songs and hymns of generations past.  We should be teaching these songs to our children as well.  However, we need to also offer them an alternative to the secular worldly music that pervades all parts of their lives.  Let’s give them songs that thirty years from now on the ‘oldies’ Christian station will remind them of our great Lord!

I recently finished reading a book on worship called True Worship by Vaughan Roberts (Authentic Media, 2002, ISBN 1-85078-445-0).  Roberts does a great job pointing us back to the basics of biblical worship in light of the upheavals that press in around us from our postmodern culture.  In one section he is describing the meaning of Romans 12:1-2 where the Apostle Paul discusses giving our lives as a sacrifice which is our spiritual act of worship.  Roberts states that the better translation for spiritual in this verse is reasonable or rational (Greek root: logikos). ”It implies that our worship is connected to our minds.” (21)Robert goes on to talk about the implications of this verse in our present culture.  Allow me to share an extended quote from the book: 

“In recent years, Eastern thinking has had a big impact on Western culture.  Increasingly we are elevating experience above thinking, feeling above the mind.  One writer has put it like this:  ours is ‘a culture in search of an experience, not in search of truth.’  In choosing a religion, ‘The one measurement that matters is the spiritual high they give, as if worship was something you snorted through your nose’. (Roberts is quoting Clifford Langley). 

“That tendency has affected Christianity as well.  Many people who come to church are looking for an experience.  They do not want to think; they want a direct encounter with God.  They want to feel his presence with them.  And when they do, or at least when they think they do, they call that ‘worship’.  For them, worship is primarily to do with feelings rather than with the mind.  But the Bible will not allow us to divorce the two.  True worship will certainly involve our emotions, but it does not begin with them.  Worship is rational; it involves the mind…. Worship involves thinking because it begins with what God has done for me in Christ.  It is a response to what I have understood about his mercy.  If I switch my mind off, I break the connection with the truth that prompts my worship.  So worship must be rational.  But it can never stay just in the mind.” (21-22)

Our worship should be based on the objective truths found in Scripture.  We understand what Jesus Christ has done to redeem us from sin and death.  We then respond with our emotions showing gratitude.  Our worship is a response to truth, not based on subjective experience.  I think Roberts has done a good job of describing the state of much Christian worship today.  Are we seeking an experience or are we responding to objective truths of the Word?

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28-29).