Saturday, May 28, 2005

Music & Worship

This past few days saw me thinking about music & worship. I've been a worship leader for many years now. To me, music can truly transport me from the everday to the sublime, and draw close to God in worship. It 'stirs' emotions and affirms our humanness, provides joy, pleasure and solace, even releases memories.

Throughout history, there are different concepts of worship. The Hebrew concepts of worship consider themes like priesthood and God’s covenant with Israel. The Greek concepts describe our relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Contemporary concepts of worship indicate that our everyday-life is worship and service to God; all members of the church have access to God (Romans 5:2) and a share in the Holy Spirit. Despite the differences in the concepts during various eras, God desires us to continually have an attitude of worship in all that we do and say. Worship is our reason for being. Therefore, I believe that although music / singing can be used as a great expression of worship, it is really not the only form like many people think. There are many other wonderful expressions of worship other than music. I have been really enjoying alternative experiential worship, and basically contemplating and intentionally living a worshipful life.

What do you reckon?

6 comments:

Tab said...

I rekon tha I agree. We need to give God more credit than thinking taht he just likes music!!! I have learned so much about God's character by experiancing him in different kinds of worship, that is, planned worship. THe other thing taht I've been noticing is taht God loves to reveal himslef as I'm talking with friends, or walkign down the street, and to worship him there where he pops up (which happens in increasing intervals!) is what he cherishes. I know this is often said (maybe cus it's true) God looks for worshipers that worship him in spirit and truth, and again in Romans he says that to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and pleasing to God, this is TRUE worship. Living is worship, when it's intentional, and thought out in response to God and his kingdom which IS HERE!!!!!

Yay! I like God :)

Tab said...

Oh and I DO find that to worship him with music definatly has something unique and special about it.

Kitty Cheng said...

Amen! I like God!! :-) and I love you too Tab. I think what you wrote makes a lot of sense.

Rodney Olsen said...

What do I reckon? I reckon you're absolutley right.

Using music in worship is such a small part of what worship should be about.

Worship is living every day to glorify God.

No matter what we do in life, if we are doing it to honour God, it is worship.

The JerseyNut said...

what do I reckon?

Well, cowpoke, you are right that there are many alternative roads to find The One.

I enjoy watching my atheist pals go into ecstasy and sheer bliss when listening to a particular piece of music; then they deny the existance of G-D, whom gave them the perception to feel an emotion that is so close to Him.
I thinks He laughs; and understands...after all, He knows there is more than one way to skin a cat...

Anonymous said...

i also reckon you are right. when people start thinking "worship = music + big white screen" they invariably develop a lot of off-key ideas about christian living and the biblical passages concerning worship.