WorshipSample

Making music

It‘s a mistake to confine worship to singing or to make it merely musical. Worship is a whole life offering of ourselves to God. And yet, particularly in our churches, we identify worship with music, focusing on that one aspect of wider worship.

Given that, we need to consider our attitudes to musical worship. The psalm today reminds us that praise of God can embrace all sorts of music. It’s sad to hear people in conflict over music in church. Without being irreverent, I think we can say that God doesn’t favour one sort over another.

He's delighted to hear an organ recital, delighted to hear children’s choruses, loves the traditional hymns, and is so glad contemporary writers are composing songs of praise to Him accompanied by contemporary instruments and arrangements. God is not stuck in the past or neglectful of the past. Unlike us, He doesn’t let His personal preferences sway His judgements and reactions.

As long as His people are sincerely praising Him and allowing such praise to lead to daily obedience, He is content. Bongo drums or pipe organs are OK by Him as long as such sounds emerge from thankful and devoted hearts.

Written by DAVID REAY