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Wednesday, July 20, 2005 | ||
Congregational singing has biblical roots
By JOHN HATCHER The tradition of the day was that the congregation should keep quiet. The priest would do all the singing. In fact, the kind of singing done in the church could not be touched by the average congregant. John Calvin thought things should be different. He was stirring up a bunch of trouble for priests and churches across Europe. Why could he not have just left things like they were? Trouble maker! But in his words, he wanted the congregation to be involved in singing in order to lift up our hearts unto God and to exalt his name by songs of praise. The year was 1537 and the time was the middle ages. The tradition called for the priests to do all the singing. Somebody wanted to break the tradition. Somebody thought singing and its attendant praise and thanksgiving belonged to the people of God, not just the priests. So, what happened? The people started singing the Psalms. Just like God intended in the first place. The only good tradition in the church is a biblical tradition, one that can be traced to biblical roots. Congregational singing certainly has biblical rootage. Spirituality and singing go hand and mouth. There is no way any person can be spiritual to any degree without singing. Just check out Psalms from chapters five through 149. One does not have to be a good singer, but a singer. Singing is more important than the quality of the singing. God is not looking for the American idol. God is listening to your heart more than your vocal chords. And if you are singing for the person standing next to you, you are singing for the wrong person and the wrong reason. Yet, in my opinion, from having worked in the church since 1972, the tradition that needs to be broken down, assaulted, arrested and kicked out of church is the tradition of worship by laissez faire. Its the philosophy that says: Come on in, folks, and just worship the one and true and mighty God in any ole way you want to. In fact, if you want to just act like a bump on a log, thats okay too. Its laissez-faire worship any way you want to. I can understand laissez-faire worship for the guest. In fact, I have been there on several occasions. I have been in churches as a guest and was not familiar with their worship practices, so I was more like a bump on a log. But, for heavens sake, what about these so called followers of Jesus Christ who come to worship and refuse to open their mouths and sing? When we all get to heaven, I understand there will be a whole lot of singing going on in heaven. What will they do then? Calvin got into trouble with the civil government when he proposed that the congregation be allowed to sing during the worship service, depriving the priest of being the lone toner. Pastors could get into trouble if they were to start strongly suggesting that every member of the congregation has a spiritual involvement through singing and that by singing, ones spirituality could be enriched, just as Calvin had suggested centuries before. Singing has a spiritual value. Pastors could put it on the line and expect every member of the congregation with a voice to sing. Talking about breaking a tradition! Its the laissez-faire tradition of behaving any ole way you want to behave in the church service. I know I am treading on sensitive ground but its a subject that should be addressed in every church: we must break the back of laissez-faire worship and every member join together in united, fervent, bold, and holy worshipful singing and praise. Charles Wesley called for, O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemers praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace. Can you imagine all the members of your church, small or large, opening their mouths and singing from the bottom of their lungs to the glory of their God and king? Ten would sound like a hundred and a hundred would sound like a thousand. Go to church this Sunday and open up and give your all to the one who gave his all for you. |
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