During my time in Japan I got to experience the students at the school worship on several occasions. It was interesting to hear these Japanese and Korean young adults sing worship and praise songs in English. During one informal session the students were calling out requests to me from a worship booklet that they had put together. Most, if not all the songs are ones that we do here at Central. At one point a couple of the students requested the song “I Have the Joy. . . Down in My Heart” You know – the children’s song. They sang that song like it was the latest and greatest hit from Chris Tomlin. What it did for me at that moment was to put worship in perspective. I get all caught up in trying to find the latest and greatest songs – the most relevant, the most exciting, inspirational music – perhaps in an attempt to “force” worship on people. Sometimes I think that our worship is judged on the basis of how slick our worship set is. It was rather humbling to hear these young adults – all of them in the twenties – sing “Joy, Joy, Joy” and sing it from their hearts. Why can’t we do that? Or are we doing it? Are we worshipping with the same joy, the same fervency, the same abandon, no matter what the song selection? I hope so.
Last night I attended church in Philadelphia in a very old and traditional church with a very beautiful pipe organ. At one point in the service we sang “How Great Thou Art”. It’s been a while since I have been in a service, where I haven’t had to also be playing, and just worship with the congregation. During the singing of that hymn I just had to stop and listen to the congregation – and briefly meditate on the words of that classic hymn. Then – the last verse, the organ swells, the sopranos go HIGH and, well, you can’t help but think HOW GREAT THOU ART.
What am I asking you to do today? I’m asking you to keep your minds and hearts open to worship wherever you are, whatever the style is, whatever the song selection may be. Otherwise, you will miss out on the blessing. Yes, I love contemporary worship songs just like everyone else. But I never want to lose out on the blessing from the rich texture of diversity that surrounds us every day in this world. Keep your minds and hearts open today and be prepared to be blessed.
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I had a similar experience-At Cape Island Baptist in Cape May, the congregation sang How Great Thou Art- and the song just hit me emotionally with its complete message. (I mentioned this at praise team rehearsal a couple weeks ago)Something about that song- and the other great classics-I guess thats why they're classics!
You gotta love the words to those great hymns! Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Jesus Paid It All, Come Thou Fount, My Savior's Love...I could go on forever about songs that are embedded in my soul.
But the list doesn't end there either...it continues with amazing songs from Keith Green, Rich Mullins, Lincoln Brewster, David Crowder, and Chris Tomlin...songwriters who celebrate the great heritage of worship music from ancient Israel to modern America, and continue to find fresh ways of expressing our love for Jesus and our gratitude for what he's done.
Even more, I love when some of those same "contemporary" musicians take the beautiful lyrics of those hymns and give them a modern take...you can't get much better than that!!
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