Free To Worship God
In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:12
When it comes to salvation, there’s only one way. Jesus said, ‘I am the way’ (John 14:6). But when it comes to worship, there are many ways. Each generation discovers the same thing: The music that turns grandchildren on, turns grandparents off. So let’s stop arguing over personal preferences when it comes to the worship style we enjoy. ‘They all sang a new song to the Lamb … “every tribe, language, people and nation”’ (Revelation 5:9). We all worship the same Lord, and the only thing He asks is a sincere heart. That’s the case whether it’s country, rap, calypso, or high church organ music. God doesn’t require us to express our love for Him in identical ways, but He does require us not to pass judgement on how others do it. When the Bible says, ‘They all sang a new song to the Lamb,’ do you seriously think they all had the same music style? The great spiritual awakening that took place under the Wesley brothers and gave birth to the Methodist Church featured soul-stirring hymns like ‘O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing’. Yet many sincere Christians of the day condemned the melody because it was similar to barroom music. One of the dangers in growing older lies in wanting to keep things the way they are, insisting others agree with us, and judging them as ‘unspiritual’ when they don’t. Paul wrote, ‘I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some’ (1 Corinthians 9:22). Note the words ‘all means’. As long as someone’s song is ‘to the Lamb’, God accepts it – and we must too!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that my worship of You may be pure in Spirit and Truth in all that I do. In Your Precious Name, Amen
Thank you, Tim. This is something I just can’t understand…the judgement, I mean. I like your reference to “sing a NEW song”.
I just thought I’d let you know I enjoy reading your devotions.
We tend to compartmentalize people by their age and assume that music and worship “style” choices. We just assume that people in their 70’s and 80’s still prefer TLH.
The boomers have arrived, they grew up with the Beatles, Beach Boys, Hymns For Now 1,2 and 3. So why do we assume they should want to sing old people songs? And the same holds true for the young, we just assume they all gravitate toward KLOVE style music. Not true.
So as music and worship leaders and high church organists, our calling and duty is to plan and prepare worship that is traditional, blended and yes, contemporary and anything in between.
It all works when God is honored and praised.