by John MacArthur
Christian Research Journal 23/2
This article had a huge impact on me in my early stages of forming my philosophy of worship, and it can be credited for part of the motivation to title this blog--colossians316.com.
Fool's Gold?by John MacArthur
Great comments about keeping a variety of musical forms in corporate worship (according to Colossians 3:16) and a call not to forget about great hymns of the faith that typically have that strong didactic approach that is lost in other forms. Here are some great quotes from this book/chapter:
p115-"...Neither the antiquity nor the popularity of a gospel song is a good measure of its worthiness. And the fact that a gospel song is 'old-fasioned' is quite clearly no guarantee that it is suited for edifying the church. When it comes to church music, older is not necessarily better."
p118-"There is certainly nothing wrong with the simple, straightforward personal praise that characterizes the best of today's praise choruses. Neither is there anything wrong with the evangelistic and testimonial thrust of yesterday's gospel songs. But it is a profound tragedy that in some circles, only contemporary choruses are sung...."
p119-"Paul was calling for a variety of musical forms and a breadth of spiritual expression that cannot be embodied in any one musical form. the strict psalms-only view (which is gaining popularity in some reformed circles today) allows for none of that variety. The views of fundamentalist-traditionalists who seem to limit church music to the Gospel-song forms of the early twentieth century would also squelch the variety Paul calls for. More significantly, the prevailing mood in modern evangelical churches-where people seem to want to binge on a steady diet of nothing but simplistic praise choruses-also destroys the principle of variety Paul sets forth here [Colossians 3:16]...the error lay in utterly casting aside the rich heritage of hymns-along with the didactic, doctrinal richness of Christian music that had edified and sustained so many generations."
an excerpt by St. Augustine from his spiritual Autobiography, "The Confessions"
an excerpt by St. Augustine from his spiritual Autobiography, "The Confessions"
The delights of the ear had more firmly entangled and subdued me; but Thou didst loosen and free me. Now, in those melodies which Thy words breathe soul into, when sung with a sweet and attuned voice, I do a little repose; yet not so as to be held thereby, but that I can disengage myself when I will. But with the words which are their life and whereby they find admission into me, themselves seek in my affections a place of some estimation, and I can scarcely assign them one suitable. For at one time I seem to myself to give them more honour than is seemly, feeling our minds to be more holily and fervently raised unto a flame of devotion, by the holy words themselves when thus sung, than when not; and that the several affections of our spirit, by a sweet variety, have their own proper measures in the voice and singing, by some hidden correspondence wherewith they are stirred up. But this contentment of the flesh, to which the soul must not be given over to be enervated, doth oft beguile me, the sense not so waiting upon reason as patiently to follow her; but having been admitted merely for her sake, it strives even to run before her, and lead her. Thus in these things I unawares sin, but afterwards am aware of it.
At other times, shunning over-anxiously this very deception, I err in too great strictness; and sometimes to that degree, as to wish the whole melody of sweet music which is used to David's Psalter, banished from my ears, and the Church's too; and that mode seems to me safer, which I remember to have been often told me of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, who made the reader of the psalm utter it with so slight inflection of voice, that it was nearer speaking than singing. Yet again, when I remember the tears I shed at the Psalmody of Thy Church, in the beginning of my recovered faith; and how at this time I am moved, not with the singing, but with the things sung, when they are sung with a clear voice and modulation most suitable, I acknowledge the great use of this institution. Thus I fluctuate between peril of pleasure and approved wholesomeness; inclined the rather (though not as pronouncing an irrevocable opinion) to approve of the usage of singing in the church; that so by the delight of the ears the weaker minds may rise to the feeling of devotion. Yet when it befalls me to be more moved with the voice than the words sung, I confess to have sinned penally, and then had rather not hear music. See now my state; weep with me, and weep for me, ye, whoso regulate your feelings within, as that good action ensues. For you who do not act, these things touch not you. But Thou, O Lord my God, hearken; behold, and see, and have mercy and heal me, Thou, in whose presence I have become a problem to myself; and that is my infirmity.
excerpt copied from Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Definition of "A Hymn" according to St. Augustine
"Song with praise of God: If you praise God and do not sing, you do not utter a hymn. If you sing and do not praise God, you do not utter a hymn. If you praise anything other than God, and if you sing these praises, still you do not utter a hymn. A hymn therefore has three things: song, and praise, and God."
excerpt from Martin Gerbert, De Cantus et Musica Sacra, I (St. Blasien, 1774), 74. Trans.R.T.
The Ultimate Goal
by John Piper
an excerpt from "Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions" by John Piper
Jack Hayford
Good reminders in this article. There is an interesting point about praying in small groups during a corporate worship service.
Notes from various sources on worship terms
worship terms and definitions
Notes taken from Worship-A Way of Life by Patrick Kavanaugh in Chapter 5, p.105
Biblical Theology of Worship & Its Implications for Worship in the NT
by Church of the Savior, Worship Commission
well footnoted
by Carl R. Trueman
June/July 2013
"Tragedy as a form of art and of entertainment highlighted death, and death is central to true Christian worship."
"Perhaps it is ironic, but the church that confronts people with the reality of the shortness of life lived under the shadow of death prepares them for resurrection better than the church that goes straight to resurrection triumphalism without that awkward mortality bit."
9 Things that Christian Worship Should Belinked from www.doxologyandtheology.com
There are great reminders in this article. His nine points are:
Go to his link to see how he breaks each point down. click here to go to the actual article
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