Worship Culture

we are more concerned to implement the principles of Scripture in our specific culture (and even to emulate the best of the Bible-inspired cultures of Scripture), than we are to invest effort in reclaiming current cultural forms for Christian use.

pop-contemporary forms or the distinctive ethnic forms of a particular subculture are employed in order to reach an audience that likes that particular “style.” This is exceedingly dangerous. It turns the focus of corporate worship on its head and opens the door to encouraging participants to view themselves as consumers rather than as worshipers (which Americans are so prone to do anyway).

If worship is meeting with God scriptural, simple, spiritual, God-centered, historic, reverent and joyful, mediated, corporate, evangelistic, delightful, active and passive, Lord’s Day worship to the living and true God.

If you want to understand a culture start by listening their music

Our humanity is closely knitted with musical invention & performance. (consider nursery rhymes/babies in the womb listening to classical music)

Biblical consider the first recorded human words in Genesis 2:23 “Then the man said, “This one finally is bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called Woman, Because this one was taken out of Man.””

The scriptures are littered with how music was an important feature in the daily lives of people.

Most importantly music plays an important role in how God’s people worshipped Him

We see how important it is by the rich vocabulary of the songs

Scripture tells us People had songs to sing to God (in response to experiencing God’s divine work or expressing confidence in His divine actions Isaiah 42:10–13 “Sing to Yahweh a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, as well as its fullness. You coastlands, and those who inhabit them. Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The villages where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains. Let them give glory to Yahweh And declare His praise in the coastlands. Yahweh will go forth like a warrior; He will awaken His zeal like a man of war. He will make a loud shout, indeed, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.” 1 Chronicles 16:9 “Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Muse on all His wondrous deeds.”Psalm 96:1–2 “Sing to Yahweh a new song; Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. Sing to Yahweh, bless His name; Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.”

People had songs of praise (Hallel) giving the rightful praise and glory to God for His divine attributes (Psalm 145:1–2 “I will exalt You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.”

They had songs of Thanksgiving (Praising God for specific help He provided them) Psalm 118:19–21 “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to Yah. This is the gate of Yahweh; The righteous will enter through it. I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation.”

They also made music (with various instruments) as part of their worship

The point is not in the style or genre its in the content

For that let’s look at perhaps the greatest musical worshiper of scripture (David)

3 Considerations:

Context: 1 Chronicles 13 & 1 Chronicles 15

Blessed Gateway: Psalm 1 & Psalm 2

Illustration: Psalm 33

Based on these we must avoid the temptation to fall into our default stage

Pragmatic(what people want)

Personal taste (what people like)

We need to let scripture inform our thinking about our culture of worship through music

Our culture of worship through music needs to emphasize a submission and homage before the divine sovereign in response to His gracious revelation of Himself and His will in His word

It also need s to emphasize the centrality of Christ (His life/Death/ Resurrection/ Ascension /Return)

It needs to be rich in content and varied in style

It needs to reflect a link between the music and our lives that are in tune with God’s will