Chris Sayburn
From Worship Central // Leeds Adviser
I am reading a book at the moment called 'Christ Centered Worship' by Bryan Chapell - helpful read so far. It's basically looking at different expressions of worship 'liturgy/services' since the church began - looking at Rome, Luther, Calvin, Westminster, Rayburn etc... stating and showing that all liturgy (inc song) should continue to be shaped by Christ and gospel centered parameters (not just if it's old/new/relevant/irrelevant etc..) - and it's ultimately asking the question 'is our worship Christian?
It reminded me of the time I got a letter of complaint from an ex Bishop who wrote 'I was like an over enthusiastic Jew' after coming to one of the services I was leading at - in the fact that I hadn't mentioned Jesus till the 4th song. It was just all 'God' so he said what made our worship different from Jewish traditions?
I don't agree with how he put it, but it has changed the way I choose songs for the better and makes me ask the question How is our worship Christian? Helping retell the story of Christ - celebrating his coming, his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, and one day his return and restoration - in all this giving people an opportunity to worship Him not only with their minds but their hearts.
I'm aware with all these type things you can swing the pendulum from one extreme to the other but baring with me, Is the adoration/creed/confession/absolution/sermon/communion/blessing (whatever form you use) supposed to do that or do you think our do our songs have a role in that too? How do you keep worship Christian? Are you intentional in retelling the Gospel story through song too?
Interesting stuff (for geeks like me) :S
Would love to hear your thoughts, as I'm sure there will be many varied views that we can all learn from.
Chris
Hi MrHatch,
Thanks for your thoughts. Really interesting point you make -
'im only seeing one expression of jesus, in the songs im seeing in church these days.'
I wonder if the congregations/seekers we serve think the same? Do we only paint a small picture of the God we worship? I think the songs are out there both old and new, I suppose it's how we choose and craft them together and the role of the songs as part of a whole service?
Food for thought, thanks for sharing.
Keep them coming!
Chris.
I am going to quote Scripture and ask a question.
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
Why would Jesus say the word 'Father'?
Perhaps on a bit of a tangent, but something I've always felt a tad uncomfortable singing is things like "I the Lord of sea and sky" - I know it's meant to be from God's perspective but there's still something I find a bit strange about singing in the first person as though you were God!
Hi Christopher,
If I'm honest - I'm not sure what you are getting at :D Can you explain more?
Michael, ha, yeah maybe we should have the good all (male) (Female) sections we used to have in songs but with one with (God) and let him sing it! ;)
Great stuff, keep them coming!
Jesus talked about worshipping the Father not Himself. The Lord's Prayer is addressed to the Father. So should we worship Jesus?
Great thought Christopher, one I'm sure others will be able to help answer!
It's a tough one because I suppose in one sense to worship Jesus is to worship the Father and the Spirit (or any other combo of the three) because they are One God, in one glorious 'Dance' as C.S Lewis would put it.
But in particular to, 'should we worship Jesus' I would say - Yes! He is the one who makes worship of the Father possible. Just one quick scripture ref too: we see in Revelation 4/5 that Christ is central to heaven's worship - He is the lamb who was slain, who is worthy to open the scrolls, and is worthy of our worship.
Hope this helps, would love to hear some other thoughts on this.
Also, NB Philippians 2:9-11
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
This implies that since Jesus is exalted above all else, like God, we should worship Him. Also, if Jesus = God and God deserves worship, it follows that Jesus should be worshipped too because He is God. Plus, he died on the Cross and all... :P
As for the main question, one way in which we can keep our singing time 'Christian' would be to make the effort to include songs which mention something of what Jesus did on the cross and in His resurrection. It's good to remind ourselves where we've come from in terms of our spiritual history, because that helps us to keep the right perspective.
If you make the singing time 'Christian' is it still worship? Isn't a Bible Study, a sermon or communion better methods to communicate the cross, resurrection etc?
@ Kathryn
Great scripture, thanks for sharing!
@ Christopher,
I'm not sure what you mean, by
'If you make the singing time 'Christian' is it still worship?' :)
I agree that sermons, study are great ways to communicate the cross, resurrection etc.. I suppose it's just music is so powerful and an effective way to remember and express truth, it seems a shame not to utilize that too so we worship in truth - Deuteronomy 31: 19-21 says
" 19 “Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. 20 When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. 21 And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants."
Songs are a great way for allowing the word of God to dwell in us too and for us to express our worship.
Please don't hear that I think all songs we use should be meaty expositions of scripture, I love the simple refrains where you can just get lost in praise (for want of a better word!) I just wonder if we need to be more mindful of what we sing, the journey we take people on and how we best glorify God and serve the people as part of a whole service.
It reminds me of Paul when he says 'What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.' (1Cor 14:15)
I think we need a balance, and ultimately need to share and glorify Christ in every way we can - It's the gospel of Jesus that has power to save, that changes peoples lives still today and that will endure.
Chris.
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Chris
this is well timed and spot on.
there are a lot of lyrics with
our god or god is
or our god saves, our god reigns
there isnt enough mention of jesus in worship songs these days.
there are also a lot of songs with lines like.
youre all i want youre all i need, really common.
i do think all these well known songwriters have run out of new and fresh ways of writing about jesus.
year in year out, i look at all the lyric sheets to all the latest albums.
we need new songwriters who can bring a another expression of who jesus is.
im only seeing one expression of jesus, in the songs im seeing in church these days.