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More Than a Warm-Up
MORE THAN A WARM-UP When Paul tells his churches to “let the word of Christ dwell . . . richly” among them by means of “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16 NIV), he’s inviting them to do more than use music as a “warm-up” to the sermon. The song is not ornamentation; it is participation in the very redemption of all creation. It plays its own role in God’s showcasing his saving power before humans and angels (Eph. 3:10). The singing Paul talks about is more than a duty. It’s more than a warm-up. It’s a sacred activity, by which God’s life and ours interpenetrate. When we sing, we are not alone. We join a song our Savior is singing, and our singing is a sharing in his reclamation of our lost race. I believe that much of the difficulty we face in the church stems from the fact that we think it’s all about us—our tastes, our preferences, our principles. So we debate styles, genres, levels of participation, and levels of volume. When we factor in the other Singer as well—this Singing Savior—our conversations, I submit, will take on a different tone. — Reggie Kidd, from With One Voice: Discovering Christ's Song in Our Worship, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, forthcoming in October 2005. ISBN: 0801065917. For more information on Dr. Kidd and WITH ONE VOICE, visit www.rts.edu/kidd. Although not yet released, the book can be pre-ordered at amazon.com. [Dr. Kidd provides pastors, church musicians, and culture watchers with an insightful study of the many diverse voices that converge as the body of Christ finds its “heart language” for singing the truth of the gospel as we respond to our Singing Savior. From Bach’s MASS IN B MINOR to U2, from the Gaithers to Caedmon’s Call, from Anglican psalmody to the simplest of American folk hymns, from the sinner’s lament to the exuberant praises of the redeemed—Professor Kidd unfolds and explains a vibrant, multi-colored tapestry of faith-building, life-shaping artistic expression. Highly recommended.] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu/icw =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org =========================== |