On Sunday 22 August at the 10.00am service at St Paul’s, we will look at the subject ‘Music in Worship’. It has not yet happened at the time of writing. Two of the questions that will be discussed are: What is worship? and How can music help?
Worship is one of those words often used loosely without people knowing precisely what it means. The marriage service uses the words ‘with my body I you worship’. How many husbands have proposed to their hoped-for wives on bended knee?
In the Christian sense the full meaning of worship is something due to God. The Old Testament words used mean bow down, serve, and show awe and reverence; that is recognising who and what God is through His character and His actions. The human response to this is to bow down in awe and to serve Him. So worship is a form of service and service is a form of worship, both as a result of an awareness of God.
This is filled out in the New Testament and since, where the focus of worship is Jesus Himself. He accepted forms of worship not due to any ordinary man. After the resurrection, Thomas acknowledged Him as ‘My Lord and my God’. The service element is now founded on a relationship of love.
If that is brief look at worship, how is it expressed? This is where music (as well as other forms of art, written or visual, etc) can help. Hence the vast quantity of psalms, hymns, oratorios and so on, attempting to bring out and match the meaning of the words and thoughts used. The music serves the words. The type and style of music will depend upon the culture and history of those using it and will vary from one time to another. Wisely the New Testament gives no set pattern for worship.
The important thing is that the worship should enhance our appreciation and understanding of Jesus and lead to committed service. While we respond to Him as we worship, He also responds to us.
John King, Church Warden