Torch, Spring 1992

by Dr. David Matson J) w mhip, fm tho boliovot, 'hould embrace the totality of existence. Since music is one domain of existence, then worship can and should be exercised through music. "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with . singing" (Psalm 100:2). Successful worship is not just a matter of activity, but also a matter of attitude. The worship of God is the true believer's most important activity, but it can be exercised appropriately only through a properly prepared attitude. We can offer proper worship to the sovereign eternal God when we know the theological principles found in the Bible and allow our worship to flow from them. Some current difficulties in musical worship appear to be the result of two things. First, we have an inadequate God concept. So many times, God's peo~le do not worship in a manner that recognizes God as He has revealed Himself to be in His Word. 1Chronicles16:29 states, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name..." and again, "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." A second problem is that we express ourselves musically in a manner which we like and then try to make our theology support what we are doing. These difficulties can leave us with an attitude that is inappropriate for worship. Wors ip through music should be ) activated by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18,19) ) consecrated by the Spirit of God (Colossians 3:16; ~ 1Timothy4:4; Hebrews 4:12) .,P motivated by the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Consider again the words of 1 Chronicles 16:29, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name." Glory is the outworking of God's character. We will be participating in music to the glory of God if we worship through music calculated to reflect the person of God, reveal the presence of God, and realize the power of God. MUSIC AS WORSHIP should be I. the expression of a complete and coherent idea which is consistent with Biblical revelation 2. an experience of adoration, confession, and praise 3. a method of edification -t a way to bring a straying attention to sharp focus 5. a medium for the teaching and strengthening of our faith 6. a firsthand creative experience and the spiritual necessity of us all 7. the embodiment of spiritual truth and the illumination of a text rich with meaning 8. a means by which God ministers to us 9. an element of coherence in worship 10. a method to combat the influence of our spiritually impoverished culture With careful attention to both the activity and the attitude of worship, we can offer music which expresses: ) our adoration of God and His holiness ) our humiliation for our sin and unworthiness ) our joyful experience of His forgiving power ) our resolve to offer our lives in dedication to His service (cf. Isaiah 6:1-9). Scripture describes the dedication of the temple of Solomon: "The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place...All the Levites who were musicians-Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives-stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accomparued by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: 'He is good; his love endures forever. ' Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God" (2 Chronicles 5:11-14 NIV). Similarly, there are times in our worship when all the human and divine requirements are met and we are unmistakably aware of the Spirit of God, though not confronted with the physical presence of the Lord. Worshi~ through music is a sobering and humbling experience. Dr. David Matson, professor of lm::::iil!,.. music at Cedarville College, served as chairman of the Department of Music for 18 of his 27 years at the nl'llllllll...,_ College. He is active in church choral music direction and adjudicates at music contests nationwide. Dr. Matson also 1s a reviewer for William C. Brown Publishing Company. should not be l. ornamentation added like frosting to make the service pretty 2. merely a lesson in critical appreciation 3. a time of entertainment 4. a cover-up for the seating of late-comers, the movement of ushers, or friendly conversation 5. art merely for the sake of art 6. the expression of just a few talented people 7. an attempt to salvage a weak idea with a spectacular sound 8. a purely musical experience 9. an attempt to merely link different parts of the service 10. a means to invite the trite and worldly into the sanctuary