Psalm 75, Psalm 93-94, Psalm 97-100
Ryan: There are some parts of the body of Christ that believe that worship of the Lord God Almighty can only include a cappella music. I can understand a congregation’s desire to “play it safe” by using a cappella music, arguing that there are no examples of instrumental music being used in worship in the New Testament. However, to then extend that concern to then make the argument that God hates all worship performed with instrumental music is at best errant, and at worst, prideful and arrogant. While time does not permit to provide a full discussion on the matter, count up how many times you’ve read the words harp, lyre, trumpet, horn, “stringed instruments,” and then try to tell me that God hates instrumental music. Today, we read, “make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn” (Psalm 98:5-6a). “But Ryan,” I can hear you saying, “that’s in the old testament. We’re not under the old law anymore.” Point conceded; however, all Christians admit that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and as such, there has never been anything which God loved in the Old Testament that he then turned and hated in the New. You can “play it safe” if you want to (and there’s nothing wrong with that), but do NOT point at your brother who is making joyful noise to the Lord on his guitar and call him a sinner.
Samantha: The more I read of God’s works in the Old Testament, the more I want to worship him. Growing up, we had an amazing black preacher at my nearly all-white congregation. Brother Dulan would give some of the most passionate and moving sermons that made even the stiffest white people say amen out loud and praise God. He’d often give us a hard time for being so stiff and emotionless. He’d tell us to sing it like we meant it, and to not be afraid to praise God. In our congregation now I am almost appalled when people sit there absolutely silent, proverbial crickets chirping in the background, in response to a lesson on grace or forgiveness. God washed away our sins with the blood of his Son-how can you NOT shout to God with joy?? Jesus told the Jews that “‘if [my disciples] keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40). We need to learn from David and Jesus and let go of our silly inhibitions so that we can praise our Lord in a manner that gives him the glory for what he’s done for us! Don’t just sit there–praise him!
Tags: Discipleship
