This week another musical fundamentalist warned his readers against the things written on Baylyblog concerning the music of worship (not to be confused with the worship of music). I'm guessing he's talking about our conviction it's good and right for a string ensemble and solo voice to sing part of Handel's Messiah in the same service electric guitars, bass, piano, drums, and the voices of the entire congregation sing "For All the Saints."
With zeal. Loudly and with hands raised.
This gives some of our readers facial tics, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why? Is it wrong to use Handel's Messiah for corporate worship? Is it sin?
But of course, I jest. No one says it's "sin" to use highbrow music in worship. Only lowbrow. Contemporary instrumentation and music are manipulation of the emotions, you know. And Handel isn't? Drums are vulgar. Electric guitars suppress the voices of the congregation.
Well, please note the fruit of the habitual suppression of our congregation's voices demonstrated here during the singing of the Doxology.
Likely the most important thing to keep in mind during all debates of worship liturgy and music among the Reformed today is...
that all an Englishman's preferences are a matter of principle.
Praise God for musicians who serve the church rather than demanding the church serve them. Thank you for your humble service, Jody and Philip and Dawn and Cole and Kaitlyn and Jurgen and Andrew and John and Aaron and Jason and Andrew and Anna.
Tim serves Clearnote Church, Bloomington, Indiana. He and Mary Lee have five children and big lots of grandchildren.
Want to get in touch? Send Tim an email!
