What Did You Hear?
When I first started to a church that played contemporary Christian worship music instead of the traditional hymns I had grown up with I didn't really know what to think about what I was hearing. I guess I kind of had mixed emotions. I liked the beat, the rhythm, the words, but I found myself wondering was I supposed to like it. I had a notion in my head that worshipping God was supposed to always be very quiet and revenant, no rhythm or beat allowed.
The first worship song that really impacted my life was "Shout to the Lord." During a worship service when that song was played God touched me in a very special way that I will never forget. The song will always hold a very special place in my heart.
I have grown and learned shouting to God is ok as well as being very quiet and reverent.
I think a little variety in our worship is ok with God.
Many times now I find my self singing songs I had forgotten I even knew from long ago. I have a new love and respect for many old hymns. I am so much closer to God now than I was when I quietly sang those songs as a child. Now I understand every word as I quietly worship Him. One song was brought back to my mind recently ( we sang it right in the middle of some contemporary worship songs at church).
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus;
There's just something about that name!
Master, Savior, Jesus,
Like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all heaven and earth proclaim;
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name!
There's just something about that name!
Master, Savior, Jesus,
Like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all heaven and earth proclaim;
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name!
Those quite words really say a lot. Those words really make you want to shout to the Lord.
As I thought of different kinds of worship this week God directed my attention to a passage of scripture I had read often but had never gotten from it what God wanted me to get from it on that particular day.
John 12: 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
So did God shout? Some perceived His voice to sound as thunder. Others perceived the voice to sound as sweet as the voice of an angel. I think God spoke to each individual as they needed to hear Him speak that day. I think He still does that. If God can shout as loudly as thunder to us, I think it's ok for us to shout to God. If God can speak quietly as an angel to us, I think it's ok for us to speak softly to Him. The main thing we need to do is always make sure all worship whether quiet and reverent or loud and thundering glorifies His name. There is something glorious about that name.