MINISTERS MUSINGS

 

MUSING OCTOBER 2009

THE MUSIC OF HEAVEN

‘If music be the food of love, play on’ are the words of the love sick Orsino in the opening of Shakespeare’s play ‘Twelfth Night’. For Christians music is indeed the food of love - not the romantic love of Duke Orsino, but of God. This is shown in the music of God’s people through the centuries, from Miriam’s tambourine to the singing of psalms in Jewish worship, the plainsong of the early church’ the music of great composers like Bach through to the varied hymns and songs which form an important part of modern worship. We love to lift up our hearts in musical praise.

Sadly nothing divides congregations more than deciding what music to sing. Will it be hymns with a choir and organ, or spiritual songs and music with an instrumental group and lots of amplification? It seems that never the twain shall meet. There is a generation gap. The younger generation want music in the modern idiom and are totally alienated by traditional hymns and organs. The traditionalists (usually in the older age bracket) find the loud music of groups and repetitive singing of songs and choruses an assault on the senses and a complete ‘turn off’. Many Ministers deal with the problem by having services with different types of music at different times. This deals with many practical aspects but does result in two groups of worshippers in the same church who never meet.

God has given us such a rich tapestry of music it seems a pity to be excusive in its use. He also expects us to forbear one another in love, in other words to be tolerant and accepting of each other. Here then is the challenge. Instead of building walls around worship traditions, why not dig deeper into each other’s worship from time to time and listen to and try to understand each other a little more. Accept that although we are different, we are all one in Christ however we choose to express what is in our hearts. The Bible bids us to be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all our heart. It is worth bearing this in mind as we lift up our hearts in melodic praise. Let us at least listen to one another, and whatever we do to do it sincerely and well. Great indeed is the music of heaven. All kinds!