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A simple prelude to the topic of music, something which has fascinated me for an extended period of time.
Most of us can agree that music is an universal language, powerful enough to transcend all races, languages, cultures and nations. Music has the innate ability to absorb, guide, control and tame our emotions. She is unparallel when it comes to healing of our emotional wounds and sorrows. Yet, we also find joy and excitement when a certain set of tempo is played. To the extremists, anger and frustration are often exhibited (thankfully) through this peaceful alternate outlet. Music is definitely multi-facets; magical in every sense.
Now, a friend of mine used to describe briefly to me on how some of the different genre of music[1] came about. By this i mean the proper official classification, as i know there are unofficial ones too. Allow me to summarise what i had heard in the most simplest form here.
Let me start off with "Jazz". It all started from the influx of immigrants from the European and African countries to the United States from the 16th Centuries[2] onwards. This diverse combination gave birth to what is called "Jazz" in our modern context, carrying traits from the West African black folk music developed in the Americas, joined with European popular and light classical music of the late 18th and 19th centuries [3].
The following period was characterised by a series of wars and revolutions. Hence, a new post-war genre, named "Rock", emerged to portray such extreme hurts, sorrows, angers and frustration. It is no wonder why "Rock" music are by far the loudest and most aggressive among their peers.
Then slowly enters the "Pop" genre which is very radio-friendly, henceforth enjoyed a much wider audience base. By then, the post-war syndrome has subsided substantially. Emerging music belong to a more sentimental setting, with plenty of romantic love stories.
Of course, there are still many other genre in the music industry nowadays. And it seems almost impossible to describe all of them here because that would incur lengthy description of detailed researched findings and we would probably lose our main focus of an authentic christian article.
Perhaps, we can shift our attention to the music found in the bible.
With reference to the Old Testament, we understand that the Israelities worshipped their God using a rich variety of creative styles, often musically inspired. They sang songs [even new songs], shouted [aloud and with great rejoicing], danced, played the instuments (i.e. harps, trumpets, ten-stringed lyres, ram's horns, tambourines, flutes, cymbals) [skillfully] and clapped their hands to the LORD [4].
King David even danced before the LORD when the ark of the LORD was brought into the city of David. It was recorded that he used all his might to dance unto the LORD, while the rest of the Israelities shouted and sounded the trumpets throughout the entire procession [5].
When despised by one of his wives, Michal, he responded, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." [2Samuel 6:21-22]
Such freedom of worship is definitely envied by many of the modern christians like us. Therefore, it seems only right for us to ask ourselves how our forefathers of this very same faith have evolved the worship styles till the present day forms. Have we forego the richness of the worship styles of the ancient days? Have we limit ourselves to certain rituals such that whoever defies are despised just like King David by his wife? Do we use all our might to worship God or do we rest our body, less our mind and heart, as though to observe the Sabbath law? What happened to the shout, dance and resounding instruments? Were they all buried together with Jesus on the cross?
Mind you, Jesus Christ has resurrected! This is something we can rejoice and celebrate over and over again. Granted that there is a time for everything [6]. But whenever there is a time to weep, there is always a time to laugh, and when there is a time to mourn, there will be another time to dance. We ought not to weep and mourn on every sunday service or christian gatherings, nor should we be laughing and dancing at every christian fellowship. There is always a proper time for everything.
With weeping and mourning, there are less to prepare. We need only to bring our broken hearts to God and allow Him to mend our hurts and sorrows. But with laughing and dancing, the things required are definitely much more than mere us. We need appropriate instruments, preferably resounding ones. We also need a window to shout, a space to dance and a dimension to celebrate; all these harmonised along with our fellow brethren-in-Christ.
Like the development of the different genre in music, christian worship (liturgies in particular) have underwent a series of major surgeries. Unfortunately, one obvious side-effect of these massive operations is the reduction in worship styles and tools, not to mention creativity. It seems that the past "Dark Ages" of Christianity [6] had taken too much toils on the forefathers of our faith that they had lost the spirit of rejoicing and celebration. The repercussion effect, as felt today, was overwhelming in some of the conservative church denomination. They permit only the singing of ancient hymns, with little or no room for new praise songs and tempos. They permit only the solemn styleas, giving little or confining space for the congregation to worship with all their might.
Yet, we also need to applause them for their efforts in perserving the christian faith, truth and traditions which would have gone astray if left unguarded to the mercy of the bombardment of pagan beliefs and philosophies during the Dark Ages. Surely, the main bulk of the Word of God has been perserved and left for future generations to come. Still, there are more to be done with the perserved artifacts. Bible scholars would have agree that there are even more exploration to be conducted, especially in this post-modernisation era. There are many outstanding questions left unanswered, many disputed issues left unsettled and many truths left undiscovered in the Word of God.
Therefore, let us rekindle the sealed artifacts left by the forefathers of our same faith. As a start, I propose that we can rediscover the richness of the worship styles and instruments as described in the Old Testament. Such was the freedom of worship that we have missed. Such was the tangible intimate interaction between God and His created beings. Such is a delight to the LORD by His people [7].
Now, if we are able to reconcile the past relevation to our present day context, the by-product is a new synergy or "genre" for worshipping our God. After all, our faith is not simply an ancient faith passed down from our forefathers. It is as relevant to any one of us now as it was used to be then. It is called a living faith because the manificant power and dynamics of God are still at work in our daily lives through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. As such, we must understand and accept that the Word of God transcends all ages, even the future.
Worship cannot be held back at a certain era, it must continue to evolve back its original authentic forms. At the same time, it must also move forward to stay relevant with the current era and beyond. New song composition, dance choreography and instrument invention will pave the way for a richer worship to our God who alone deserve all our praises and gratitudes. At all ages, people who revered the Lord will readily bow down in worship to God through a magnitude of creative styles and instruments. Indeed, true worship ought to be done in spirit and in truth [8]. If we open our hearts to God, the Holy Spirit will fill us with the understanding of the truth, in which we can worship God. By asking the Holy Spirit to work in us, worship should then be free because the Holy Spirit is not bounded by Man's rules and regulation. If a person is convicted by the Holy Spirit of impenitent sins, he may choose to kneel down and repent to God. Alternatively, he may choose to beat his chest and cry out that he is a sinner and ask God for forgiveness. Such is the privilege of coming before our heavenly Father during worship which is often being deprived by the church in the name of orderliness.
Church, the body of Christ, must continue to discuss openly the important topic on worship. The argument on the perservation of traditions is diminishing. If there is no prompt resolution, then the first sign would be the mass migration of their existing youth to other greener pastures. This becomes a vicious cycle because the next committee of policymakers would still be comprising mainly of older folks, hence the status quo again. With aging congregation, they would then have to spend more time to educate and retain their offsprings than to be able to expand their ministries. I suppose the kingdom of God waits for no one, it is still expanding rapidly because the end times are coming soon. And God does not take delight in a tree that cannot bear fruit [10]. Granted, church dynamic is far more complicated than mere worship alone. But worship is very central to a person's walk with God, it must, therefore, be considered with great details and thoughts.
In conclusion, let us consider King David whom God described as a man after His own heart [11]. He worshipped in a manner that was pleasing to God. He wrote many psalms to God. He did not restrict himself to a pathetic number of worship styles and instruments. He did not fear despises from other people when he worshipped. He was a true worshipper of God at his times. Let us then strive to be a true worshipper [9] in our present times too. Let our focus of worship be geared towards bringing delight to the LORD [7].
May all honors, glories, powers, praises be unto the LORD. Amen!
References
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_ge
2. http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45
3. http://www.apassion4jazz.net
4. Psalm 33:1-3, 81:1-3, 98, 149, 150
5. 2 Samuel 6:14-15
6. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages
8. Psalm 149:4
9. John 4:24
10. Luke 13:7
11. 1 Samuel 13:14
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