Worship in Hope.
Mandy Tompson posted some questions about worship music. My main response came from this post on worship.
Worship is not about us. Worship is about the hope God gives us, and the praise we sing to him about the things he has done for us.
Take a listen to this hymn sung by Johnny Cash. Where the Soul of Man never dies.
What do you hear? What does this old hymn point us two?
To Canaan’s land, I’m on my way,
Where the soul of man never dies.
My darkest night will turn to day,
Where the soul of man never dies. (Where the soul of a man never dies.)
This old hymn speaks of the Hope of eternal life, and the Hope of living in a the perfection that we were meant for when God made us.
If you look at some of the modern worship songs, we sing of God is Awesome (and he is), God is our protector (he is), God is our shield (he is), God is our Guide (he is), and God will provide (He will). What most modern worship songs, miss out on is worshiping in thanks and Joy for the Hope of heaven.
God of wonders beyond our galaxy, your are Holy. The Universe declares your majesty, You are Holy. Lord of Heaven and Earth Lord of Heaven and Earth
Don’t get me wrong nothing in those words are wrong, and there is precedence to sing such in the Hosanna’s sung as Christ entered Jerusalem. … God is beyond, holy, majestic, and Lord. Don’t you think he already knows that? Does God really need a pep talk from us in our worship? I just sometimes get the feeling we worship for the affirmation of our faith more than the praise of a God who saved us through his sacrifice. Worship in this manner becomes our identity in a way.
As I listen to the old hymns sung by Cash, it just seems that the old time hymns were much simpler in their praise. The hymn sung by Cash and many others, is pure Joy for the Hope that they have because of Faith in Christ, and his death on the cross. Hope that the suffering will end forever. Hope that we will persevere as God walks with us. Hope for the calling to come home, hope for the resurrection of the new body. Hope in a God that does not disappoint. Hope in a God who saves by Grace.
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
So yes it is ok to worship and sing all out Hossana to the One most high, but we need to make sure we communicate why we are calling out those praises. Not just because he created this awesome universe, not just because he is our provider, but because of the sacrifice that allows us to live in everyday with Joy in the Hope of eternity.
There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there. (In the Sweet By and By)
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you
Our identity and eternal life will be with Him the most high….Praise God for the Hope that brings pure Joy.
