Posts by Greg Wilbur
Before we borrow too many of the forms and feel of an antithetical aesthetic and bring them into worship, we should first make sure that it fits the purpose of worship in the context of a worship space and the reflected beauty of our transcendent God.
There has been a recent series of posts, blogs, and articles about the use of hymnals, the loss of hymnals, what we gain with screens, what we lose with screens, etc. Behind these posts is an assumption that whether it is printed or pixelated on a screen denotes two different types of music. As such, this becomes more a discussion of style. However, at the heart of the matter is what is the purpose of singing in worship and how does that influence what we sing.
Daily life, distractions, and struggles (as well as the world, the flesh, and the Devil) seek to dislodge the Gospel from our hearts and memory. When personal words fail, how glorious is it to be able to rely on the words of Scripture and the text of a well-worn hymn to give voice to the truth of the gospel and to unite our hearts in hope. It behooves us to ensure that the people we shepherd are well prepared and equipped with songs, psalms, and hymns that are theologically rich, singable (without accompaniment), and truly known—songs that they can wholeheartedly sing and share together.
Part of working out my salvation with fear and trembling is the weekly practice of remembering what it is that God has done as well as who He is. Too often I am slow of heart, but God is His great mercy graciously renews my heart week after week, month by month, and year after year in the keeping of the Lord’s Day and in the service to Him. The “otherness” of worship in its Gospel flow becomes a sanctifying gift.
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