Graham Tomlin describes in CEN this week something that I feel hugely. 'Singing is something that Christians have always done, right from the very earliest times, and I think it's very interesting how historically every move of the Spirit in the Church has been accompanied by a fresh outpouring of song and music...And I think it's because music has an ability to connect head and heart, if you like - logic and emotion - in a way that simple spoken prose can't quite do. Music takes those words, ideas, things which are expressed rationally, and connects them into emotion.
In order to respond to God, we need both head and heart, both logic and emotion, and music has an ability to connect the two, which is why there's almost always a spontaneous outpouring of song whenever the Spirit of God touches people.
Sandy Millar adds: ...Music enables us to do something together. You get a harmony and it's the most beautiful thing.That's why singing in the Spirit is so beautiful. We have to listen to one another and we have to respond to the leading of the Spirit. When it's harmoniously done, it's a foretaste of heaven.And whatever else we know about heaven, there will be a lot of music and singing there. So we've got to get used to it now and start learning if we haven't done it before. It's a precious thing.
And I would like to add that whilst we must not let go of what was good; our C19 traditional hymns are very beautiful, we mustn't be disparaging about modern worship music for it would seem that God is indeed very encouraging on this issue:
Psalm 33:3
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 96:1
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Psalm 98:1
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
Psalm 144:9
I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
Psalm 149:1
Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.
Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Revelation 14:3
And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
And I would like to add that whilst we must not let go of what was good; our C19 traditional hymns are very beautiful, we mustn't be disparaging about modern worship music for it would seem that God is indeed very encouraging on this issue:
Psalm 33:3
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 96:1
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Psalm 98:1
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
Psalm 144:9
I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
Psalm 149:1
Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.
Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Revelation 14:3
And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
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