Music Plays an Important Role

Jewish temple worship included the singing of psalms, accompanied by stringed instruments such as the lyre, by bells and cymbals, and by horns. The flute was played as a part of ritual mourning for a loved one lost.

I'm no expert on early Christian worship, but I know that Paul's letters contain snippets of what can only be classified as hymns. So there was singing. Presumably the same instrumentation, though gradually branching out to other culture's folk instruments as the church became more diversified.

Most of us equate church music with an organ though. Or a piano. And recently (in the scheme of things) guitars, drums, and other instruments. There's a wide variety in the expression of worship.

Does that mean you have to love it all? By no means! You can have your favorite kind of church music. Just remember, someone loves their music and instrumentation as much as you love yours.

Why this sudden interest in worship music? Our organist was out sick this past Sunday and we had to hurriedly put together songs that we could accompany with guitars! And we had to leave a lot of the liturgy out, since a cappella singing of the liturgy always starts out nice, but generally veers off course along the way!

And I missed all the music! The singing. The piano and organ. Of course we had fun singing two gutiar songs and one Jesus Loves Me without instrumentation, but it wasn't the same. Gave me a whole new appreciation for the role of music in our worship.

Who knows what worship music will sound like in another fifty years? One things sure--it'll be there--it's too important not to be!!