I read a piece by Tom Krauter on "Worship Songs on Strike". You can read it here:
http://www.ccli.com/WorshipCorner/Article.aspx?ContentId=b95b1a55-5375-48ac-83e2-684c628b96a7
After being either a part of the congregation who is in the pew singing, or one who is leading the congregation in singing, I really must say that I sympathize with all of the songs out there! I think I am behind them in their desire to go on strike!
I feel like shouting, "All ancient hymns and modern songs of the church UNITE!!"
And I do believe I am just as guilty as the next person in singing without feeling....although, I really can't help singing "Change My Heart, O God" without a great deal of feeling and emotion like I am pleading to God, to really hear my heart when I pray that song. There are others...one we sang on Sunday at the end of the service. "Rejoice, Rejoice Believers!". I really didn't see too much rejoicing while that song was being sung, although, it isn't all that familiar in today's worship times. It's an old hymn with the original words by Laurentius Laurenti 1660-1722. It talks about preparation...our preparation to meet the coming of Christ and the waiting we must do until then. These words were penned with feeling, with a heart longing for salvation....which involved a heart longing for Christ's return. Here are the original words by Laurenti: (our words in the hymnal today are a bit more modern)...sung in 4/4 time, so it's pretty peppy....Jesus is the bridegroom, by the way....
Rejoice, rejoice, believers, And let your lights appear;
The evening is advancing, And darker night is near.
The bridegroom is arising And soon is drawing nigh.
Up, pray and watch and wrestle; At midnight comes the cry.
The watchers on the mountain Proclaim the bridegroom near;
Go forth as He approaches With alleluias clear.
The marriage feast is waiting; The gates wide open stand.
Arise, O heirs of glory; The bridegroom is at hand.
The saints, who here in patience Their cross and sufferings bore,
Shall live and reign forever When sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory The Lamb they shall behold;
In triumph cast before Him Their diadems of gold.
Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear;
Arise, O Sun so longed for, Over this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted, We plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth’s redemption That sets Your people free!
And that's just one hymn. The people who have written these songs wrote from their hearts. They wanted to encourage the people who would sing the words and with a hymn like the one above, there is so much to rejoice about!!
But sometimes, as the article says, we sit back, mouth the words half-heartedly, thinking of other things, than what those words represent. If we REALLY believed God were present amongst us in our worship services, or in our cars, or our work places, perhaps we would sing/hum/whistle these songs with a greater urgency, with greater thankfulness and with greater emotion!!!
I think I will attempt to put some life back into my singing!!!! The words themselves speak of LIFE, afterall!!!
'Nite all....hope I don't disturb the neighbors with my enthusiastic singing in the shower.....I just need those songs to stop their strike!!!:)
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