It's a blog on Messianic Worship Music, and its effects on the human spirit. Music, choirs, hymns and special songs have all played vital roles in Christian tradition, both as a way of learning and teaching. The Bible describes the role of music in Jewish and Muslim cultures in many ways. As I read through the posts, each one made me think about how music can help in our own mission as Christians.
Music is great for enhancing communication. You can use music to communicate about your beliefs, values and practices. The church you're attending plays a huge part in how you interact with the world. Are they a welcoming community? Do you think you'll feel welcomed if you don't conform to their particular ways of worship?
Messianic music brings to mind the early Christians moving to the new world and the great book of Acts. They're making the effort to be anointed by God. And what better way is there to be anointed than by giving thanks in the name of Jesus Christ? This was the initial phase of the book, and music has been used in worship ever since. The words, "Hear ye therefore, all the church, for the king of the glory of your God," are a beautiful affirmation of what we're all here for.
It's a powerful and effective way of communicating your intentions and calling to action. If you're just getting started with this type of work, then you're already on your way. However, if you've been involved in this type of work for years, then I encourage you to look deeper into the gifts you can bring to the table as you engage in this ministry. God has given you some extraordinary tools, but you'll need to use them wisely.
Before you do, however, there are some things you'll want to make sure you have under control. First of all, listen to lots of music that's appropriate for your purposes. Yes, the Rapture song is appropriate, but not always. Yes, worship at harvest time is appropriate, but so are praise and thanksgiving. But don't let any kind of worship music make you uncomfortable or nervous, because that just compounds the problem.
Next, understand that there are three major factors to keep in mind when you choose your musical selections. One is that the type of music will affect your mood, so it must be uplifting. Two, is that it's going to inspire you to grow and become more committed to your spiritual mission. And thirdly, is that it will entice you to sing and dance and move around your church. (And that's pretty much all music really, isn't it?)