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 This
morning we turned on the T.V. to get the news, and heard the
last number of a Jerry Clower show--a rip-snorting, whoop-
it-up, foot-patting rendition of “The Man Walking on the
Water.” The instrumentalists knew their business well; and the
singers presented a lively harmony -- swinging and swaying
melodiously and bodily. If you had an ounce of rhythm in your
bones you: were soon patting your foot and clapping your hands
with them.
This
was a country-western song, suitable for a lively dance in some
Consolidated School gym. The fact that the words of the song
were about Jesus Christ and His miracles did not change the song’s
character, nor make it an expression of worship. At Grand 0l’
Opry, and in record shops of pop music it would likely be called
“Gospel Music”; but that has become a secular category, not
even comparable to the old-time negro “spirituals” which
expressed genuine faith in God. The T.V. musical number was
presented for fleshly joy and entertainment, in exactly the same
vein with Jerry’s jokes; and in this article we will take no
issue with either.
But
we are disturbed by evidence that brethren are using church
assemblies and worship periods to gratify this same fleshly urge
for rhythmic satisfaction. We notice a
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decided upswing in the use of whoop-it-up
types of songs for worship — with syncopated after-beat and
other rhythmic gyrations that may prompt or add to the fleshly
joy of singing, but contribute nothing to the God-directed
purpose of worshipful praise. (Col. 3:16)
The
subject is a “touchy” one, for “musical tastes” differ,
we are told. Is that our purpose — to satisfy our “tastes”?
Are we even trying to appeal to God’s musical taste; or are we
not supposed to be expressing our love, praise, and submission
to God, with no thought of self-service.
Our
social status, education, etc. will be reflected in the way we
express ourselves — as the prayers of a Bostonian lawyer and
an Alabama farmer will differ — but neither prayer nor song
will get any higher than the ceiling if we are trying to please
ourselves with the sound of or voice.
I
do not plead for uniformity of musical taste. Uniformity of
spiritual purpose will be enough. With that we should be able to
worship God with a dignity one step above jungle rout.
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