I am actually writing this blog in response to all those people who struggling with music in worship…over the years this has become known as worship wars…sad when you think about it, we allow our flesh to get in the way of praising God.  We allow preferences to interfere with our praise and worship.  WE allow our fleshly attitudes to keep us from experiencing all that God has for us as we learn to overcome our flesh and worship in the Spirit.

I don’t mean to be so black and white, but I am going to place my argument into two groups of people.  The first is the group that only believes we should sing traditional hymns or southern gospel.  I have seen many leave the church and get upset from this camp.  Then there is the second group.  This group wants nothing to do with traditional music.  In fact they almost look down upon it.

It think it saddens God’s heart that in the American church we have such a divide over musical styles when it comes to worshiping God.  Diversity is not rejection…so it is not diversity in the American church rather it is a rejection of another style and dare I even say a grieving of the Holy Spirit.  I am all for churches developing their own style and personality…that is fine.  I believe we should be unashamedly true to God, ourselves and who we are as a local body of believers.  WE should be open to God’s movement…neither rejecting the pastor or getting stuck there; nor should we every only cling to modern day musical preferences and styles.  Rather we should truly have a heart of worship that embraces traditional and classic hymns that are filled with powerful messages, truths and doctrines and we should also embrace what God is breathing into His people through music in the present.  It really is a combination of the both.  SIDENOTE:  musical instrumentation or the method by which we sing the songs is a side issue that we have made into an all out war and dividing issue.

When we sing to God it is to praise Him first and above all.  It is to bring Him GLORY.  The pleasure of music is secondary.  That does not mean it isn’t important.  Music is part of the heart/soul and that is where we worship God from…but it is also a matter of attitude.  If our attitude rejects traditional or contemporary Christian music then we have a heart problem.  If our preferences get in the way of worshipping God then there is a heart condition that needs dealing with.  Unfortunately most people who take to the extremes won’t allow God to work on their hearts; they don’t stick around to allow God to speak and help them through their worship struggles.  Overcoming the flesh is never easy, but only if we walk in the Spirit can we overcome.

I entitled this blog “DOXOLOGY” for a reason.  Although Broadman sings both traditional hymns and contemporary praise music, the one thing we have added as a constant is the DOXOLOGY (Not saying this has to be, but it has worked for us).  This has come into question…in fact someone called in annoying to me the other day and another person said that doesn’t count as a traditional hymn.  I will try to speak from my spirit and not my flesh…but there is nothing more traditional than the Doxology and repetition may seem annoying when we do not understand the purpose and meaning.

Some history on the Doxology.  It dates back to the 4th Century Church…not necessarily the version we sing today.  But the Doxology comes from the Greek work DOXA – meaning “GLORY”.  Isnt’ that why we worship?  Of course it is.  It is for God’s glory!!!!  But the Doxology is special because it is specific about praise toward the GODHEAD/TRINITY.  It is praise for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  You cannot get any more grounded or specific than the Doxology.  There are a lot of traditions associated with the Doxology…some throughout church history used it to open up the service, some during the Lord’s Supper, others to end the service…at Broadman we have elected for, the time being, to sing this song to transition from our musical worship time to prepare for the offering and then the sermon.  It is a transition of praise in which we recognize in the middle of our worship service the One True Living God who is worthy of our praise and that it is from Him that all blessings flow.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. A-men.”

PC