Paul's letter to Corinth includes an extended discussion of spiritual gifts. Paired with his treatment of this same subject to other churches (Rome and Ephesus), we have a rather developed theology of gifts, giftedness, and the gifted. Consistent among the passages (1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12, Ephesians 4) is the metaphor of the body: the body working together, the body growing together, the body maturing together. Let's take as a summary statement this word: Let all things be done for building up. (1 Cor. 14:26)
This "bottom line" from Paul comes near the end of a 3-chapter discourse on the gifts. (As an aside, when we read the middle chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 - "the love chapter" - divorced from its context, we fail to understand it fully and apply it rightly.) We exercise our gifts among one another, so that we may together be "built up." The ultimate aim of the giftedness in any church is "maturity." And ultimately it is in the right exercise of each of our gifts ("in love") that we are to grow up into the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph. 4: 15-16)
Today I find it interesting that the summation of Paul's teaching about the right exercise of gifts, is in the context of gathered worship. Indeed, 1 Corinthians 14 is one of the most explicit passages about public worship in the New Testament. And this is consistent with that weekly gathering's role in advancing the same purposes as the gifts: maturity in Christ, serving one another in love, unity in Christ who is the head of the Body. Yes, we exercise our gifts wherever and whenever we are together - rehearsals, for example! But when we come together in the weekly gathering, we bring our service, the ways we have served and been served, and we continue this service to one another. Music? Well, for some reason Paul begins to wrap-up this long discussion thus: What then? When you come together, each one has a hymn ...(1 Cor. 14:26)
Our role as musicians in public worship begings to get worked out properly "behind the scenes," with our loving service to and with one another. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good... All these are empowerd by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one indivudually as he wills. (from 1 Cor. 12:4-11) It is not in our musical skill that we serve and are served, but rather in the gifts the Spirit gives. The same Spirit then uses that gift-infused musical preparation to minister through your music-making.
Continue to serve one another in love, as you
Sing on!
27 January 2010
20 January 2010
Spiritual Gifts
Music ministry is marked by apparent giftedness. That is (generally, hopefully, ideally) musical gifts are employed in the public leadership and expression of musical praise, prayer and proclamation. These gifts may be extraordinary; they may be modest. They may take us to the heights of transcendence; they may simply coach us along in the "duty and delight" which is our public worship. Music ministry presents itself through apparent giftedness.
But music ministry must be driven by spritual giftedness. By the exercise of gifts that are not generally "on display" when musicians play or sing in public. These are the gifts given freely by Jesus, through the Spirit, to build his church. Every local church - and every ministry within any local church - has been given the gifts to undertake the ministries God intends that church - and ministry within it - to do. Music is the public expression of the music ministry, but our work together to get there is accomplished in large part through the use of our gifts. St. Peter calls it the stewardship "of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10)
We have looked briefly at the music ministry as "pastoral care" - in worship and among musicians outside of the sanctuary. This may be practiced through the exercise of gifts of mercy, helps, faith, prophecy, service, exhortation. It is more than just being nice to one another, though of course love will mark and drive the exercise of all our gifts.
In due time, our morning sermons will reach 1 Corinthians 12, a key passage regarding the gifts and our use of them. We'll explore that this winter, long before Pastor Moody gets there in the pulpit. Then that will be a good "check" on how we're doing! But for today, I just want to go to the same theme as Paul writes it to the Romans:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.(Romans 12:1-8)
As you serve one another,
Sing on!
.
But music ministry must be driven by spritual giftedness. By the exercise of gifts that are not generally "on display" when musicians play or sing in public. These are the gifts given freely by Jesus, through the Spirit, to build his church. Every local church - and every ministry within any local church - has been given the gifts to undertake the ministries God intends that church - and ministry within it - to do. Music is the public expression of the music ministry, but our work together to get there is accomplished in large part through the use of our gifts. St. Peter calls it the stewardship "of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10)
We have looked briefly at the music ministry as "pastoral care" - in worship and among musicians outside of the sanctuary. This may be practiced through the exercise of gifts of mercy, helps, faith, prophecy, service, exhortation. It is more than just being nice to one another, though of course love will mark and drive the exercise of all our gifts.
In due time, our morning sermons will reach 1 Corinthians 12, a key passage regarding the gifts and our use of them. We'll explore that this winter, long before Pastor Moody gets there in the pulpit. Then that will be a good "check" on how we're doing! But for today, I just want to go to the same theme as Paul writes it to the Romans:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.(Romans 12:1-8)
As you serve one another,
Sing on!
.
13 January 2010
Serve One Another
Here at the outset of 2010, I am specially aware of some very deep needs among our musicians:
Injury
Illness
Cancer
Impending loss of a loved one
Recent loss of a loved one
Unemployment
Deep hurt and disappointment
And for even more, who are not themselves experiencing these things, but walking alongside one or more who are.
I am always encouraged to see you all continue in the trenches, through hard times as well as good times. It is surely a demonstration of the grip the Spirit has on you. I know, too, that it is evidence that you are being served by those you make music with.
Last week I wrote briefly about music as "pastoral care." With all the other things music accomplishes in worship, this dimension is often overlooked. And yet, I believe much of the time it is the primary work of music in church. And that ministry - the work of the Holy Spirit through your labors in music - is begun, and enhanced, by your care for one another.
Indeed, I would argue that effective music ministry depends on the exercise of each participant's spiritual gifts. Do we turn off the spiritual gifts when we come into a rehearsal? Do we not have the opportunity (to say nothing of obligation as stewards) to exercise the gifts God has given us wherever we are, whatever we are doing, whenever we are with his people? If God has given us all gifts for the building up of the church, then we may expect him to be prepared to use that gift in the context of music-making. And in using those gifts before and after public services of worship, we may have confidence that those gifts are also contributing to the whole body, even as we lead in worship through music.
So, if music in worship is pastoral care, then the effective preparation for that is our care for one another. This I see in our musicians, often and deeply. You pray for one another. You encourage one another. You help one another. This is the Spirit's work among you, building up the church-within-a-church which is our music ministry. And through it, the "musical church" is contributing to the heart and soul care of the College Church congregation (in ways we may never know, but may trust God for).
I am reflecting on these things today as I see so many of you coming alongside those who are hurting in the ways listed above. Be encouraged by these words of scripture:
... through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:13)
... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit ... [and then there follows Paul's description of spiritual gifts] ... we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part works properly, makes the body grow so that it builds iself up in love. (from Ephesians 4:1 - 16)
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:9-10)
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27; then Paul ramps up to the excellent way of love, in chapter 13)
Keep on caring for one another, as you
Sing on!
Injury
Illness
Cancer
Impending loss of a loved one
Recent loss of a loved one
Unemployment
Deep hurt and disappointment
And for even more, who are not themselves experiencing these things, but walking alongside one or more who are.
I am always encouraged to see you all continue in the trenches, through hard times as well as good times. It is surely a demonstration of the grip the Spirit has on you. I know, too, that it is evidence that you are being served by those you make music with.
Last week I wrote briefly about music as "pastoral care." With all the other things music accomplishes in worship, this dimension is often overlooked. And yet, I believe much of the time it is the primary work of music in church. And that ministry - the work of the Holy Spirit through your labors in music - is begun, and enhanced, by your care for one another.
Indeed, I would argue that effective music ministry depends on the exercise of each participant's spiritual gifts. Do we turn off the spiritual gifts when we come into a rehearsal? Do we not have the opportunity (to say nothing of obligation as stewards) to exercise the gifts God has given us wherever we are, whatever we are doing, whenever we are with his people? If God has given us all gifts for the building up of the church, then we may expect him to be prepared to use that gift in the context of music-making. And in using those gifts before and after public services of worship, we may have confidence that those gifts are also contributing to the whole body, even as we lead in worship through music.
So, if music in worship is pastoral care, then the effective preparation for that is our care for one another. This I see in our musicians, often and deeply. You pray for one another. You encourage one another. You help one another. This is the Spirit's work among you, building up the church-within-a-church which is our music ministry. And through it, the "musical church" is contributing to the heart and soul care of the College Church congregation (in ways we may never know, but may trust God for).
I am reflecting on these things today as I see so many of you coming alongside those who are hurting in the ways listed above. Be encouraged by these words of scripture:
... through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:13)
... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit ... [and then there follows Paul's description of spiritual gifts] ... we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part works properly, makes the body grow so that it builds iself up in love. (from Ephesians 4:1 - 16)
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:9-10)
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27; then Paul ramps up to the excellent way of love, in chapter 13)
Keep on caring for one another, as you
Sing on!
06 January 2010
Music as Pastoral Care
People will occasionally say, "I get more out of the music than the sermon." Or, "The message was good today, but I really needed to hear [or, perhaps more likely, sing] that song today. It was good for my soul." Even, "I couldn't concentrate on the spoken word, but the message in music really reached me today."
Without intending it - that is, whether we work at it or not - music in gathered worship serves any number of purposes. It is a significant vehicle of Christian education and maturity: we learn what we sing. It is an essential component of Christian devotion: we love who we sing to and about. Music in worship is also pastoral care: the Spirit uses musical selections as he wills, in the hearts of singers and hearers, often ministering grace in ways we as planners and performers could not imagine.
Preachers sometimes tell about parishioners who comment on how much a sermon helped them in a particular way, when in fact that particular way was not even an intentional part of the sermon. This seems to surprise preachers; and sometimes it amuses them, as if the parishioner just wasn't a good listener. I think musicians may understand this better. Perhaps we more often, or more naturally, or more readily experience the Spirit's work in a medium that is - at its core, let's admit it - spiritual.
We simply do not know, as we sing a hymn, how a particular phrase or stanza is going to strike us. Whether a new hymn or a beloved favorite, each hymn (just to use hymns as an example) has the potential to draw us to greater love for Christ, deeper understanding of God's purposes, or clarity about some life issue that we are dealing with. And how much less can we anticipate what the Spirit is doing in the hymn-singer next to us? We sing on, confident that it is the Spirit's work in maturity, devotion, and care.
Undergirding all this is the assumption that what is sung - by the people (hymns) or for the people (anthems, etc.) - is, in fact, the Word of God. It is the Word that the Spirit brings to life in his people. It is the Word that changes lives. It is the Word that meets needs.
This week we move from a busy and glorious Christmas season, into the next season of "regular services." Let's be mindful that in the ministry of the Word, yes even through music, nothing is to be taken for granted. If it is the Word of God we sing, the Spirit will be at work in his people, and you as musicians will be serving the congregation in ways we cannot imagine and may never know.
Sing on!
Without intending it - that is, whether we work at it or not - music in gathered worship serves any number of purposes. It is a significant vehicle of Christian education and maturity: we learn what we sing. It is an essential component of Christian devotion: we love who we sing to and about. Music in worship is also pastoral care: the Spirit uses musical selections as he wills, in the hearts of singers and hearers, often ministering grace in ways we as planners and performers could not imagine.
Preachers sometimes tell about parishioners who comment on how much a sermon helped them in a particular way, when in fact that particular way was not even an intentional part of the sermon. This seems to surprise preachers; and sometimes it amuses them, as if the parishioner just wasn't a good listener. I think musicians may understand this better. Perhaps we more often, or more naturally, or more readily experience the Spirit's work in a medium that is - at its core, let's admit it - spiritual.
We simply do not know, as we sing a hymn, how a particular phrase or stanza is going to strike us. Whether a new hymn or a beloved favorite, each hymn (just to use hymns as an example) has the potential to draw us to greater love for Christ, deeper understanding of God's purposes, or clarity about some life issue that we are dealing with. And how much less can we anticipate what the Spirit is doing in the hymn-singer next to us? We sing on, confident that it is the Spirit's work in maturity, devotion, and care.
Undergirding all this is the assumption that what is sung - by the people (hymns) or for the people (anthems, etc.) - is, in fact, the Word of God. It is the Word that the Spirit brings to life in his people. It is the Word that changes lives. It is the Word that meets needs.
This week we move from a busy and glorious Christmas season, into the next season of "regular services." Let's be mindful that in the ministry of the Word, yes even through music, nothing is to be taken for granted. If it is the Word of God we sing, the Spirit will be at work in his people, and you as musicians will be serving the congregation in ways we cannot imagine and may never know.
Sing on!
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