Worship Song and Us

I often hear, "I've got to play this song!!"
With enthusiasm and passion, I can feel the excitement that people have.

But let's step back a moment and think "Why we need to play the song?".

A few reasons I can think of.


1."This song got really nice music and it definitely excite everyone."

I've felt this so many times in past.
I'd find a song that has good rhythm and the flow is pretty.
The song enables me to put my feeling into singing, I thought.

Well, this is not bad motive.
I think well inspired songs excite people and have something in it.

2."This song spoke to my heat."

This is actually very good reason.
We need to be ministered by the Lord so that we can minister to others.
We can only give what we receive.

I think it is necessary that worship leaders have personal worship time.
It deepens our understanding to the songs and blesses our hearts.
And we hope that we can share this exciting experience with others.

This is very honset and pure motive.

3."We need a new song that refreshes our worshiping congregation"

Again, this is very good one.
Pslam 33:3 says "Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with shout of joy."

Often, when the church sings same song every week, the dynamics dies and our corporate worship experience becomes dull and monotone.

New songs energize gathered church and give fresh breath into our singing.


Again, these are not bad at all; rather good reasons.
But, I think there is an important element missing in these ideas.

That is idea of "what ministers people?".

Of course, the worship is very spiritual and we ought to be led by the Spirit.

But, we also need to think logically what ministers to people.
Accessing where church is collectively, and what they need to hear and learn helps us plan for worship a lot.

Maybe they need to hear more proclamation of the Gospel. (Which always we need.)
Maybe, the week, we are learning about filling of the Spirit and it's be really nice to play some songs that is about seeking the filling of the Spirit.
Or, they need to learn about physical expression in worship.

Assessment is not easy and requires much wisdom.

But I believe it helps church a lot when worship leader take a step back and objectively observe the state of the church.

And plan prayerfully and thoughtfully.
Sometime, we need to wait when we really want to play new song.
Maybe because we played new song last week.
Or, for like me with Japanese and English speakers mixed congregation, I need to hold and wait for translation of songs so that everyone would be ministered.

I remember one worship leader mentioned this principle.
The Principle is this;

"Worship songs should serve us."

Songs are given to us so that we might glorify God.
We cannot let song take initiative.
We carefully select songs that serves us.

So just a mere personal thought you can think through.

The Holiness Of Leading Worship

I recently read this article at CalvaryChapel.com.

read the post here ↓
http://calvarychapel.com/blog/the-holiness-of-leading-worship

It is written by Pastor Bill Walden who himself was worship leader.
I really like his posts there especially ones about worship.

It was titled "The Holiness Of Leading Worship".
This topic is hard to hear and appreciate to me.
Only because I so often find myself unholy and ungodly.
Yet, this idea has changed and shaped my approach to leading worship radically as well.

I still remember vividly.
It was when I was freshman in university. During summer, I was watching DVD series called "Pure Worship Conference" which was held at Calvary Chapel CostaMesa and led by Scott Cunningham.

One of the speaker was pastor John Randoll.
He taught from Leviticus 10, story about Nadab and Abihu; teaching how carefully we need to approach to worship of God and keep it holy and God's way.
I have written this here before but it was life changing message to me.
Absolutely pivotal moments in my life.

Nadab and Abihu, he thought what they were doing was good and cool. (In their eyes). BUT, it was violation of God's word!!!
The consequence of it was their death. They brought wrong fire and fire from above fell on themselves.

In leading worship, there are so many temptation to bring out own fire.
Remember how Aaron needed to do his work as priest?
He had to be consecrated and cleansed. Only after then, he was able to enter into the tabernacle.

We must not bring wrong fire to our worship.
My temptation in leading worship is "coolness", "ritualisticalliness"(is this even right word??), "feelings"...ect. Really caused by the mind that doesn't take the task seriously  enough.

I think it was Robert M'Cheyne who said something like "As a preacher, the greatest thing I can give to the congregation is my own holiness.".
It is same for any ministers and especially to worship leaders that stand on same stage as pastors.

Let us remind of this fact.

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy. ~ 1Peter 1:15-16

超越性と内在性

また、「Worship Matters」よりシェアします。

「超越性(transcendence)は、被造物から独立しており、それに優っていることを意味する。私たちが神を礼拝するとき、このことを認識しなければならない。神は主権を持つ王、限りなく荘厳で栄光に満ちている。（中略）神は神であり、私たちとは違う。これは、神を礼拝するに当たり、最も助けとなる態度の一つである。」（私訳）

私の様な若い世代には、賛美歌などのお固いワーシップのスタイルは、ちょっと苦手感を覚えると思う。むしろ、カジュアルなスタイルを好む。わたし自身、そのタイプに属するだと思います。（もちろん、賛美歌は好きだし、そのような伝統的なスタイルは素晴らしいとも思う。）

変に形に固執せずに、神への愛を自由に歌い、表現することは、コンテンポラリー・クリスチャン・ミュージックの生み出した、一つの大きな産物だと思う。

しかし、そのカジュアルさに潜む危険性というのは、上に引用したコウフリン(Kauflin)が書いた神の超越性を過小評価、見逃してしまうことではないでしょうか。

神の偉大さ、その完璧な性質をさらに理解するとき、半端な態度で近づくという思いは消え去る。賛美にしても、カジュアルは歓迎することだが、ルースな、何か抜けた感じのある賛美になっては決していけないのではないだろうか。

さらに、もう一点。

神の内在性はクリスチャンに、新しく過激な意味をもって私たちを興奮させる。神はわたしたちとともにいるだけでなく、私たちの中に住まうのである。

神は、私たちと常にともにいて、中にいてくれる。このことは、なんと大きな安らぎをあたえるだろう。

そして、イエスは私たちを「友」と呼んだ。（ヨハネ１５：１４−１５）

しかし、D.A.カーソン(D.A.Carson)はこれについて、よい指摘をしています。

「イエス、神は聖書の中で一度も私たちの友として記述されていない。アブラハムは神の友だったが、その逆が述べられたことは一度もない。無論、ある意味において、イエスは貧しい罪人にとっての一番の友だちだろう。しかしながら、これは聖書の用語ではない。それは、聖書が、神やイエスが我々のレベルにあるような安い親密さのようなものに自身を引き下げるのには、抵抗感を覚えているようである。」

神が私たちではないこと。それでも、私たちとともにいてくれるという親近感は、正しいバランスをもって理解しなくてはならないのだと思います。

ジョン・パイパー(John Pipier)はこれを「厳粛さ（Gravity)と喜び(Gladness)」と表現しています。

聖書を生べば学ぶほど、このバランスが賛美において身についてくるのではないでしょうか。また、学びにおいてのバランスの大切さも教えられました。

賛美は大切！

近頃は、「Worship Matters」（訳：賛美（ワーシップ）は大切なんだ）という本を読んでいます。もちろん、併読派の私なので、一冊一冊はスローペースですが。

最近は、賛美チームに入ったりすることはあまりないのですが、そのおかげで自分なかでも賛美のあり方について見つめ直す機会が与えられているように感じます。

やっと半分ほど読むことができたのですが、この本の一つの特徴は、「福音を通して賛美を見る」というところにあると思います。
とにかく、どの章を開いても、この本には聖書箇所が登場します。そして、それがどのように賛美につながるかを説明してくれています。

そして、このことを通して教えられたことの一つは、
「まずは、賛美リードの前に、自分自身が真の賛美者でなくてはいけない」
ということです。

リードをする人が、リードするものの本質を捉えていなければ、誰がついていくことができるでしょう。誰もついていけないことは明確なんだけれども、これは賛美リードにも言えるのかなと最近は考えてます。
もちろん、完全な理解（ギリシャ語では「オイダ」というと、今日学んだのだが）は人にはできないけれど、より良い理解を得ることはできると思う。

そして、聖書は、賛美はキリストが私のためになさったことに対する応答だと説明している。
詩篇の中で、繰り返し、

「主に感謝せよ。

　主はまことにいつくしみ深い。

　主の恵みはとこしえまで。」

と歌われています。主が良い方で、いつくしみ深く、恵みがとこしえまであるから、主に感謝せよと詩篇の著者は言っているんですね。

これは、福音のメッセージにインパクトを受けるほど、賛美が出てくるということにつながると思います。

ホントに、これを読み進めていると、自分がまだまだだと気付かされて、とても良い学びができています。

今回は、ここでとどめておきますが、もっとシェアしたいことがあるので、また続きを書きたいと思います。

読める、読みたい、チャレンジしたいという方は是非とも読んでみてください。本当に、いい本です！！

ではでは。

Madison&Rileigh Cunningham

Just wanted to share a video with you all.
I'm always encouraged to see how God uses people regardless any labels we have.
There two girls are one example of that.
Madison and Rileigh Cunningham are the daughters of Scott Cunningham, who is excellent and well-known worship leader especially among Calvary Chapel circle.
I think Madison, who is older sister is only 15 or so.
I had a chance to listen to them few times in U.K.. I have to say they are truly gifted.
I was so drawn to presence of God.
So, here are few videos. Hope you Enjoy!!

今回は２つのビデオを紹介します。
神が人のもつ外見的な要素に関係なく、人を用いてくださることを見るといつも励まされます。
この二人もその良い例です。
マディソン＆ライレイ・カニングハムは、カルバリーの間で良く知られているスコット・カニングハムの娘です。
この二人の賛美をイギリスにいるときに聞く機会があったのですが、とってもすごい賜物が与えられているというしかありません。
確か、お姉さんのマディソンが１５くらいだったと思いますが、すごく賛美へと引き寄せられたのを覚えています。
下にビデオを載せたので、楽しんでください！


There May Be Tears from School Of Worship on Vimeo.

When I Worship

I know it has been a while since last post..... ( though I know there are some who is graciously checking my blog. Thank you if you are!! )

Worshiping God with praises and songs is one of my favorite time in my life.
Moreover, it is part of my life. ( I know it is not always the case for my lack of faith.)
I say it from my experience.
One of the things that got me to get serious with God is worship songs. As a Jr.High student, I just started learning English. I was wondering and interested in what the English song meant. I would sing a song at church, and memorized some words in the song and look up in dictionary!!
Coming to know those words brought me joy; God was teaching me what it is to worship Him.
(Of course I would sing in Japanese, my mother tong, as well, but somehow it looked plain to me.)

But, the more I learn about worship, worshiping at church, leading Jr.Highers Worship or being worshiper, the deeper I find how worshiping God is.

The frontman of Switchfoot, the popular Christian Rock-band, Jon Foreman said

"For me as a singer and songwriter, I am continually wrestling with the idea that if I'm going to sing it, I have to live it....... I want to be alive within the context of the words I'm singing. There's a tremendous amount of humility I take when I'm writing songs"

I think when we worship God, we need to remember this kind of sense.
My prayer for my own personal worship is just as Jon Foreman said, the words I sing will have reality in my life.

How about you?? How do you want your worship to be like?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1