Song, as a form of worship has always been an encouraging part of our gatherings. As worship leaders and musicians, we need to examine our lives before taking a stage by asking these three questions? Are we taking the time to wait on God alone? Are we desiring to walk blamelessly before God? And are we remembering the poor?
[3] Remembering the Poor
“Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5: 23 and 24 NIV version
A few years back I was reading the scriptures and I came across Isaiah 58. This passage absolutely blew my paradigm on many aspects of my theology. In this passage, (please read it if you get a chance) the Lord lets His people know that he will not hear from their prayers because they were neglecting the poor and exploited workers. If God back then denied His hand to His people because of this, could He do the same today? Had I been crying out for a move of God all of those years and not seen one because I was not doing a thing for the widow and the orphans? I had grown up in the church, gone to bible school, and had no recollection of ever being taught that in essence God may not act on my prayers if I am ignoring the marginalized and hurting of my society. I had to act on this revelation. I also believe that musicians, and all believers, need a revelation of social justice in order to walk with God on a deeper level. Every three seconds, someone dies of a preventable cause in our world. Think about that for a moment. There a more deaths each week in our world today, then there were in the tsunami in southeast Asia in December of 2004.
It is our burden to do something about it. The kids in Africa, or Asia are our neighbors children. I like what Wesley Campbell of “Be a Hero” says. “Because of the todays travel, we can be anywhere basically in 24 hours. Everyone is our neighbor.” Maybe your worship band should start volunteering at your local food bank. Maybe the band could support a few children monthly through many great humanitarian agencies. The Church needs to be a forerunner for social justice. This will speak volumes to the people we care for, and it will show the world around us what Christianity is all about. We need to show the world before the we tell the world about Christ. We can even tell the world by showing the world. It’s time to rise up!
Conclusion
We need to understand that music is a language of the Spirit and it can change the world. We need to let the music breathe in our congregations. Music is such a wonderful gift that God has created for communion, so let’s take it to the next level. I know the Church will see great things happen in the coming years. The possibilities are endless. People will find faith in Christ, the dead will rise, the blind will see, and the lame will walk. Perhaps some of this will happen during the praise.
“Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5: 23 and 24 NIV version
A few years back I was reading the scriptures and I came across Isaiah 58. This passage absolutely blew my paradigm on many aspects of my theology. In this passage, (please read it if you get a chance) the Lord lets His people know that he will not hear from their prayers because they were neglecting the poor and exploited workers. If God back then denied His hand to His people because of this, could He do the same today? Had I been crying out for a move of God all of those years and not seen one because I was not doing a thing for the widow and the orphans? I had grown up in the church, gone to bible school, and had no recollection of ever being taught that in essence God may not act on my prayers if I am ignoring the marginalized and hurting of my society. I had to act on this revelation. I also believe that musicians, and all believers, need a revelation of social justice in order to walk with God on a deeper level. Every three seconds, someone dies of a preventable cause in our world. Think about that for a moment. There a more deaths each week in our world today, then there were in the tsunami in southeast Asia in December of 2004.
It is our burden to do something about it. The kids in Africa, or Asia are our neighbors children. I like what Wesley Campbell of “Be a Hero” says. “Because of the todays travel, we can be anywhere basically in 24 hours. Everyone is our neighbor.” Maybe your worship band should start volunteering at your local food bank. Maybe the band could support a few children monthly through many great humanitarian agencies. The Church needs to be a forerunner for social justice. This will speak volumes to the people we care for, and it will show the world around us what Christianity is all about. We need to show the world before the we tell the world about Christ. We can even tell the world by showing the world. It’s time to rise up!
Conclusion
We need to understand that music is a language of the Spirit and it can change the world. We need to let the music breathe in our congregations. Music is such a wonderful gift that God has created for communion, so let’s take it to the next level. I know the Church will see great things happen in the coming years. The possibilities are endless. People will find faith in Christ, the dead will rise, the blind will see, and the lame will walk. Perhaps some of this will happen during the praise.