I have long felt that we have lost – in general – the understanding that there is great power in corporate worship and singing, not defined by the insistent, popular and much copied voices of the present, but worship that embraces the lingering songs of the burning hearts of the ages who themselves developed an understanding of their salvation through lyrics shaped by solid doctrine.

Of course, I understand that every age produces both the profound and the shallow, excellence and mediocrity, but a thoughtful minister will seek out the best for corporate worship. True worship has ever been a celebration of the great truths of the Word of God, those truths that make us look up first, then fall on our knees “lost in wonder, love and praise.”

We live in an age of the “self-help and feel-good” experience, and if our worship facilitators are not wise in the Spirit, there can be a subtle de-throning of Christ and enthroning of self. The preoccupation with being "current” too often discards the treasure of the past lest we be seen as old-fashioned and out of touch. Surely the ideal is to be able to weave together past and present with only one aim – to turn the eyes of every person present heavenward in adoration, ‘looking into His holiness, and gazing upon His loveliness?’  This means that what is new or old has no value except in the measure to which a song inspires us to bow before the ‘Lover of our souls’ in true worship, in spirit, if not in body.

I am moved by knowing there is a cloud of witnesses who have worshiped in another time and place perhaps using the very song that I sing today. Nowadays days I will not by choice go to a gathering that is darkened to the point where I cannot see my fellow worshipper, where I am taken hostage by what is happening on stage or by words that keep reflecting back to what makes my human nature feel good.

I want to sing words of exaltation and glory to the Lamb and His finished work, words of awed praise of who the Father is and the works of His hands, words of power because of what the Holy Spirit is doing in the earth. When this is made possible, I have a deep sense of having been part of something so much greater than my own small experience. My soul may express emotion, but my spirit is fed by the power of His Presence!

Don’t misunderstand me, I am NOT against emotion and often find myself so choked up by the contemplation of the Godhead that I can hardly sing. But I am old enough to know that emotion doesn’t supply the power that sets me free, no matter how good it makes me feel in the moment.  For worship to be life changing, it must be a statement of biblical truth, stated and re-stated, in words ancient and modern. It needs to flow with the oil of the Holy Spirit, breaking chains and bringing healing.

I love music and enjoy concerts and take every opportunity to get my fill of what my soul enjoys, from Benny Goodman to Beethoven. That is a matter of taste.

But when worshiping, only the anointing matters. The worship team, skilled or unskilled, is appreciated but – in my opinion – incidental.