Phill Sacre

Tag: worship

  • Why has God taken our songs away?

    Why has God taken our songs away?

    Over the last 12 months during the pandemic, government guidance has prevented many churches from singing. Why has God allowed this to happen? In this short video we look at Psalm 95 to help us understand.

    Key points

    In the video I take a very brief look at Psalm 95.

    • Verses 1-2 tell us to sing – three times! There are two reasons to sing.
    • Firstly, in verses 3-5, we are to sing because God is a great God – he made everything.
    • Secondly, in verses 6-7, we are to sing because God cares for us.
    • The Psalm finishes with a warning in verses 8-11, not to be like the people of Israel at Meribah. This is referring to Exodus 17:1-7, where the people of Israel tested God. They grumbled against Moses and did not trust that God would provide water for them in the desert.
    • I wonder whether the reason God has taken our songs away is because we have been acting a bit like the people of Israel at Meribah and Massah: songs are an expression of trust in God and praising him for his deliverance and care. What does it say about God if we think it’s not safe to sing to him?
    • Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to do something like Matt Redman’s song, “Heart of Worship”. Maybe God wants us to learn what it means to trust him and praise him more deeply.

  • Modern Worship Songs

    A thought struck me the other day: it seems that there are a lot more decent modern worship songs out there at the moment than there were around ten years ago. I’ve not always been a fan of modern Christian music, but it does seem that the game has been kicked up a notch of late. (Check out the We Are Worship website for some examples).

    One reason I think different is because my opinion on worship songs has changed a bit: in the past I would have preferred hymns or songs which were theologically ‘rich’: “if it doesn’t go through a chapter of Grudem’s Systematic Theology I don’t want to know”! But one of the things I’ve realised over the past couple of years is that it’s OK for songs to be simple sometimes. If a congregation sung three or four EMU or Sovereign Grace style songs in a row, it would be exhausting!

    This may be a tad controversial at my theological college (ahem), but I believe sometimes what is needed is something more emotionally-driven, something which allows an individual to express an honest feeling to God, as well as times to declare truths about God to each other. In short, I think I’d say the important thing is balance here – trying to sing songs which are theologically rich as well as lighter songs which allow people to express themselves.

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