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| Q: | I am seriously considering becoming a member of a local WELS congregation. I completely agree with the doctrine of the Lutheran Church, and I love the liturgical form of worship. I see it as being very scriptural and historically valid. I write Christian music and play guitar. I don't write secular music and I don't entertain in churches or anywhere else. I consider what I do as a ministry and have been doing this for over twenty years as a worship leader in a small non-denominational church. I will never sing or play for anything other than the glory of God. And I don't do it for money. My question is this: Is there a place for what I do in the Lutheran Church? | ||||||
| A: | Let me begin by quoting Colossians 3:15-17. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." It appears from your communique that you desire to glorify Jesus with your God-given musical gifts. You seek to "sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart." You also use your gifts not for monetary gain, but "to give thanks to God the Father through him." What marvelous expressions of Spirit-worked faith! Remember that the same Lord God who created you with such musical gifts has also instilled in your heart the desire to glorify the Savior with those gifts. Such a desire is indeed a fruit of the Spirit working through the Word. (also see Eph. 2:8-10) Furthermore, the Lord God who graciously gifted you (Eph. 4:7) with the gifts and the desire to serve to his glory, will also provide the opportunities to use those gifts. Yes, there are many opportunities for Christians to use all their God-given gifts within a congregation. If your question wonders whether the style of music is fitting in a liturgical church, please remember that the Gospel of Jesus brings freedom. (see 1 Cor. 10:23-24) We follow a liturgical format because the liturgy provides an easy way for people to confess sins and to hear the glorious good news of forgiveness in Jesus. Yet the liturgy is not restrictive. Within a liturgical service, there are many opportunities for "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" to be included in the worship, in a variety of styles with a variety of instruments. God's people of all times and places have created music and art to glorify and praise Jesus. The key, of course, is that such expressions of art, whether musical or visual, always clearly point people to see and hear about Jesus. A Christian artist's goal is to let Jesus be seen, not the artist. As to guitar as an instrument of worship, may Jesus be praised! God's people in the Old Testament used lyre and tamborine and horn and cymbal. I hope I've addressed your concerns with the confidence and comfort to know that in Jesus we have freedom to praise the Savior in many ways. (see Psalm 98) | ||||||
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