Retreat Notes

For those of you who care too know what I said on Sunday morning, here it is. I didn't say everything I have here but this was the gist of it.

Finding A Balance Between Musical Excellence and Worship
Introduction: I am somewhat surprised where this topic has lead me the conclusion I have drawn. This conclusion is this: there is no balance between musical excellence and worship. If you weren’t listening you are now… I have decided not to talk about different musical styles. I am going to focus more on God’s gifts to people and what we do with those gifts. Regardless of their attachment or involvement with music. Some people are more gifted in music than others. I am the weak link in VOP’s chain. I don’t have the best ear. I am very poor at rhythm. So I work harder. People tend to work harder at things they enjoy. People who don’t work hard at music because it doesn’t interest them is ok. (I will say people who do not work hard at music because they are lazy is not ok.) However, they should try to understand it is ok for someone else to work hard at music.
Questions =
1. What is music? Where does the word come from?
2. What is worship?
3. What does the Bible say about worship?
4. How are you led in worship? Does nature lead you in worship? The stars, flowers, butterflies, thunderstorms, God’s creation?
5. What is the purpose of worship?
6. Is excellence wrong? Is it a sin?
7. What does the Bible say about excellence?
8. Is it possible to combine music, excellence, and worship?

What is music? Where does the word come from?
The word Music is taken from the word Muse. Basically the word Muse is referring to people who are deep in thought and are humming.
As persons do when idle, or alone and steadily occupied.
Psalms 111 1-3
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever.
Music, then, should draw people into contemplation of the Creator. Music is also a result of our thoughts. Songs tend to come to mind when we are doing things we don’t have to concentrate on. Like driving tractor or milking cows.
What is Worship
First a definition of worship. I went to our trusty friend Mr. Webster . Mr. Webster tried to write a version of the Bible because he felt a high percentage of people could not understand King James’s version. I heard a fellow talking about Webster’s first edition of the dictionary and how he used scripture in his definitions so I now have in my possession a Webster’s first edition dictionary. In this edition he says worship is, and I quote
Paying divine honors to the supreme being, reverence or homage paid to him in religious exercises consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like.
Worship also = to adore; to pay divine honor to; reverence with supreme respect and veneration.

What does the Bible say about worship?
Psalm 29;2
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 95; 6
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Exodus 14:31-15:1
Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses. Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
This song was a result of their salvation or being saved from the Egyptians. They worshiped. They gave the Lord the glory due unto His name. If you read the song of Moses you will notice they realize God’s amazing power. However, they had a short memory. God tells them later in
Exodus 34;14 (This is the reference Webster used after his definition of worship.)
(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God,)
We know the Israelite’s forgot God’s power and His ability to keep them and preserve them. We know they worshiped the Golden Calf. How did they forget who the Father is when the Father was dropping manna from the sky, spilling water from the rock, leading them with fire and a cloud of smoke. We are commanded to worship no other God as well. It is easy to worship idols. Excellence can become an idol. Musical excellence can become an idol. Musical excellence is a tool which can be used for God’s glory. A tool to be used to draw people to the Father.
How are you led in worship?
What does worship mean to you?
Is worship a reaction a result of something?
Does nature lead you in worship? The stars, flowers, butterflies, thunderstorms, God’s creation? How does music lead you in worship? Does the excellence of music have effect your ability to worship? What is the purpose of worship?
What did God say about His creation?
Genesis 1:31
The God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Is excellence wrong? Is it a sin?
Excellence = Mr. Webster again….
Any valuable quality. Any thing highly laudable, or virtuous, in persons or valuable esteemed, in things. Purity of heart , uprightness of mind, sincerity, virtue, piety, are excellencies of character. Strength and beauty are excellencies of body. Having a knowledge of an art is an excellence of the artisan. Whatever contributes to exalt man or render him esteemed and happy or to bless society is in him an excellence. Coupling the excellencies of character with a desire to bless society should make excellence in music okay. Excellence in music should increase our ability to bless society.
God is a God of excellence
Psalm 36;7
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!
Isaiah 13; 5
Sing to the Lord, for he has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.
Can we say whatever God does is excellent? Is this an accurate statement?
What does the Bible say about excellence?
Is music a spiritual gift?
Is it possible to combine Music, Excellence, and Worship
Yes, it is. God expects us, commands us to do our best.
I Cor. 14:12
Even so you , since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Eph. 5:19
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Is it safe to say someone who is not doing their best is sinning? To give God less than our best is not pleasing to Him. God doesn’t like laziness. A few verses from Proverbs.
Proverbs 15:19
The way of the Lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs18:9
He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
Mathew 25:26-30
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Would we do something on the job half way? Would we only work at our marriage or relationships with half of our heart? Marriages that are only half as good as they could be because people aren’t willing to work at it? Would it be acceptable if pastors were only half ready to preach on Sunday morning? Music is often not held to the same standard as speaking. I have felt at times that VOP has been criticized for worship of excellence. For example, if I told you I had 20 hours of preparation in this topic you may be very impressed. On the flip side if I told you that we (VOP) spent the same amount of time rehearsing for 40 min. program, some of you would think much differently. Some feelings I have gotten in the past hint at these kinds of thought patterns: hmm they are trying to be to good, they must think to much of themselves. They are trying to be too professional. They are worshiping excellence. It really doesn’t matter what you sound like. God doesn’t care what you sound like. Make a joyful noise…
My point is this: Those of us who are married, if we are honest. Would have to admit that our marriages at times are NOT what they could be, for some people the marriage may never be what it should be because people are not willing to work at it. Not willing to admit or take responsibility for mistakes. Our relationships with our children, church people, etc. are not what they should be. Our Sunday school teachers don’t study enough for Sunday school class. Oh well it doesn’t matter… What does God do with this? Does God accept a lazy or poorly done gift? What do you think? I think not. Paul tells us in
Col. 3: 16 -25
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 18 Wives submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands love your wives and not be bitter toward them. 20 Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance ; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 but he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

I have heard many groups sing and I have never heard one that was so good I couldn’t worship. The way a program is presented has affected my ability to worship. Finding a balance between entertainment and worship would make for a very controversial topic. If VOP is not concerned about improving or trying to improve , I'm not sure we're living up to God's expectations. VOP members feel the music’s ability to draw you to the Father is greatly affected by our singing ability and how well we know the music.
The goal of music should be to lead people in worship. Draw people to the Father.
The better we do at singing, rhythm and notes, will enhance your ability to worship. Interpretation of the songs has less to do with musical ability and more to do with life experiences. Feeling or interpreting the song. What is the message of the song ? This should be sung loud this should be sung softly with a lot of energy and emotion. These things are affected by our life experiences. How does this song speak to my heart? How does it relate to me and what I am experiencing today?
We want to hide behind the music by excelling at it. We want to be able to bless people with our gifts for God’s glory.
I want to encourage each of us to work at perfecting or excelling at the gifts God has given us. The purpose of this should be to call other people to worship or to move your self to worship. Excellence will look to different to different people based on personality and background. Lets not condemn each other for their levels of perfection or excellence.
I am of the opinion excellence is God’s call to His children in ALL they do unless it becomes what you worship. God has given me gifts. What I do with these gift’s is my gift to God. These gift’s should not be taken lightly. I need to do my best…