Monday, October 04, 2004

SURREALISM IS CHURCH. You never know what to expect in church these days. It often reminds you of a Dali painting. You look at the service as you might his canvas, thinking you will see a rational whole, only to be surprised that your attention is captured by something inappropriate to the scene. Dali uses that to convey a message. In church, it is more likely the product of failing to think about what is going on. That itself conveys a message.

Sunday, a women's trio sang a version of "Holy, Holy, Holy", that great hymn that extols and praises God in three persons, "Blessed Trinity". The only thing is, to make the version more "upbeat", they began by singings several measures of "do do do do" like pop songs often do.

What would make you think that was appropriate? You sing of God in all his majesty and glory, and "do do do"?

Sometimes we forget that the worship service is not about us. If you are a preacher, it is not about your eloquence or verbal pyrotechnics (as much as I like them), it is about setting out the Word in a way that glorifies God and edifies the church.

If you are a composer, or singer, or musician, it is not about how creative you can be, or how many styles of music you can adapt, it is about using music to set out the Word in a way that glorifies God and edifies the church.

"Holy, Holy, Holy" certainly glorifies God. It is full of praise and worship. It also edifies the church. It teaches that the doctrine of the Trinity, it teaches only God is holy, it teaches that the church praises the name of God.

"Do do do" doesn't.

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