A Capella Singing

“There’s within my heart a melody.”  A lyric from an old hymn that speaks to what most believers feel when worshiping.  Visit any place of worship today and you are bound to hear singing.  Scripture assures us that God hears what our heart produces, regardless of what our voice sounds like.  This is comforting when we listen to some who are tone-deaf.  My wife fits into that category, but she loves to sing and praise the Lord.  She often says that she knows she will be a singer in heaven, because she can’t sing on earth.

In our travels we come across quite a variety of churches and music.  Some have instruments, ranging from a single organ or piano, all the way up to a full blown orchestra, and everything in between.  The music ranges from rock ‘n roll to classical, and all points betwixt.  It can put worshipers in a somber mood, or hyped up to a fever pitch.  People raise their hands, eyes tear up or close, and toes often pat the floor.  The music follows a theme, or not.  It coincides with the sermon or misses the mark.  The one thing we have found is that we are sure to find something different wherever we visit.

Our tradition is a capella.  Historically, our people have learned to sing four-part harmony from hymnals that use fasola notation.  That means that instead of the standard form of notation, our music has shaped notes, identifying the do re mi notes instead of by the letter.  This has been useful in helping our congregations learn the four parts that make up the harmony.  For this to work well, a small church has to be gifted with really talented singers, or grow themselves to a point where the stronger voices can help those who are weaker come out with their part, be it soprano, alto, tenor, or bass.  When you are blessed to be in a large congregation of believers who know how to sing, the music can be awesome.

In years past, this beautiful form of music was very prevalent in churches of Christ, and can still be found.  However, over the past several years we are seeing a decline in our ability to generate four-part harmony in many of our congregations.  This has led to lively discussion of the cause for this apparition.  Many of our churches have been using overhead projection for some time.  Many of these projected songs are not accompanied by the written music.  There are those who feel this is the reason we seem to be losing our harmony.  Another change has been the use of praise teams.  Again, some feel these have aided in the decline of four-part congregational singing.  And, then there is the practice followed in many churches where they use anybody and everybody to lead the worship, whether that person is qualified or not.  This would seem an obvious contributor to our lack of harmony.

I’m not going to offer an opinion, other than to say that it would seem that all of these are contributing factors.  I will say that it saddens me to see us losing this tradition.  Our ability to produce beautiful music from the voices of our members has long been an asset, and a distinction among churches of Christ.  Unlike many in my tradition, I don’t believe a capella singing is a legal requirement.  In fact, I firmly believe that when we make it so, we take away from its beauty.  Having said that, a capella singing, done right, is like no other music.  It is beautiful and brings glory to God.  There’s nothing that can stir the soul like good, harmonious congregation singing. However, if we are going to hold on to this tradition, we need to make some hard choices in reinventing the ways to bring about good congregational harmony.  I pray it is done soon!

Dust Removal

In offering this criticism, I find myself in a peculiar position.  While pointing the finger at others I am, in a very real sense, point back at myself.  However, it would be difficult to address the subject of judgment without committing the said violation.  With that in mind, I take up my keyboard and begin.

Una said to me the other night, “Have you noticed how judgmental preachers and their wives can be?”  I considered her question, relating it to the many preacher families we know, and came to the conclusion that there is some validity in this judgment.  Since I, too, am a preacher, I am also indicted.  Why do we do this?  We are all familiar with the Lord’s injunction to remove the plank from our eye before we attempt to remove the speck of dust from our brother’s eye.  Yet, we insist on removing that particle of dirt.  Is it because we study so much that we become acutely aware of what sin is, and are able to readily identify it in others?  Or, is it, I fear, due to our own self-righteousness?  Do we preacher-sorts come to the point where we see ourselves as sacrificial lambs, pure in deed and mind, cleansed because of our baptism in the Word, and in our knowledge of all things scriptural?  Is that a little too harsh?  Maybe so.  But, it does not relieve us from the duty of taking a hard look at ourselves and how we approach others.  It is so easy to become pharisaical when one devotes their life to doing God’s work.  We feel the weight of responsibility to not only preach the truth, but to also model what we preach.  After all, our words carry little meaning if we are just admonishing others to do as we say and not as we do.

This brings us back to judgment.  In all our piety, we would do well to remember that when we are encouraging others to follow the Lord’s command in Matthew 7, we have the responsibility to do the same.  It would strengthen our ministry if we would not bind on others what we bind upon ourselves; leaving judgment on disputable matters to Him who judges rightly.  I understand the “fish bowl” effect, and the unfair position of having to be more circumspect in our lives because we are recognized as God’s special vessels.  However, this does not give us the right to project those same expectations upon others.  If you wonder why members of your flock avoid you, it just might be for this very reason.  Understand, from your own position, how uncomfortable it is to know that someone is standing in judgment of all that you say or do.  We preachers, as unfair as it may be, signed up for that position.  But, our brothers and sisters did not.  Ready for some plank removal?

Worship Priorities

As we travel the country in our 38 foot motorhome one of our greatest challenges it finding a place to worship.  It isn't that there are a shortage of churches.  It isn’t even due to our unwillingness to worship in any church, because we have attended many different churches with many different names over the doors.  We are unashamedly members of the Church of Christ.  However, we do not believe that the CHURCH is limited to those who attend Churches of Christ.  It is our conviction that the church is made up of believers, and that these believers attend congregations in various diverse groups throughout the world.  God’s church is not limited by man’s design.  Our belief is founded in the diversity of the churches named in the New Testament.  For example, the seven churches of Asia Jesus addresses in Revelation.  Each of these churches practice worship in a different manner.  Jesus has a problem with six of them.  However, He calls ALL of them His church.  It is apparent in New Testament history that churches, while practicing and binding different things upon themselves, did not expect the same from their brethren in other places and congregations (see Acts 15 and Romans 14).  This is just to address why we have no problem going to church outside of our immediate fellowship.

So, one might ask, “Then, Rod, why is finding a place to worship such a challenge?”  To answer this question I must reveal my own personal prejudices.  As I look at the many different stripes of Christianity, it becomes clear that each one has its own traditions, customs, and practices.  As to our core beliefs, there isn’t much difference.  However, when it comes to what we do for an hour or so each week in our public gatherings, there can be a lot of variety.  One of our customs in the churches of Christ is participation in the observance of the Lord’s Supper.  I know that many in our church believe this is a law.  However, I find nothing in scripture to support that position.  Indeed, it is my position that in making it a law we take away from it’s special significance.  Jesus died to set us free from law, not to set up another system of law-keeping.  Having said that, it would seem to me that the early church felt this sacrament of communion to be an important custom.  There is much historical evidence showing that our first and second century brethren observed communion every time they came together, often as much as seven days a week!  Scripture does point out that it was Paul’s custom to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.  And there are numerous scriptures that deal with this rite.  The Lord’s Supper should be a very special privilege to each and every Christian.  When we partake of the bread and wine, we demonstrate our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is at the very core of Christianity.  I find it to be a wonderful time of celebration, and I look forward to it every Sunday.

My brethren who do not observe it every Sunday usually have a special service monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, or sporadically.  The usual explanation I receive for their custom is that to observe it every week would make it too common, taking away from its specialness.  I find just the opposite to be the case.  I don’t mean it as a criticism, but I do find that these brethren do offer the opportunity to partake in a public contribution every Sunday.  Yet, when I look in scripture I find only two references to the church having a collection during a public meeting.  Is this more important than observance of the Lord’s Supper?  Does it take away from its specialness when we offer the contribution weekly?  I would just like my fellows in other churches to think about it, and maybe consider returning to the custom of our first-century brethren.  It would sure make my search for a place to worship easier ;>).