Week One Reflection on Media (icews)

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Thelogy Course with Dan Wilt

N.T. Wright states in his interview that the “church is called to make articulate the praise of all creation…that we are given a mind of words to sum up all of creation’s praise”.

When I heard him say that, I immediately began to trace through the catalog of songs and hymns which I know, and wonder if they had been successful at summing up the praise of creation. I began to wonder whether the song writers and hymn writers had thought along those lines. I also am reminded of the growing silence of man on the matter of God, or the re-shaping of who we want Him to be, (especially at the secular university level). More and more I see a lack of celebration of creation, in favor of world view: an offer of compromise on God as Creator in favor of alternative models.

Dan Wilt has brought out a concept of the worship artisan (Wilt, “The Rise of the Worship Artisan”. As worship leaders, how do we approach worship? In our song writing, in worship leading, do we dig back into the roots of Christianity, or sail along on the modern worship choruses? I think that the choruses we have today are somewhat of a time of rest in worship music. Some of the very young song writers who have captured the young Christian hearts with their music have touched many hearts with their passion for Christ. One song I immediately recalled when I listened to Tim Hughes in the media, is his song called, “Everything”. There is so much passion for Christ in that song, and it catapults the listener right into the heart of Tim Hughes, while at the same time, delivers the listener to the feet of Christ in adoration.

Brenton Brown explained that the theology of a song must be good and solid, because it is often the song people recall over the message they’ve heard in the sermon. While that can sound a bit frightening, it is also an awesome privilege to know that the gift God has put in me is one that He needs to be ever- present with.