Characteristics Of Christian Worship

This psalm urges the reader to make joyful music as a public confession of the attributes and works or God. In total, this is what Christian worship is about. The Christian liturgy was born singing and never ceases to sing. According to James White, in the book Introduction to Christian Worship, Singing is the fundamental constituents of Christian Worship. This fits the fact that Christian worship is the public proclamation of the mirabilia Dei and of the good and joyful news, an act of thanksgiving, praise, and blessing for the freedom won for us by resurrection. Singing a “new song to the Lord” was a characteristic of early Christian worship and attended many forms of spiritual renewal in the history of the church. In his comment on Psalm

From its inception, "when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy" (Job 38:7), to its consummation, when "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them" will sing to the Lamb on the throne (Rev. 5:13), creation is musical. "All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres."1 Human music-making participates in the music of creation and reflects the order, beauty, and diversity of God s creation. Of all the musical instruments that may be employed in the praise of God, the human voice has priority. Other instruments are to be used primarily in the service of the singing of God's people. Reformed theologian Karl Barth points out that singing is not an option for the people of God; it is one of the essential ministries of the church: The Christian church sings. It is not a choral society. Its singing is not a concert. But from inner, material necessity it sings. Singing is the highest form of human expression. The praise of God which finds its concrete culmination in the singing of the community is one of the indispensable forms of the ministry of the church. Singing is a ministry that belongs to all the people of God. The congregation is always the primary choir. The role of professional or volunteer choirs and musicians is to aid the whole people of God in their worship. While anthems or vocal and instrumental solos may be

Music, quite apart from an associated text, is capable of evoking powerful emotions. Hearts are stirred and feet set to tapping by a rousing Sousa march, while another melody may move people to tears. Calvin recognized the emotional power of music and for that reason included the singing (rather than the saying) of Psalms in the church in Geneva. Such singing "lends dignity and grace to sacred actions and has the greatest value in kindling our heart to a true zeal and eagerness to pray." Music can indeed "excite piety," and depending on its mood, move individuals to penitence, thanksgiving, adoration, love, or any one of a host of emotions. Those who love the Lord are encouraged to "sing till we feel our hearts ascending with our