Many of us have had the joy of gathering together as church for the first time in months. It is so good to be together, as it’s supposed to be!
Well – almost as it’s supposed to be. As I write, congregational singing is still banned, with no end yet in sight. It certainly feels as if one of the most edifying elements in our gatherings – one of the richest foretastes of heaven – has vanished.
Dwelling deeply in God’s word
It also begs the question: what do we do about the musical elements of our services? Some have recently said that we should minimise singing, claiming it’s not essential, fearful that music can pull us away from God’s word. Actually, the opposite should be true! Skilfully combining God’s word with music allows it to dwell deeply in us, stirring hearts and minds to faith and obedience (Col. 3:16). Minimising that means we miss out on something crucial to our Christian experience.
Worship, mortality, and hope in Springsteen’s ‘Road Diary’
Bruce Springsteen is a global phenomenon. His 'Best of' Album, reached No. 1 in the UK and USA album charts …