There are ways of expressing joy. Singing is one of them; laughter is another; hugging, cheering, and dancing are others. However, it is possible to sing, laugh, hug, cheer, and dance without joy. We might do them for pleasure, which is not the same.
In the first instance, the singing is the RESULT of joy. In the second instance, we think that the singing is the CAUSE of joy. The danger is that we might think that pleasure IS joy and also not be able to distinguish between cause and effect.
When the singing becomes drab in our churches, we find other solutions than the real one. We get a band with drums, a “worship leader” and speaker amplifiers. The singing might improve, or it might just look like it has improved.
A much better solution is to consider that…
1. the drab singing is an evidence that the saints have lost the joy of God’s salvation (Psalm 51:12)
2. that this loss is the result of accumulated, unconfessed, unforgiven sins in the body.
3. that confession of these sins is the means of restoring the joy of God’s salvation, and consequently singing from the heart, not just from the mouth.
In the first instance, the singing is the RESULT of joy. In the second instance, we think that the singing is the CAUSE of joy. The danger is that we might think that pleasure IS joy and also not be able to distinguish between cause and effect.
When the singing becomes drab in our churches, we find other solutions than the real one. We get a band with drums, a “worship leader” and speaker amplifiers. The singing might improve, or it might just look like it has improved.
A much better solution is to consider that…
1. the drab singing is an evidence that the saints have lost the joy of God’s salvation (Psalm 51:12)
2. that this loss is the result of accumulated, unconfessed, unforgiven sins in the body.
3. that confession of these sins is the means of restoring the joy of God’s salvation, and consequently singing from the heart, not just from the mouth.
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