Common Chords

PART ONE

MUSIC IN THE MAKING

Life works talents in us with which we are sometimes afraid to identify. One such ability, no doubt, is to be keenly critical of words and their selected uses. For example, words such as “mundane”, “usual”, “available”, “normal”, and “accepted” could be easily construed as suggesting a “less than the best”, if not totally “inferior” rating. For the purpose of exploring the subject that forms the basis of this book, it is necessary to crave the indulgence of the more verbose readers: Kindly permit the suggestion that it is necessary to use these words to express the inherent human capacity to praise God.

It is true that the act of praising God has, over the centuries, been linked to the playing of musical instruments, but we must never be carried away by this. The musical instruments are like pawns in a game: They must be played in order for them to serve any purpose. Outside of this, they are mere useless representations of what could have been. They are in no way, shape, or form, comparable to the innate, prepared, purposeful capacity that God has planted within the heart and spirit of every human being. There is a marked distinction between musical instruments and instruments of music: The former is made by human art, while the latter is created by divine genius, and has a capacity to outrank any accompaniment.

This capacity is without special rank or position. It is shared knowledge that can be appropriated by the entire community of the human race. The right to praise God is for everyone. Given the appropriate environment and source of stimulation, the capacity to praise God is as normal and as familiar as one’s breath. There is no commendation, thanksgiving, adoration or worship that man must give to God that is marked with a “reserved” sign. Praising God is not “set aside” for the Pastor or “other titled member of the presbytery”, nor is it acceptable for “elected church officers” only. The members of “the praise team” or “choir” have no monopoly on its ecstasy, and the “adults” of a congregation cannot exhaust that thrill that the “youths” need to receive from exercising their “praise rights”. You see, God created man to praise Him: Consequently, the visible act of praising God is not to be perceived as an entertainment sport. There is no space for spectatorship; the whole team must be involved. Furthermore, the believer’s whole being must participate: Spirit, soul, and body have to be engaged in order to ensure holistic worship.

Just as the sounding of two or more notes constitute a chord, so the corroboration of the spirit, soul, and body of the believer have to work together to produce praise to God. Similarly, the many members of the body of Christ team up in corporate praise to the God of the Universe. As believers capture the basic principles of praise, they learn to praise until the spirit of worship comes, and worship until they become enveloped in the glory of God. Then the barriers to answered prayer and to miracles will be removed. In spite of believers being alone, and despite their individual level of spiritual maturity, they can have whatever they need in Christ: For praise moves us into the glory realm, where we “can ask anything and it will be possible” to have it. Praise is what we were made to do!