Years ago, Ronald B. Allen wrote a column in Worship Leader magazine describing the misuse of a well-known line of Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God.” The phrase was being used by a congregational member against a young worship pastor, implying that God prefers to be worshiped quietly [or, perhaps the congregational member would say reverently]…
However, Allen pointed out that this was actually the opposite of the intent of Scripture, which was that of God silencing those who oppose Him, not His worshippers. I’ll let Professor Allen continue in his own words:
“…don’t misread me here. There is certainly room for silence as one thinks of God in a spiritual discipline. Nevertheless, the calls for silence in the Bible are not for worship. Worship is to be done aloud (see the beginning of Psalm 47!). Calls for silence in the Bible are warnings of impending judgement… Heaven is not “quiet” (see Isaiah 6:1-5). Neither is communal worship.”
I’ll give my own take here. I grew up in a very traditional church. However, it wasn’t quiet – believe me, I know. My mom was the choir director, and she sang at a volume that could be heard blocks away, lol. The organ can be a soft instrument, but it can also be deafening. The church was traditional, but it was alive. Then
I think of a few visits to Europe that I’ve had throughout my life. In each case we visited [and even sang in] some churches. They were beautiful – stunningly so. Centuries of history. So quiet that you could hear a pin drop. There was truly a sense of awe. But not a sense of life. They were museums – churches in name only. Like a sculpture, they were beautiful, but lifeless. They were churches that were…
I want to be part of a church that IS. So, turn it up, let the worship be heard…
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