More Thoughts on Style of Worship

It had been a while since I rocked the Unashamed cd, so I put it in the old cd player at near damaging volume on the way to work. Remember cd's? Those shiny round things that we had o so long ago before Apple ruled the world. Is it too early to have this conversation? Maybe I'm just thinking in Geological time.

So my revelation happened in song one of the cd. This song as originally written and recorded has an almost dark color. The feeling that is presented is the artist's calling to her passionate beautiful Savior for mercy. The desire to cling to the cross and plead Christ's blood as a covering for our iniquities. When I hear Gretchen's recording of the same song it becomes an anthem of praise to our passionate beautiful Savior. Praise to our Savior for His work on the cross that has made us clean. In the original sound there is a desire to approach the Lord of hosts pure and blameless; the latter recording is a praise sent forth in the presence of the Redeemer.

So my thought would be; where does this character in a song come from? If the words are the same, is it only inflections and rhythm that create these differing colors? Often times I will sing the same song at different points in my life and it will mean something totally new to me. For this reason, it is good to read and re-read the same scriptures over and over. When we are called to meditate on the word, it is not so much a repeated chant that sends us into a transestential state, but to read Psalm 39 when life is great. Then when life is not so great, get back to Psalm 39. Same words, different application to your life.

So Gretchen is great at turning most songs into anthems of praise to our Lord. Is it just because she has a powerful voice? I would dare to say that her declaration of thanksgiving for grace mercy and justice comes from the realization and joy that Christ has already paid the price. We have already been redeemed by the blood. There is no reason for condemnation, it is time to stand up and walk in His grace. Be holy, as He is holy!