Make a Joyful Noise

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

One particular post has floated around on social media in recent years about the desire to bring hymn-singing back into our churches. Cries from many people say it’s time to get rid of the big screens and bring back the hymnals. Shouldn’t the bottom line be to make a joyful noise to the Lord – no matter its source?

Maybe we’re in Camp Hymns singing away to the accompaniment of the piano or organ, or perhaps even an orchestra. Maybe we’re Camp Praise Songs along with guitars, keyboards, and the much-maligned drum sets. Each of us has an opinion and a preference. And each opinion is valid for its own reasons.

FORMAL PRAISE IN A SMALL TOWN

Even though I was reared in a small town in south Alabama, the church I grew up in had very formal services on Sunday mornings. The choir wore robes, there was a pipe organ playing the hymns we sang. Communion Sunday services, held the first Sunday of each month, were even more formal. They were my absolute favorite part of our services . . . ever.

Much of the ritual for The Lord’s Supper was sung, not just spoken. But the part that touched my heart, that has stayed with me my entire life, is the prayer we prayed in unison just before going down front to take the bread and wine (grape juice). My favorite line from that prayer says – We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy table. It touched me to the depths of my soul when I was only a girl, and it has remained within my heart for over sixty years.

COUNTRY COUSINS WORSHIP

While the church in which my family worshiped was somewhat high church, my cousins attended a smaller Methodist church out in the country. I adored worshiping there. The service and the worship were far different from that of my home church. Mostly, I remember revivals held there in the summers. The windows were propped open with a stick, sticky flypaper hung from the single-bulb lights hanging from the ceiling. The choir loft held a mere ten or so people. The piano was always in need of tuning. But I loved being there singing from the old Cokesbury hymnal. Talk about making a joyful noise!

As I became older and my musical tastes expanded, I learned to love Southern Gospel. It’s still my favorite music. I love singing the close harmonies. I was blessed to sing in a Gospel trio with my high school choral director, Charles Hinson, and his lovely wife, Marie. They are family to me now and not just a former teacher and his wife. I learned so much from them, both musically and spiritually. I love them both, dearly, dearly.

MUSICAL SNOB – THAT’S ME

When I went away to college and studied music, I became a musical snob. Yes, I admit it. Sad, but true. I thought everything had to be highbrow and of a certain quality. I was young. What did I know?

Fast forward to my writing journey and my introduction to praise and worship music at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. The music was so joy-filled and so worshipful. I began to question my snobbery, asking why I felt that way.

JOYFUL LIFE-CHANGING PRAISE

My life began to change after that first conference in 2014.  My family could see that. I could feel it. I was growing closer to God. Oftentimes, that was through my singing of the songs I learned at BRMCWC.  They remain within my head and my heart to this day.

The church we now call home has a praise team that leads us in worship each Sunday. They are all quite gifted young musicians. The pastoral staff meets with the music staff, from what I understand, to make sure that all the songs they sing are Biblically sound. In other words, sound doctrine. Nothing that isn’t in keeping with God’s Word. They are a blessing to every member, no matter their musical preferences.

GOD-CENTERED WORSHIP

Our pastor spoke about this last Sunday. It’s something I’ve learned in all my years of singing various kinds of music in many different churches and settings. If God and the Gospel message are front and center, if God is our focus, if we stop thinking less about what makes us happy and focus more on what makes God happy, then our worship experience will take us straight to the throne room of God.

What could be more worshipful whether we’re singing hymns or praise songs? And as a friend reminded me this week, all that God asks of us is to make a joyful noise as we come before him with singing (Psalm 100, KJV).

Make a Joyful Noise @DDuPreeWilliams #worship #faith Share on X

 

How about you? Do you prefer singing the old hymns or do you prefer praise teams?  Maybe you like a hybrid. Share with us if you will.

 

I hope you will be blessed by this message and this song. A joyful noise, indeed! HE IS THE WAYMAKER!! Praise you, Father God, for making a way where there is no way. I pray special blessings upon someone reading this who desperately needed to hear this message today. To God be the Glory. Amen and Amen.