Monthly column on hymns and songs

Once upon a time two persons went to a big event for real born-again Christians. They both had a wonderful week. Afterwards they went back to their home church and one of them said to the pastor, 'That was a really mind-blowing scene. I've never felt so close to the Lord. I know he was dealing with me in a very deep personal way. He had a lot to sort out with me, and I've learned more about God in the last few days than for a long time past.' The minister cautiously began to say how delighted he was, but he was interrupted.

'And there's another thing - the music! We had some truly fabulous worship times. I've got one or two of the song books we used; these new songs are just fantastic. I'm not criticising, of course, but I think I should be honest and say that all this has helped me to see your church's music in a new light. I even wonder sometimes if you have even begun to worship God at all! So what I'm suggesting is that we start using some of these songs each Sunday; I'm sure if you got a group together they could lead us, and we'd see the difference straight away...'

And the other member came back home, and by a strange coincidence also wanted to see the pastor. The second conversation opened like this: 'Pastor, thank you for your prayers for all the group who went away last week. God blessed us in many ways. But one thing I specially wanted to say was...' (the pastor's heart sank), 'I don't know why, but at one evening session I suddenly realised that our church has a number of gaps in its local work. Now I'm never going to be a brilliant speaker or even a leader; but there are some things I can do, and I did just wonder if you could fit me in anywhere to plug a gap in the programme. I could even tackle something new if that's where you need me...'

Which of these two, do you think ...

But before you reply, let's shift the scene to a quite different event, where being born again is considered not quite nice. This time the crowds are counted in dozens rather than thousands; music is still prominent, but the worship diet hardly overlaps with that of my first story. The hymns and songs are more liberal, political, socially relevant, daring, experimental, post-modern - you get it. Also, a lot better written, but we'll leave that for now.

One recurring, unavoidable theme is our need to care for the outcast; the AIDS victims, single parents, the unwanted, unloved, and unwelcome. God, or whatever we call him or her, loves them, and we are here to show what love in action is. Got it?

Now come to supper; you arrive late because you've missed an announcement about a change of time. Look - there they all are, chattering away as ever, eight to a table. All except one table. At most conferences you get one or two odd bods; they laugh loudly, dress peculiarly, smell funny, or say inappropriate things, but they come because they feel at home. See him there, sitting alone at the otherwise vacant table, while the rest gossiped on about the latest trenchant, bitingly disturbing song about our neighbours.

Over to the book of Amos. 'Take away', God says, 'the noise of your songs'. If we don't love a brother or sister whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen?

That sinking feeling...

Christopher Idle

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