Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
—Psalm 66:1-9
by: Leanne Lippincott.
I grew up in a very conservative Sunday-keeping church. The songs we sang during the worship service were old standards from our hymnal, many with beautiful melodies and lyrics—like “Beautiful Savior” and “What a Friend We Have In Jesus.” But some of the hymns were more like dirges. In this Psalm, David tells how we should shout with joy to God; we should “make his praise glorious” (v. 1).
I’ve had trouble accepting some of the newer praise music in worship services. (If someone had walked into the church of my youth with a guitar or drums, my pastor would have had a coronary on the spot.) Slowly, I’m “lightening up.” A few of the songs our church young people sing have even become favorites. We need to remember that “from-the-heart singing” should be a vital aspect of worship. That doesn’t necessarily mean we should scream or shout, but we certainly shouldn’t be afraid to clap or sing with vigor as the Spirit leads us.