Hymn singing or Cheer leading?
Yesterday I attended a multi-faceted worship event. It was a Finale for our divisional music camp and the farewell of candidates for Salvation Army Officer training. The usually marathon event was tied up in a bow in one hour and fifteen minutes. Not bad at all for a hot 90 degree day in July. with high humidity and no air conditioning. I thought it was very good time of praising God with music, drama and witness.
We did some flag waving, some cheering for participants and our Divisional Commander gave a good word. He was scripturally strong and really meaty in his words. He is a godly man.
Not everything was peachy about the day. There were some gaffs (what event does not have few of them) and some miscommunication about the content of the day. Although, I am not sure how much clearer the advertising of the event could have been. Then there was that incredibly long walk up the hill to the tent where the meeting was held. We had rented some trams for the day. The company delivered them and when we went to drive them up the hill, they just did not work. Great... Three golf carts had to do the trick of transporting those who could not make the walk.
We did some singing too. We sang a good hymn and then sang a song that I question. I know that this is going to kill some people and I will take my lumps. We sang "Joy in The Salvation Army." Now I love the Army. I love its mission. I am called to it. We do very good things for the Kingdom. Warts and all, I believe the Army is ordained by God for its mission. But for years, I have thought that our "cheer leading song" as one esteemed leader called it, borders on worship of an organization, instead of God.
I know it encourages us to be joyful in our walk and witness. It has a bit of a snappy tune. You can clap your hands. A great tuba line exists for the low brass players. But I can't get over the words that really don't say much directly about God being considered a hymn.
I continue to think about the words of Paul. "We preach not ourselves but Christ." I also think about the great Lt Colonel Lyell Rader O.F. who often would say, "It doesn't matter who gets the credit, as long as Jesus gets the glory."
I know some of you are saying, "Larry can bring anything down. He is such a cynic."
Maybe I have been making too much out of this for the past 25 years or so. Am I wrong to think our hymnody ought to center on God instead of an organization? Maybe I just have too much time on my hands. We have so many beautiful, deep theologically stirring songs in our song book. Did we just miss it on this one?
I choose to be joyful about The Salvation Army, but I am not so sure that I should sing about it in worship. Isn't true worship about our intimacy with God and the community around us? Is our cheer leading song a matter of pride or just a great rallying song from by-gone days that we hold on to? Should we be blowing our own horn? Is this akin to "Doing the most good?"
You tell me. What do you think?
We did some flag waving, some cheering for participants and our Divisional Commander gave a good word. He was scripturally strong and really meaty in his words. He is a godly man.
Not everything was peachy about the day. There were some gaffs (what event does not have few of them) and some miscommunication about the content of the day. Although, I am not sure how much clearer the advertising of the event could have been. Then there was that incredibly long walk up the hill to the tent where the meeting was held. We had rented some trams for the day. The company delivered them and when we went to drive them up the hill, they just did not work. Great... Three golf carts had to do the trick of transporting those who could not make the walk.
We did some singing too. We sang a good hymn and then sang a song that I question. I know that this is going to kill some people and I will take my lumps. We sang "Joy in The Salvation Army." Now I love the Army. I love its mission. I am called to it. We do very good things for the Kingdom. Warts and all, I believe the Army is ordained by God for its mission. But for years, I have thought that our "cheer leading song" as one esteemed leader called it, borders on worship of an organization, instead of God.
I know it encourages us to be joyful in our walk and witness. It has a bit of a snappy tune. You can clap your hands. A great tuba line exists for the low brass players. But I can't get over the words that really don't say much directly about God being considered a hymn.
I continue to think about the words of Paul. "We preach not ourselves but Christ." I also think about the great Lt Colonel Lyell Rader O.F. who often would say, "It doesn't matter who gets the credit, as long as Jesus gets the glory."
I know some of you are saying, "Larry can bring anything down. He is such a cynic."
Maybe I have been making too much out of this for the past 25 years or so. Am I wrong to think our hymnody ought to center on God instead of an organization? Maybe I just have too much time on my hands. We have so many beautiful, deep theologically stirring songs in our song book. Did we just miss it on this one?
I choose to be joyful about The Salvation Army, but I am not so sure that I should sing about it in worship. Isn't true worship about our intimacy with God and the community around us? Is our cheer leading song a matter of pride or just a great rallying song from by-gone days that we hold on to? Should we be blowing our own horn? Is this akin to "Doing the most good?"
You tell me. What do you think?
posted by Larry at 8:03 PM
13 Comments:
Idolatry is excessive reverence to a person or a thing. From the beginning of the Army, the organization/mission took on what at times appeared to be an unhealthy persona - all too often being defined or described in the words of another SASB song - I cannot leave the dear old flag - 'twere better for to die. Joy, joy, joy, there is joy in the Methodist Church - I don't know that I've heard those words. Dangerous . . .
One other comment from Sunday - I was more struck by the use of the term 'heroes' to define the candidates/cadets. I much prefer the image of servant. The officer role and rank gives often unbridled power to people who really have done very little to earn it or deserve it - "He has show all you people what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" If the "hero" is a natural outworking of justice, mercy and humility, well and good, but it is not first, only last.
First of all, thank you HS, whoever you are. Among my top five list of great disillusionments concerning the church and ministry, was to find out that Salvation Army Officers (all in caps), in some parts of the world, tend to carry a chip on their shoulder and an arrogance to their demeanor rather than an attitude of humility and of a servant. It still crushes my heart to see that. What a backwards message we’ve taught our young people and cadets concerning an Officer’s call to ministry. They’re called to be the servant of all, not the other way around. Sadly, the higher your rank, often, the more people you have serving you.
But on to the actual topic at hand.
I agree Larry, and always have. For those of you who have grown up in the Army, you have no idea just how strange it is compared to the church as a whole. I can remember first coming to the Army, sitting through a worship service, and hearing/watching them sing songs about themselves. I found it deeply disturbing. As already mentioned, never once as a Baptist did I sing a song, in any kind of a service, about being a Baptist. To sing one during a worship service surely would have been seen as sacrilege.
I suppose that culture has something to do with it, so I’ll reserve any hard core condemnation over the practice. Still, I can’t help but believe that, if there wasn’t so much unbridled pride and arrogance in the Army, the thought of this post wouldn’t even cross our minds.
Larry: I definitely understand what you are saying about the "Army Songs". Possibly they were more appropriate to the old evening Salvation meetings of energetic praise and more free-wheeling "clap your hands, stand-up, sit-down".
Not having been to the Army for a number of years, and then having returned via marriage, I've been struck by the sometimes "hodge-podge" nature of the Holiness meeting. Things go on during that Holiness meeting time that are, to me, many times diametrically opposed to "seeking and savoring the state of Holiness" Then again, one person's floor is another's ceiling, but cacaphoney and clapping to "Joy in The Salvation Army" seems out-of-place to my spirit and what I thought the purpose of the Holiness meeting was. (BTW I also understand that when that song is sung (especially by an old guard - - old can also mean young in age but SA generational old), it implies that there is joy BECAUSE of who is being worshipped.)
But you'd be surprised at how many times the Army is invoked during services, dedications and other Army-related gatherings, giving pats-on-the-back and rah-rah quasi religious prattle, or Army encouragement.
When one is away and comes back it is jarringly evident; it is a form of "church-speak" and "whistling-in-the-wind" to my ears.
Where are the meditative, theologically strong hymns such as "In the secret of thy presence...."?
As for Army expenditures, I wonder if ANYONE has come up with a bottom line for "Hershey With The General". I bet it was HUMUNGOUS. And were the benefits and perks the same for Commissioners as for the lowly ARC members recruited to artifically swell the ranks, so some could swell their chests? Do the soldiers of the Army have any real idea of what monies are authorized for officers for so many varied "things", or how much money is spent by the Army for other non-direct missional activities? Methinks the widow's mite is purloined, or mis-used, many times...
And, speaking about excluding the rank-and-file, I still am perplexed as to why the "Officer" magazine is only for the officers. (One wag sister of mine facetiously said, "Because it is called "The Officer"!) Now I understand there may be "in-house" discussions about policies and protocols and such, but there are other challenging theologically based writings. Why neither of these are shared with le Congregation seems to relegate them to second-class participants in their "church" (as the Army has been calling itself since my return; along with "Pastor"), thus excluding them from organizational debate and deeper religious writings and thinkings than many are exposed to in smaller corps where the CO's themselves are (hopefully) growing....
As usual, there's more, but this is already too long. Pax, Jonbee
Jaybee,
Well taken on the early day stuff and hand clapping. Not so sure that the hymns are drivel...I sure would like to see our old hymns put to more singable arrangements. Many have been. Still more should be done.
As far as the accounting on the congress, check my previous blog from a couple of weeks ago. You will see my feelings. I am not against the big event and do not always see them as prideful. I did think there were some very meaningful moments at the congress.
Up until a few years ago, Word and Deed was published by some great thinkers in the Army. Roger Green, Jon Raymond and others were writing some great stuff. I have not received a copy in a while. This was widely distributed around the Army world and added some depth to our conversations. I agree that some of the officer articles would be very valuable to soldiers.
I also have thoughts on the priesthood of all believers and our movement. I think that is for another blog.. maybe I have already blogged about it.
Larry. I certainly didn't mean to imply any of the hymns were "drivel". I'm not sure where that came from!
I agree that there were meaningful things that happened to a number of people, but there WAS a great deal of polish and gloss....
Your last comment on the "Priesthood" seems very timely since I just heard that the Pope basically said today that the RC church was the only one that Jesus authorized and the rest are less than real, AND he saved his best rim shot when he said the Protestants were really the farthest out. I don't know if he's been smoking that white smoke they used to Papify him or not....
BTW I read the last three of your blogs last night and forwarded same to RW. They were pretty good, well presented, and, as usual, well thought out. Now I have to read the comments:) Pax, Jay bee
Larry, thanks for your honesty. I agree fully that the SA borders on self-worship at times, and we should do whatever we can to put this behind us. I think this is one of those things that lifetime Salvos just haven't really thought through - when you do think about it, and compare with other denominations, you realize it is absurd and very dangerous.
It sounds self-evident, but worship ought to be about God! Our practice shows that we forget this at times.
Peace,
James
I think if we are going to question a "hymn" that all be it loosely celbrates joy - Joy that comes from service in the Lord I think we also should throw our new high priced motto "Doing the Most Good" on this purifying fire. If you were concerend about a song that we inside know about - what must you think about this self serving new catch phrase that is put out there for all. Were is the reference to out service of humanity in the name of Jesus Christ - in Doing the Most Good - it's not there - Doing the Most Good says will make your dollar streach further than the Red Cross - no mention of Joy and no mention God. Now that's cheerleading and bad cheerleading at that!
dj...
did you read the last paragraph of my post? much has been written and said about the nearly 2 year old "brand." personally, i liked "heart to God, hand to man."
there is a doing the most good manifesto which was shared a little over a year ago. it explains the brand..not sure why we had to explain it if it was so good.
i am told the brand is only offensive to some sallies and disenfranchised sallies. i wonder if that is true.
i do believe that when we use a song in worship, it ought to praise the Creator not part of the church He created.
Thanks for your comments. long time since we have heard from you.
Good tune, awful words. And yet as I played on the stage I glanced down and saw my youngest boy singing the song, loudly with all his heart, hardly able to conatin his enthusiasm until he got to insert his own "try and find it" instead of the "hallelujah". I simply had to laugh to myself as he joins in on an inside joke from the 19th century.
Joy in TSA is not a hymn, but a song included within the songbook along with other hymns. Hymns, as you point out, are theocentral or christocentral - exclusively about spiritual intimacy with God. This cheerleading song as you aptly describe is easy to recognize as not being a hymn, doesn't espouse redemption doctrine or lift the Father, Son or Holy Ghost up for the world to be drawn to them.
I wouldn't describe its inclusion in a well structured meeting as a gaff though, or a programming error. Being able to be at the same meeting you describe, I find that the fraction of a time dedicated to this segment didn't even come close to drawing anyone's attention away from the central program effort. It didn't draw anyone away from the meeting's purpose: to say goodby to dedicated souls who will be leaving our presence but not leaving our hearts and prayers.
I specifically chose not to use this song within our worship meetings, for many of the reasons you bring up-there are just too many very good hymns for me to ever feel I have to turn to this one.
jessie,
i did not mean to infer the selection of the song as a gaff. i simply was saying that when it is referred to as a hymn, that is not correct. my problem was not with the meeting. it was with the song itself. sorry if you got the wrong impression.
Hi Larry
Just checking your blog and thought I'd say 'hi'. Will drop you a note soon. Glad to see you're still 'keeping it real'!
'chelle xo
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