there were many dominant characteristics of the early church. one of them was that they were a singing church. there was a joy in the hearts of these early CHRISTians that was expressed through songs of praise for the mercy and grace of GOD. and these were a persecuted people.
my favorite book of the bible is philippians. it is a book of joy written by a man in prison. so when james asks us in james 5.13b (niv), is anyone happy? and then answers it, let him sing songs of praise, he is reinforcing how the early church handled their lives.
you see, these early CHRISTians were going through tough times but they understood that happiness is a choice and they chose to be happy and even in tough times they chose to sing songs of praise.
do you remember the story of paul and silas and of how they were thrown into jail because they had cast a demon out of a young women? do you remember what they did in jail at midnight? did they hold a pity party for the injustice that was heaped upon them? no. did they renounce their faith and say, ''i'm done with this CHRIST thing. i thought i was suppose to be rewarded for the good that i do, not put in prision''? no. did they sing songs of praise to GOD in their jail cell? yes, that is what they did.
in the orthodox jewish synagogue, since the fall of jerusalem in 70 a.d. there has been no music because when they worship, they remember a tragedy; but in the CHRISTian church, there has been the music of songs of praise for the triumph of CHRIST over death. we sing songs of praise.
mark batterson said, ''the circumstances you complain about become chains that imprison you. and worship is the way out.''
songs in the midst of trouble is one of the greatest ways that a CHRISTian has to show the difference that CHRIST makes it our lives. is HE is in your life. then let HIM shine through your song today.
just a thought from the front porch...
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