Chapter 20 - Head and Heart

"...churches can have a hard time connecting the knowledge of the mind with the passions of the heart.  Yet they're integrally related.  And both are crucial to Biblical worship."  (p. 165)

Kauflin has touched on this subject multiple times already, but it definitely is worth being repeated because it is so important.  We must not get into the habit of promoting one area over the other.  Without accurate knowledge of the truth in the Bible our passion is meaningless and possibly idolatrous.   Without passion, the most wonderful and fantastic truth's about God are left uncelebrated and we risk becoming a "religion" rather than being a people who have a marvelous relationship with the living God of the universe.


 "The affections we're seeking to stir up are more than fleeting shallow, self-induced emotions.  We aren't trying to excite people for the sake of excitement.  We aren't leading a pep rally for band.  Godly affections are deep and long-lasting.  They're the result of focusing on what God has done and who He is." (p. 166)

As a worship team we can move peoples emotions simply by what we play and how we play it.  But, as Kauflin said, we aren't just trying to get people emotional for the sake of being emotional.  We must be careful to base whatever we are doing in the truth of God's word.  Then God's truth is the basis for the emotions that come up within people and it can lead to real change in people's lives and help them to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.  We use music to help people along the way and to help lead them to the place where they see God's truth clearly.  Our music is a tool to be used to point people to God's truth and to bring honor and glory to God.  Music is  not the end in itself.


"When the church gathers, the sense of confidant joy in God should be pronounced.  When we fail to demonstrate delight and satisfaction in God, we're not only dishonoring God, we're disobeying Him (Psalms 32:11).  More than anyone else on earth, Christians have a reason to celebrate."  (p. 167)

These words jumped off the page and slapped me in the face.  I know that God wants us to be joyful and celebrate in His Name, but I had never thought of it as being sinful to do otherwise.  But I think that Kauflin is right.  As Christians, no matter what has occurred or is occurring in our lives, we have reason to demonstrate delight and satisfaction in God.  I don't think that this means we can't ever feel sad or troubled (Jesus felt sadness and wept on multiple occasions) But even amidst sadness we, as Christians, always have reason for hope and joy.  Even amidst difficult times and trials we can still demonstrate our delight and satisfaction in God.  Not that this is easy by any means.  It takes consistent effort and time spent in developing our relationship with God.  It takes a purposeful decision to choose God's hope and joy rather than the world's despair.

There is a woman in our church who has exemplified this better than anyone else I've ever known.  No matter what is happening she is always exuding the joy that is found only in God.  A while back her husband's health took a turn for the worse and slowly declined further and further over time until finally he passed away.  She certainly felt sadness during this time, but never once could any one question her joy in God.  She continued to demonstrate her delight and satisfaction in God all through this difficult time in her life.  She could do this because her hope and joy was based in her relationship with God and the hope he had given her of her eternal future with Him.  That is what we must take hold of and proudly claim as our own.  If we can take hold of that relationship and that hope, then we too can demonstrate delight and satisfaction in God no matter our circumstances.