A Song for the Ages

A Song for the Ages
There is something precious about hearing a child sing songs while they play with their toys. Those who have raised children, or are presently raising children know this very thing. Perhaps you have a memory of your son or daughter singing in the other room while they make something out of Play-Doh (instead of eating it). It is a tender and precious thing to listen to children sing. It is even more sweet when what they sing is about the Lord Jesus.

When we think about ourselves, recognizing that we are the children of God, how sweet a thought it is that the Lord might receive our praise. The issue, at least in American churches, is that many of the songs that are sung are more about how we feel about God than about God, Himself. We have worship songs that are about worship songs, and praise music that is about praising the Lord, yet it never seems to actually praise the Lord. The issue is not style, but the content. It would seem that many churches are more content to sing songs about how they feel about God and about worshiping the Lord than actually doing it.
 
What is the cure? What is to be done? I would submit that the Church simply needs God centered worship music. Take, for example, the Gloria Patri (also known as “Glory Be to the Father” or "The Lesser Doxology”). The Church has sung this song  since at least the 4th century, possibly even longer. It goes: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.”

The reason the Church has sung the Gloria Patri for so long is simple. It is simple praise to the Lord. It is the Children of God crying out to their Lord that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are worthy of worship. It is the song of the children of God that glory would be ascribed to the Lord as it has always been, is now, and always will be. 
So, I would commend the Gloria Patri to you. It is a simple song, but it is full of praise. Learn and sing it. Sing it in your car and in the shower. Sing it to your children and with your children. Yet, most importantly, sing it to the Lord. May our hearts and mouths be filled with His praise every day.

Grace be with you,
C. R. Hamilton