As we continue to pray and labor for reformation in the church, remember that this is not accomplished in some invisible place. Reformation is manifest in the church; it is manifest to the world. Reformation is not change for the sake of change, but it will sometimes look like this to outsiders. Reformation is not an attempt to be strange as some sort of counter-cultural statement – and yet it will sometimes be impossible to escape the charge.
As we seek to worship God rightly, we always begin at the heart. But one of the first, fundamental heart lessons is that true worship cannot be contained in the heart. Among other things, it must burst out in song, and this must be a particular kind of song – as we sing and make melody in our hearts, the richness of the Word of Christ requires a psalming people.
And the musical form of the psalms is dictated first by the text of the psalms themselves; secondly, by the history of God’s people in singing them; third, by those trained and equipped to teach; and last, and certainly least, our own individual preferences. This is not because those preferences are of no account. Rather they are like a very young child in the home – greatly loved, of great account, but also in great need of discipline, direction, and instruction.
God has given us much to be grateful for here, and a great blessing awaits us as we continue what He has begun. Take care to sing to the Lord with a full heart. As we learn, our mouths are not always full, but our hearts must always be.