Veiled Worship

Islam veils women because they share a value also found in Christianity. That value is modesty. However, veiling advocates mistakenly seem to place the onus only on the person being observed (usually a woman) and none on the observer. I think we make the same mistake as Christians sometimes with our attitudes regarding excellence when it comes to worship music.

Psalm 33:3 says, “…play skillfully…”

I Chronicles 25:7 says, “…all of them (the musicians) were trained and skilled in music for the Lord…”

Lest we get the picture that these passages might only refer to basic skill, verse 8 in I Chron, describes the ‘worship team’ as teachers and students, painting us a picture of perpetual learning being driven by this longing to pursue excellence in worship. The story of Cain and Abel alone is enough to indict anyone who would claim we should suppress excellence in worship. Since worship music is a picture of the worship to which Romans 12:1-2 calls us, why shouldn’t it reflect giving God the best of our lives by giving nothing less than the best musically?

BTW, I’m not implying that all worship team members should be virtuosos. I’m advocating excellence in attitude not excellence in aptitude. But if that excellence in attitude leads one to virtuosity, when tastefully executed and handled in humility, I’m suggesting we as a Church should not place it behind the veil.

We as Christians believe in modesty. So yes we believe that a Christian virtuoso has the responsibility to bear their gift in humility. But veiling a virtuoso would mean that the listener has absolutely NO responsibility.

But we can dispense with veils because Christian listeners aren’t off the hook. The above Scriptures don’t paint the picture of God calling us to suppress skillful displays. Excellence gives God glory. We as listeners are responsible to give Him that glory for the skills He has given the virtuoso.  We can even praise the virtuoso as long as their ego can accept it, with the understanding that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above.

It is only in this ‘unveiling’ that we can see freedom. You see, this article really isn’t about music. It isn’t about virtuosos. It is about pious believers, who have an unhealthy view of God, seeing Him as a cosmic kill-joy, feeling guilty for every pleasure of life and wanting to make sure everyone else shares that misery. Being so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good, they can’t imagine beauty being held by anyone who isn’t haughty, intelligence held without condescension, virtuosity held in humility, excellence used as a gift to God as an offering of worship.

We can choose to have our worship excel in mediocrity because we have a fear that a jealous Cain will rise up and kill an Abel. Or we can let our hearts be captured by a perfect love which casts out all fear. If we choose the former, we lose freedom behind the veil.  But the truth can set us free.