{"id":14503,"date":"2014-08-06T08:55:27","date_gmt":"2014-08-06T08:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musicademy.com\/?p=14503"},"modified":"2019-07-29T16:04:26","modified_gmt":"2019-07-29T16:04:26","slug":"worship-prepare-people-die-guest-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicademy.com\/blog\/worship-prepare-people-die-guest-post\/","title":{"rendered":"Does your worship prepare people to die? Guest post"},"content":{"rendered":"

Augustine told us that the \u201claw of prayer is the law of belief.\u201d \u00a0In other words, what touches the heart is what tends to be remembered and treasured. In our day we could easily say that the law of song is the law of belief. I have many volumes of systematic theology on my shelves. Few of those will ever be read by the average believer, and not one line in any of those books will be remembered more than the lyrics of beloved hymns. \u00a0If music is a vital means of imparting spiritual truth to the hearts of God\u2019s people, then it\u2019s important we present as full a spectrum of theology as possible. That includes the reality of death.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment\u201d \u2013 Hebrews 9:27<\/p>\n

We all face the inevitability of it. Sometimes we\u2019re reminded by the sudden and shocking departure of a loved one, or their slow descent into the shadows of death through disease. Sometimes the descent is our own. What about our young men and women in the military, or our police and rescue squads that place themselves in harms way? What about their families who face the threat with them? \u00a0How do we prepare our people to view death through the prism of hope and not despair? In part,\u00a0we sing about it.<\/i><\/p>\n

Songs about death don\u2019t fall into the category of \u201chappy-clappy,\u201d and so they are often avoided. But the Scriptures don\u2019t avoid it and neither should we. We must be preparing people to die, not simply react to death when it comes. We sing songs about facing trials and difficulties with faith. Why? Simply as a reaction? No! We sing those worship songs because they prepare the heart and fortify faith for the trials we surely will face. I\u2019m grateful for two \u201cre-tuned\u201d hymns I have found genuinely full of faith in the face of death. These hymns I have used for funerals\u00a0but<\/i>, I have also used them in our worship service.They are not maudlin or cheesy, but instead rich in metaphor and truth. They also bring the hope we have in the face of death straight to our hearts and minds. Songs of hope help us live in the power of\u00a0faith in future grace<\/i>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to share the lyrics to both songs here along with the links to where the sheet music can be obtained.\u00a0Are there other songs about death you could suggest that might provide the same hope and truth?<\/i><\/p>\n

It is Not Death to Die –\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Bob Kauflin<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Original Words by Henri Malan (1787-1864), Translated by George Bethune (1847), Music, Chorus, and Alternate Words by Bob Kauflin. Sovereign Grace Music<\/p>\n

It is not death to die
\nTo leave this weary road
\nAnd join the saints who dwell on high
\nWho\u2019ve found their home with God
\nIt is not death to close
\nThe eyes long dimmed by tears
\nAnd wake in joy before Your throne
\nDelivered from our fears<\/p>\n

O Jesus, conquering the grave
\nYour precious blood has power to save
\nThose who trust in You
\nWill in Your mercy find
\nThat it is not death to die<\/p>\n

It is not death to fling
\nAside this earthly dust
\nAnd rise with strong and noble wing
\nTo live among the just
\nIt is not death to hear
\nThe key unlock the door
\nThat sets us free from mortal years
\nTo praise You evermore<\/p>\n

\u00a9 2008 Integrity\u2019s Praise! Music\/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)<\/p>\n

Lyrics, chord charts, piano and string scores.<\/p>\n

Good Night\u00a0<\/i><\/b>by\u00a0<\/b>Matthew Smith<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

I journey forth rejoicing
\nFrom this dark vale of tears
\nTo heavenly joy and freedom
\nFrom earthly bonds and fears
\nWhere Christ our Lord shall gather
\nAll His redeemed again,
\nHis kingdom to inherit\u2013
\nGoodnight, goodnight till then<\/p>\n

Why thus so sadly weeping
\nBeloved ones of my heart?
\nThe Lord is good and gracious
\nThough now He bids us part
\nOft have we met in gladness
\nAnd we shall meet again
\nAll sorrow left behind us\u2013
\nGoodnight, goodnight till then<\/p>\n

I go to see His glory
\nWhom we have loved below
\nI go, the blessed angels
\nThe holy saints to know.
\nOur lovely ones departed
\nI go to find again
\nAnd wait for you to join us\u2013
\nGoodnight, goodnight till then<\/p>\n

I hear the Savior calling\u2013
\nThe joyful hour has come
\nThe angel-guards are ready
\nTo guide me to our home
\nWhere Christ our Lord shall gather
\nAll His redeemed again,
\nHis kingdom to inherit\u2013
\nGoodnight, goodnight till then<\/p>\n

from\u00a0Watch The Rising Day<\/a>, released 17 August 2010<\/p>\n

\u00a92010 Detuned Radio Music
\nWritten by Matthew S. Smith
\nBased in part on a hymn text by an unknown German writer, translated by Jane Borthwick<\/p>\n

Find sheet music for Matthew Smith\u2019s songs here.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jeff\u00a0Ling\u00a0is a worship leader and pastor of Clear River Community Church in Northern Virginia. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffling. This\u00a0<\/em>guest post also appears on\u00a0Jeff’s blog<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Other posts you might like<\/h2>\n

Suitable songs for a funeral or memorial service<\/a><\/p>\n

Something to help with, and explain, the grieving process<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nWe came across these\u00a0\u201cAngel Cards\u201d\u00a0that many bereaved people, counsellors and others supporting the bereaved have found so incredibly helpful that we offered to sell the cards on behalf of the artist (Musicademy doesn\u2019t take any commission on these sales).
\nYou get a\u00a0neat little pack containing six postcards of beautiful perspex angel sculptures, each depicting a\u00a0stage of bereavement.<\/a><\/p>\n

Each card has a short but helpful description on the back about the stage shown and they are: \u2018Denial\u2019, \u2018Anger\u2019, \u2018Bargaining\u2019, \u2018Depression\u2019, \u2018Acceptance\u2019 & \u2018Peace\u2019.<\/p>\n

The story behind the sculptures depicted on the cards\u00a0\u201cThe Six Angels of Mercy\u201d is told here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Augustine told us that the \u201claw of prayer is the law of belief.\u201d \u00a0In other words, what touches the heart is what tends to be remembered and treasured. In our day we could easily say that the law of song is the law of belief. I have many volumes of systematic theology on my shelves. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5303,"featured_media":14497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDoes your worship prepare people to die? Guest post from Jeff Ling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Songs about death don\u2019t fall into the category of \u201chappy-clappy,\u201d so are often avoided. But the Scriptures don\u2019t avoid it and neither should we. 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