Choir | The Recovering Legalist

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by Anthony Baker | November 14, 2016 · 6:30 am

Different, Yet the Same

South Soddy

Yesterday (Sunday) I was blessed to be able to preach at two different churches, one in the morning, the other in the evening.

Yesterday morning I was the guest speaker at South Soddy Baptist Church. The congregation there was warm and friendly and very receptive to the message I delivered. Below it a picture I took inside the auditorium (sanctuary).

Notice, South Soddy Baptist was constructed back in 1946. It is small, simple building by today’s standards.

Mile Straight

Last night I was very privileged to be invited to speak at Mile Straight Baptist Church. Mile Straight is a much more modern building (it’s been remodeled, too) with plenty of up-to-date technology. Click HERE to visit their website – it’s pretty cool.

Notice, even though Mile Straight has a more modern layout than South Soddy, something about the two are very similar. Can you tell what that is?

Neither have big choir lofts.

I first noticed this at South Soddy yesterday morning. I noticed how in the old design of this church the focus was never supposed be on the choir. Instead of an entertainment-like model many Christians have come to expect, this old church was set up so that the congregation would do all the singing and “worshiping,” not simply be entertained by the choir.

When I got to Mile Straight I saw the same thing. Oh, Mile Straight used to have a choir, but not so much anymore (I think). No, more focus is place on congregational singing than choirs. Even though they do have more of a “praise team,” the idea is to lead the congregation in worship rather than just sit and listen to others do it.

Honestly, I have no problem with wonderful, trained choirs. Friday night I got to hear my daughter Katie sing a solo in her college choir, and it was chillingly glorious! But that was a true performance…we paid to go see that. Church services should never be about entertaining the crowd; they should be about corporate worship. So, have a choir if you want, but encourage the congregation to be more than just consumers.

Two very different church congregations and buildings, yet still very alike in at least one important way.

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Filed under baptist, Christian Unity, Church, worship

Tagged as Baptist, Choir, Church, Music, preaching, Sunday, Worship

by Anthony Baker | November 18, 2013 · 10:57 pm

Community Christmas Chorus

A New Thing

Every once in a blue-moon-while I try something new, something out of my comfort zone. So, when I was asked if I’d like to sing with a barber shop-style men’s chorus, I had apprehensions. I mean, was it time to do something new? Did I need to wait until the next blue moon?

Practicing on the risers. Can you pick me out on the right? (Photo Credit: Steve Wixson)

You see, our new choir director, Chuck Wilson, sings with the venerable Choo Choo Chorus. He had been inviting me to come join a community chorus for Christmas, but I didn’t know if I would really be up to it, or if I would like it. I was wrong on both accounts.

Singing acapella with a bunch of other talented men has given me the opportunity to ride on their coattails. The opportunity to sit under the instruction of such an experienced music director, Paul Blazeck, makes me smile as much as I sing. But hearing 4-part harmony sung by 80 men gives me goose bumps.

I would encourage you, if you are in the area, to come hear the Chattanooga Community Christmas Chorus and the Choo Choo Chorus during the month of December. My little girl, Haley, not knowing what to expect, came with me to practice and left saying, “That was awesome!” You’ll say the same thing, too.

(BTW, Jason Sneed, one of our writers at Proverbial Thought.com is in the picture on the left. He’s singing tenor.)

A Future Thing

But even though the guys in the chorus may sound “awesome,” I can hardly wait to hear how another choir will sound – the Heavenly choir.

Every time our men’s chorus sings “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel,” I get chills. But we are just men, flawed in every way imaginable. What will it be like, I wonder, to hear voices innumerable in perfect, flawless harmony singing praise to God in His presence?

Mr. Blazek is always having to work with us amateurs in order to get a half-way decent sound. What will it be like when millions of the redeemed let loose with vocal chords untouched by sin, but empowered with joy unspeakable and full of glory?

Hallelujah! I’m getting chills and tearing up just thinking about it!