What a Child and a Bird Can Tell Us about Worship

A little 5-year-old Lutheran girl, who went to a Baptist "church" service recently, told her mother the music made her want to dance -- but she really didn't want to dance in church. Interestingly, this little one also observed, "They don't talk about God much."

"Thank God, today, a seven-year-old child knows what the Church is, namely, the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their Shepherd (John 10:11-16). For the children pray, "I believe in one holy Christian Church." -- Smalcald Articles, Part 3, Art. XII.2-3

Check out this link:

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

I think it is revealing as to why "Contemporary Christian" music that makes us want to dance is, in fact, inappropriate for worship. Sacred music is about the Word of God. It should not appeal to man's base instincts as if he were an animal to manipulate into action. Rather, it should serve to deliver and help the human memory retain the Gospel message that is for the salvation for all human beings who believe.

Perhaps we can learn from the wisdom of a 5-year-old Lutheran girl who is being catechized by her mother and the liturgy -- as well as the animal instinct of a cockatoo.