Transcendence vs. Imminence

Transcendence-is being above and independent of the material universe. It can also be defined as lying beyond the ordinary range of perception. More simply, being preeminent or supreme.

Imminence-is being close to occurring. Synonyms of this word are nearness, coming, and convergence.

God has both of these two attributes. The transcendence of God is His "highness" and holiness.
When you go and see old cathedrals, you see how massive they are. The cathedrals were designed to make us feel small and to elevate our understanding of God's transcendent attributes. The same thing applies to old hymns and music. Hymns that are very complex and have multiple parts to it were there to represent God's transcendent attribute. J.S. Bach would compose his music for the glory of God. When you listen to the music he composed, you get the sense of mystery and reverence from the complexities in his music . The mystery in some of his music was to represent the things of God that we cannot perceive. The old hymns and cathedrals were both designed to represent God's transcendence.

While God is transcendent, He is also imminent. He is imminent in that we can relate to Him as Father. Contemporary christian music shows us the imminence of God. This style of music is not high and separate. It is close and common to us and easy to be accepted. That is what this style of music conveys. It conveys God as close and relevant to us.

While God has both of these qualities, we should not take Him lightly. We should not think of Him as one of us. Even though Christ came as a man, He was still God. When we approach God in prayer, we are coming before His throne of grace. Even though we have this privilege, we should still approach Him with reverence and awe because it is still a throne that we bow before.

(The following illustration I borrowed from Way of the Master Radio.)
Imagine that you were invited to visit the president of the United States. You go into the white house and meet him. When you would greet him you wouldn't say
"Hey dude, what's up?". You would most likely say "Hello Mr. President sir."
Even though he is still a normal person, his position makes us respect him.
Now this illustration breaks down on many levels, but the point is even though God is imminent. He is supreme and preeminent and not to be trifled with. Just as with the president, we should approach God boldly but also with reverence.


2 Corinthians 3:12
"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold."

Order in Music

By definition order is:

a methodical
arrangement
of things.

It could also be defined as a proper arrangement.
You could also say that it is similar to harmony
or symmetry.




"Good order is the foundation of all good things"
Burke

We can see that order is something God takes very seriously. We can see that from the story of Nadab and Abihu. We can also see order in God's creation or from His commands for order in His church. Order is something that is pleasing to God and is good. If we want our worship to be pleasing to God, then order should be a part of it.

2 Chronicles 5:13 says:
"Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord saying:

'For He is good For His mercy endures forever'

that the house the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud"

Notice, the trumpeters and singers were as one and made one sound. Also, the word voice is singular not plural. This verse is a clear example of order in thanking and praising God. To have multiple voices as one, takes a great deal of order and effort. The singers and trumpeters desire was for God to be glorified through their worship.

Psalm 92:3 says:
"On an instrument of ten strings,
On the lute,
And on the harp,
With harmonious sound."

How do you make harmonious sound? By being unskilled and putting no effort into it?
Of course you wouldn't. That would make some type of sound but I doubt it would be harmonious. In order to make a harmonious sound, order and effort would be involved. That would be expressed in practicing with the goal of glorifying God. As well as having everything properly arranged.

Let's think about this. Worship is an act of reverence. If worship to God is not done well, then obviously no effort was put into it. If no effort was involved, then the person who offered the worship does not show reverence for Whom the worship was offered to. What a terrifying thought!!!

I'll end with this verse and thought.

1 Chronicles 25:7
"So the number of them, with their
brethren who were instructed in the songs
of the Lord, all who were skillful, was
two hundred and eighty-eight."

Music being done by skillful musicians was and still is very important in worship. So important, that 288 musicians were trained just for that purpose. It seems to me that if it was that important to the Israelites, then it should be just as or even more important for us now.