Let Us Sing: Worshiping God with Our Music

By Lawrence C. Roff

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0934688583
• ISBN13: 9780934688581
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Great Commission Publications
• Length: 161 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Helpful overview with one big flaw

According to Roff, Let Us Sing was "written to provide the average church member (who has little or no musical training) with the information necessary to sing `with the spirit' and to sing `with the mind" (p. 160). I do not know if this book will help me sing with more spirit or not. There was ample exhortation through biblical teaching on why we should worship and God's passion for that worship, but I was not moved by it. I was equipped to sing with my mind. The chapters on the development of various kinds of church music and the history of music in worship were fascinating. I was especially intrigued by the history of singing in the early church. I had no idea that congregational singing was intentionally suppressed during the Middle Ages. No wonder bible knowledge among the illiterate peasants was so poor. Roff's entire presentation of the history of church music was very well done and informative. Knowing that I sing songs that have roots in music and texts sung by people as far back as 1700 years ago helps me feel more connected to my brothers and sisters in Christ who even now are praising our Lord in heaven. I cannot wait to sing "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" in a few weeks for Easter services knowing that people sang it with adoration to out Savior in the tenth century. It blows the mind. Upon reflection, I guess I am moved to sing with more spirit by this book because of the information I learned with my mind. I love how God wired us with mind and heart so closely linked. I found this book most helpful in helping me reflect on my attitude in worship, my preferences verses what the Word of God commands, and the great ways God worked through music in the history of the Church. The only area of weakness is Roff's narrow focus on hymns. He very briefly mentioned contemporary worship songs, but seemed somewhat dismissive of them without much explanation. If this book were to be updated it should include a section on the explosion of worship songs in the twenty years since this book was written and the great revival of interest in passionate worship among the young.