Is song praise and/or worship?

[ambevil]

Hello, I’m in a discussion with a friend on the music in the liturgy and I would like to know if song is praise and/or worship. He claims it is neither and states “praise is an attitude of the heart and worship is entering into God’s presence.” Is he correct in his distinction? If not can you show me ecclesial defenses for why music in the liturgy can come under either or both categories? Thanks!

 

[ambevil]

The context of the discussion is I posted an article by Chant Cafe on why Praise and Worship Christian music is praise but not worship, and my friend disagreed beginning first with the above statement. Thanks!

 

[DaveBj]

This is just me talking, but I think praise/worship is an attitude of the heart/soul/spirit, and that a song is an expression of that praise/worship. I get amused at the attempts to insert an artificual boundary between those who concepts. I was in one charismatic church many years ago where the fast songs were considered “praise,” and the slow songs were considered “worship.”

 

[Joe_Kelley]

One of the saints said that “He who sings, prays twice”. [My wife, a church musician, says that should be “sings well”, but I don’t let that inhibit me. ]

 

[Evan]

One of the saints said that “He who sings, prays twice”. [My wife, a church musician, says that should be “sings well”, but I don’t let that inhibit me. ]

cantare bis orare, St Augustine gets credit for this one.

I think that it would depend on the song. There are many forms of prayer (petition, adoration, praise, contrition) I would assume all can be expressed in song.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

It’s supposed to be prayer. Gregorian Chant is such. I don’t know what the contemporary stuff is supposed to be.