Scottsville Community Church

Congregational singing

Christian worship is not a music show! As such, when we gather our inclination is towards congregational singing where every member present is an active participant in worship. We do not have a ‘praise and worship team’ that hypes us up. The Holy Spirit is present in our meetings. He creates an atmosphere that pleases God as we sing biblical truths to God and admonish each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We sing to God. Our worship might sound boring to visitors because we are not worshipping them. We sing to God. Our voices drown technological devices and musical instruments employed in worship.

And Siyakudumisa Thixo?

Firstly, a short history behind the song is necessary. This song first appeared in the  1662 version of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. In Southern Africa this song is  a regular feature in the Methodist and Assembly of God Sunday worship. The song  belongs to neither Methodists nor the Assembly of God. It was written by Anglicans. It  is also not an Anglican song but a song for the body of Christ. Secondly, the song is  profoundly theological. Ours is an age of pluralism. The contemporary ‘worshipper’ is a  free-spirited consumer who shops at the market of deities for aspects that appeal to  him. As followers of Jesus, we want to remind ourselves, regularly, of the truths we  believe in and those aspects of our faith that make our faith and Lord unique.  Siyakudumisa Thixo presents to us all the doctrines of the Apostle’s Creed and Nicene  Creed. Unlike the latter which are elitist and sound very academic, Siyakudumisa  Thixo is written for the lay person. It presents these doctrines, explains them, and also  gives application hints. A few examples will suffice: 

• Siyakudumisa Thixo is neatly divided into three sections, each dedicated to  the Persons of the Trinity. The contemporary expression of traditional (mainline)  churches tend to overemphasize the justice of God but turn a blind eye to his  holiness which led to the dying of the Son on the cross. The charismatic  believers are not innocent either. Their emphasis on the Spirit and what he can  do tends to eliminate their need to engage with the Father who seeks truth and  justice. Here is a reminder of the love of God, the grace of the Son and the  companionship of the Spirit all in one song. 
• Siyakudumisa Thixo tells us that ‘the kingdom of God is open to those who  believe’. This neutralizes the old debate about Calvinism and Arminianism. God  saves those who believe, not the elect and certainly not everyone. 
• Siyakudumisa Thixo also presents the virgin birth in a manner that confronts  the cruelty of some men, the promiscuity of the contemporary person and deception of  the feminist ideologies. God’s redemption plan has at its core a womb and a  virgin. The abuse of women has no scriptural basis. Childbearing is not  outdated. It defines a woman. The home, even when a woman works outside  the home, is still the jurisdiction and main responsibility of a woman. The  promiscuity and gender confusion ideologies are also an affront to the holiness  of God. Man is made in God’s image, male and female. 

We sing this song regularly to remind ourselves of our great faith. We also sing this  song regularly as part of our spiritual warfare.