Praise and Worship: Hruaitu/Tumtu pawl hrang Theih ding le Thlun ding Daan pawl

Zuk: Falam kum 125 Puaipi ih Praise & Worship

A tawizawng in “Praise & Worship” ih a sullam hi Pathian “Thangṭhat le Bia” tinak a si. Himi P&W thu fiang deuh ih kan theihtheinak dingah dunglam thu umdan, lole a thuanthu mallai cu theih ta a ṭul ding. 1960s kum ahhin leitlun fimthiamnak lam siseh, Pathianthu ruahkauhnak (theology) lam siseh, Awnmawi phuahnak (music composition) lam siseh kilkip ah ṭhansonak le thleng-awknak tumpi a rak um. Cumi lak ihsin biaknak lam awnmawi (church music) thuhla thawn a pehpar-awmi lawng, himi cahram sungah simtam kan tum ding.

1960s kum kiangkap ah “Rock” timi awnmawi phun (music form/style) cu a lenglam (secular music) ah nase zet in a laar. Biaknak lam (sacred music) pawl in cumi caan laiah Pathian thangṭhatnak hrang Kawhhran Tharthawh san 1500 ihsin -1900 tiang hrawng ih rak phuahmi thangṭhatnak hla “Khristian Hlabu” (Christian Hymnal) pawl lawng hi Biakinn sungah an rak sak. Cumi san hrawng ih ṭhangthar nonawn pawl in Pathian bia ih Biakkhawmnak tuahdan hi: thlengawknak um lo, amah keel ringring, ningsinza a si, a nung lo, a thi; hlasak ding pawl khal amah keel lawnglawng, thuthangṭha simmi pawl le ngaitlak an si lo, thlacam tla pakhat lawngin amai’ duhduh a cam men, Bawipai’ Zanriah hmantlaang thla cu mithi topi vek rori; ti vekin ruahnak phunphun an nei ih an lungkim lonak pawl tam nawn an rak phorh suak.  A hleice in khawmnak sungih Khristian Hlabu “Hymnal” hla pawl lawnglawng sak hi a ning in an rak ning.

Cuticun santhar hla phun (secular Rock style) in hla an rak phuah an rak sak. Cutik ah, Biaknak lam Saya/Upa lam leh santiluan thlun thei lotu pawl in Khawsia Khuavang hla (Devil song) an rak ti sak tamai. An rak mawh ve lonak tla thuhla tampi a rak um ve. Ziangahtile mino pawl in awnmawi phun (music style) lawng an cawng loih, Rocker pawl ih nuntu khawsakdan tiangin an rak cawn thluh tikah tuksumza cu an rak si ve. Rocker pawl ziangti’n an nungcang ticu simfiang a ṭultuk lemlo ding. A tawi zawngin sim ahcun; awnmawi, nu-pa pawl-awknak, le rittheih sii le vai hmannak (Rock music, Sex, and Drugs) tipawl hi ṭhen a theih lo ti a si. Hitawk zawn ah ruah ding a ummi thu pakhat cu: Pathian thangṭhatnak hla le leitlun tisa, thinlung ih hiarnak hla (sacred and profane) tiih a ṭhentu taktak hi a awthluk le awnmawi phun (style) si sawn lo in a hla ih cafang (words) a si sawn ti thu a si.

Nitlaknak lam Kawhhhran pawl an buai cun, Christian zapi buai tluk kha a si mai. Cuticun Pathian thangṭhatnak le biaknak tuahdan pawl hi thleng ṭulmi dinhmun a hung si vivo. Khristian hnaṭuannak ah ziangvek awnmawi phun kan hmang ding timi el-awknak (debate) ruangah thinlung tong-aw thei loin buainak tampi a rak suak ṭheu. Cucu “Biakkhawmnak Ralpi” (Worship War) ti’n an ko. Hlanlai ih thusim thiam hminthang Spurgeon tla cun awnmawi lam ministry hi “Ralpi Pawlkom” (the War Department) tiah a rak ko, ti a si. An rak buai nasa paam, kum 2010 hnu lamah nisuahnak lam Khristian (a hleice in Laimi Kawhhran Pi) pawl kan hei buai ve a si cu.

Thleng-awknak ih a hram thoktu taktak cu Roman Catholic Church pawl an si. 1963 kum ahhin “the Constitutions on the Sacred Liturgy” an rak suahpi. Himi thu le daan an suahmi in kum zabi 16 lai ih Biakkhawmnak thawn pehpar in biaknak Sunglam Thleng-awknak (Counter Reformation) caan ih an rak rem ciami daan le duun pawl hmuahhmuah cu a tharthawhsal thluh. Himi RC pawl ih Biakkhawmdan thlengnak thuhla a um hnuah Kawhhran Pi (Protestant mainline) pawl in tla mah le biakkhawmdan ciar hi zohsal cio a si. Kum 30 sung hrawng hi thleng-awknak caan laak a si ih, Vatican II ih tuah le remmi thuhla pawl hi zoh ih cawn a si cio. A hleice in khawmnak sungih hmanmi cabu le thagṭhatnak hlabu pawl an si.

Himi thleng-awknak hi “biakkhawmdan tharthawhsalnak” (liturgical renewal) ti’n kawh a si. Himi thleng-awknak sungah hin Catholic pawl siseh, Protestant pawl siseh, khawmdan tharthawhsalnak an neihmi hi Baibal sirhsan in thulu pi pali pek a si; 1) biakkhawm tlaangdan; 2) Pathian ṭongkam simfiang le theihdan; 3) Pathian hnenih Lungawithu simdan; 4) Leilungpi parih miphun hmuahhmuah hrang Thuthangṭha simphuandan tivek pawl an si.

Kawhhran hmaisa (Roman Catholic) le Kawhhran Pi (Mainline Churches) pawl in cuvek in tharthawhsalnak an tuah rero laiah, Paaksai te’n a rak um rerotu Pentecostal, Charismatic, le Praise and Worship daan thlun pawl in, khawmdan an rak nei ve ṭhung. Biakinn ah feh, mi ih thusim/thlacam /hlasak ngai dingah to men, a hlu peek, zapihla fing 1,2 sak dingmen ah khawm pok, tivek hi an paih nawn lo. Mah rori ih thusim, hlasak, thlacam tivek tuah an duh. Tahṭhimnak ah Pentecostals pawl in Theihlo ṭong an thupiter ih an uar deuh, cun Charismatics pawl lala in Thlarau Laksawng an thupiter ih an uar deuh, cu lai ah Praise and Worship uartu pawl in santhar awnmawi thawn hla thar (contemporary chorus) tete an phuah an sak. Cuticun, tui san ih Kawhhran Pi pawl in ra pah ngah lawng si loin in hrut ngah neknek a si cu.

Khua hlan lai ahcun awnmawi thilri (instrumental) hrang organ lawng hman asina’n san thar ahcun guitar, drums, le synthesizers (keyboard, piano) pawl hman a si. Guitar hmanah a mal bik hollow guitar pahnih, lead guitar panih/pathum, bass pakhat hman a si. Drum ahcun drum kit a tumtu pakhat le percussion dangdang tumtu pakhat an hmang ṭheu. Synthesizers hrang a mal bik pathum; Pad (backing) tumtu pakhat, cun keyboarder pahnih, pianist pakhat; computer thawn electronic effect le auto-soundtract pawl hman bet a si lai. Thli thawn phawt theimi awnmawi thilri tumtu tla a bur ih hman an si. Kawhhran tumpi pawl in cu orchestral music an hmang thei. Cuticun minung pakhat lawng ih tum san ihsin minung tampi (band) thawn tum san a ra thleng. Pakhat lawng solo saknak ihsin zapi sak tlang vualvo san a hung thleng. A mal bik microphone kaitu pariat an si ṭheu. Sakbawmtu dingah choir group an hmang, conductor thawn ti ṭhepṭhep in hla an sakpi ve. Lamnak thawn a bawmtu tla an um lai. Kan thiammi mah le kan tilsepnak cio ih Pathian thangṭhat tlang thei san a si thlang. Mipi pawl lawng hlasaknak caan peek a si ṭheu. Mipi aw theih thei dingih tawlrel a si thlang. Khawmtu bulpak mipum pakhat ciar in kan thupi thluh tinak lawng si loin ṭuantlang theinak (teamwork) a thupi vivo zia in hmuh a si cu.

Mipi cu to men, thu ngai ding men in khawm an ra pok nawn lo. “Khoi tawkah thusim thiam a um?” tiih hawl san ihsin, “Khoi tawkah khawm a nuam bik?” tiih pan san a ra thleng zo. Hla phur zet in an sak, an kut an thlir, an za an beng. Zapi thlacamnak an nei, riam ko in thla an cam, kutkai aw in thla an cam, khuk bil in thla an cam, bok in thla an cam, hrek khat cu an ṭap (nazi khuai thlacam sung ihthah a theih nawn lo.) Mah ih hmuhtonmi harsaknak phuanlangnak caan an co, lungawi thusimnak caan tla an co ve (nazi khuai thuthan ngai ṭul lo, mahte phuan a theih). Tetti khaannak caan on a si. A tawizawng in sim ahcun thleng-awknak thar kan ti tikah, mipi cu a zohtu (audience) dinhmun ihsin a lektu (player) dinhmun ah an tel ve tinak a si. Khawmnak pakhat sungah mikhual a um nawn lo. Biakkhawmnak sungah mi thupi hleice (VIP), lole min-ta/min-tami tla a um thei nawn lo.

Praise & Worship Hruaitu/Tumtu hrang ralrin dingmi thu pawl

A hleice in Laimi Kawhhran hrekkhat pawl tla cun P&W a hmang-na, khat lam ah, duh lo tu-na kan um culci. Amah le hmun le caan ah hmanthiam cun a ṭha zetmi a si ko. Duh le duh lo hnakin kan mipi pawl ih au-aw cu ziang a si, ti theih a ṭha. Lai ṭong in ‘thuhla’ kan tiih, kan mipi pawl Pathian ‘thu’ le ‘hla’ thawn kan cawm thei ngaingai maw, timi cu mah le mah suh-awk le zoh-awksal ding a si ko. Baibal lam ihsin hmuhdan a phunphun cu kan ngan leh vivo ko ding nain, atu ahcun P&W a hmangtu pawl hrang le a hruaitu pawl hrang theih ṭulmi tete kan zohtlang hrih ding.

1. Choosing the wrong songs (Hla hril sual)

- Hell ram tlaaknak cu a si lo na’n, hla hriltu in tuni Ziangni? Zianghrang? Ziangvek? Hla kan sak le ṭha ding, ti theih a ṭul. Timtuahnak le thlacamnak nase zet ih neih cia a ṭul.

2.  Doing too many new songs (Hla thar lawnglawng sak)

- Mipi ih sakpi thei vualvo mi cu a ṭha bik. Hla thar kan sak ding le, pakhatte tivek lawng a ṭha. (Saktu/tumtu pawl) hrang thiamnak hmuh/piah ciamconak ding a si lo. Ar hla fingkhat thiam vek ih pakhat lawng sak ringring tla tla a ṭha cuang lo. Mi a ti ning. Hla thar/hlun hril thiam a ṭul.

3.  Singing in the wrong keys (Hla aw laak sual)

- Timtuahnak nei lo tinak a si. Numi le Pami sak tlang vualvo kan si tikah, an pahnih ih sak thei ding key hman ding a si. A saang tuk le a niam tuk tivek cu, a tumtu pawl sambaunak a si deuh.

4.  Just reproducing the CD (A cekci vekin sak tum)

- Original, a saktu pawl vek cekci ih sak tum cu, a ṭha thluh lo. Kanmah thawn rem-aw deuh ih tuah theih a si ko. Nunau mipa tivek tla sak caan kian-aw sehla hla a nung deuh. A tumtu tla cawl phahphah ding a si ko. A thok in a cem tiang mai’ tummi rinter ringring ti tla a si thluh cuang lo. Timtuahnak ah arrangement ṭhate’n tuah ding a si.

5. Being too Programmed (Daan thlun tuk)

- A tum le a sak pawl ah anmah vek cekci ih tum/sak zuam cu, zin a fee tuk thei. A tumtu pawl tla pakhat le pakhat zo si ring deuh ding (back/front) caan pe-aw phahphah a ṭha. Rock hla lawng ah thiam hleice (Hero) a um thei, P&W music ahcun tumtu zate kha diim deuh ih tum (backing) an si thluh, cun hlasaktu sung ihsin pakhat cun malte ring deuh ih sak (front) a si ringring ding. A ring le a diim (volume, expression, dynamics) cu awnmawi ih nunnak a si. Pakhat le pakhat kian-aw lawng si loin Thiangthlarau hrang hmun peek a ṭul.

6. Poor communication (hla saktu/tumtu pawl theithiam-aw lo)

- Sak le tum pahnih lawng kan nei. Mic kaitu pawl tla mah aw lawnglawng na thei cun suup ding a si. Solo sak kan si lo. Zo ih aw a ring bik ding? zo ih aw pawl backing si ding? tivek in timtuahnak neih cia a ṭha. A tumtu pawl tla mipi aw theithei lo khop in ring zet tum ciamco tla, a dikmi a si cuang lo. A ring bik Front line ih suak ringring tla, a dikmi a si thluh lo. Hotu pakhat lawng um a ṭha. Kut thawn hmuh theihmi musical sign/symbol tete tla theih a ṭha. Thoknak, verse, chorus, free flow, bridge, cemnak, tivek tete theih a ṭha. A thupi bik pakhat ahcun hlasaktu (mipi) pawl ih aw theihthei lo khop ih hmai ih hruai lo a ṭha (stage show hmanah mipi sak theinak caan an pe ṭheu, an sak tlaang vualvo ṭheu).

7. Failing to flow, worship is a journey (a hmun le a caan zoh thiam lo)

- Hla hrilnak ah siseh, caan hmandan ah siseh, a thok ihsin a net tiang mipi thinlung hip thei zuam a ṭha. A hram thoknak ah a ruremi kan sak/tum a si ahcun, kan net lam ah a nuamnai deuh a ṭul. Mipi hi a thupi bik a si. Kan hruai thei lo cun, P&W hman hi tuah lo a ṭha sawn. Khawm le mipi thinlung hnaihnoktu fang a si thei.

8. Talking too much, don’t preach (ṭong tamtuk, hei sermon bet lai)

- Hla cu sak ding a si, a dang tampi ṭong ding a si lemlo, hla cu thu a si zo ruangah sim bet rero a ṭul lo. Thuthangṭha simtu ding a dangte’n a um ko ih ceem cih sak ding a si lo. Thlacam ciamco tla a ṭul lomi  a si. Biakinn sung an rak lut ih tonak hmun an laak caan ihsin, pum-apnak rak neih cio a si. Lungawithu sim hi a tawk ko.

9. Going too long (Caan sautuk hmang)

- Ram leng ahcun P&W hrang, biakkhawmnak pakhat sungah hla hi, fing 2,3 baak an sak dah lemlo. Stage show lole worship though music tivek ih mipi hrang nomnak (entertainment) tuah, ti a si lawlaw le cun, thukhat a va si ding. A thok caan le a net caan hi hmaan te’n hman theih a ṭha. Caan upat ding tinak a si cu.

10. Forcing open worship (Fial ciamco)

- ‘Kan zapi’n kan ding pei uh,’ ‘za beng uh,’ ‘khut thlir uh,’ ‘thlacam uh,’ ‘lam uh,’ tivek pawl hi hman ding a si lemlo. “Hallelujah, vei 7 kan au ding,” tivek cu a roh sinsin. Anmah le lung tho ih, lole phur ih an tuahmi cu thu khat. Kan tuahter duhmi kha mipi hmaiah kan tuah cun, an cawng cih ko ding. Hramhram ih fial cu a ti ih ti lo a ṭha.

A netnak ah, Praise and Worship a hruaitu le a saktu zatein kan theih a ṭulmi pakhat cu: “Hla/Music hi kan hmuibatmi (a thupi bik, a saang bik) a si lo, Pathian biaknak hrangih hmanrua pakhat men a si” (Music is not the goal, but a means to worship God). Kan thangṭhatmi Amah Pathian lala kha (biakkhawmnak caan sungah) theihngilh pang lo a ṭha. Biakkhawmnak sungah Awnmawi hmandan thiam thei dingin, Thiang Thlarau (paraclete) in lam in hruai vivo cio hram seh!

Rev. Dr. David TK Thang

Project Manager

Falam Commentary Project

Chin Baptist Union

Kalaymyo

March 21, 2016

References:

Webber, Robert. 1998. Planning Blended Worship: The Creative Mixture of Old & New. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Browne, Darin. “Top 10 Mistakes Worship Leaders Make.” http://www.praiseandworshipleader.com. (accessed December 30, 2016).