Why Don’t We Sing? - part 2
Our Spiritual Singing
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
- Ephesians 5:19
In part 1 we observed that, in New Testament times, singing overflowed from informal Christian fellowship. Singing “in the moment” was natural to them, but is foreign to most of us. I want to draw two points from this. First, that there may be something awry in our spiritual singing. Second (next post), that there may be something awry in our spiritual fellowship.
Worship is not Music
I’m a musician. Being raised in a Charismatic Christian setting I’ve been involved in “worship music” a long time. For most of my life I’ve understood worship to mean spiritual music: if you want to worship God you better have a song in mind. In more recent years I’ve learned from Scripture that worship is nothing less than living the Christ-like life. Our “spiritual worship” is to “present ourselves a living and holy sacrifice” to God (Romans 12:1.) The Church I’ve become a part of refers to singing during a Church service as “worship in singing.” They believe that the entire service is to be worship – from the reading of scripture, to any singing, communion, giving, praying, teaching and preaching. Yes, even preaching is included. Here is a definition of worship by William Temple:
Worship with Music
With all this emphasis on true worship, however, I think we may have lost a little something in the process. Singing – indeed music – is a vital expression of worship. Time and time again in Scripture we hear, “Sing for joy!” Singing is a unique manner of worship as it brings together the whole person like nothing else. The mind, emotions and body are involved in giving heartfelt praise to God! Whether songs are for thanksgiving, reflection, exaltation, encouragement, they offer the opportunity for us to draw into worship with our whole being. I believe we might have diminished the value of Church singing by relegating it to certain portions of certain organized gatherings. A Christian is a new creation – and this new creature has something to sing about! Listen to John MacArthur’s words from his commentary on Ephesians:
(If you're stil reading...) Singing is for any time. Furthermore, singing together is for any time.
Sing for Joy – but only if you can
And that’s where some of us get hung up. Many people don’t want to sing in a setting in which they might actually be heard because they don’t feel their voice is good enough. This is especially true if others in the group are talented singers.
The Christian scene today is blessed with many fantastic singers. Whether those voices appear in our Churches or on the CD’s we listen to, we know what a good voice sounds like, and, for most of us, our own voices don’t measure up. Many don’t feel that they can worship as well as these talented individuals, and the idea of singing together would only serve as a reminder of that. This is not right. As MacArthur says so well, vocal quality is not a measure of true worship. It was not even mentioned in Christ’s conversation about worship with the woman at the well. “You must worship God in spirit and truth… but only if you can sing really well.” Not true: worship is primarily a mental, not vocal, exercise. If we are to worship God in truth, then God’s truth must be the basis of our worship. However, truth must also be articulated in our worship. Peter Masters, pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, says emphatically that, “Worship is words! Worship is words!” Worship music must be a cognitive activity, one in which our minds are focused on the truth revealed in God’s word – “Your Word is truth,” said Christ.
Back in Romans 12:1 the Greek word for “spiritual” (as in “your spiritual service of worship”) is “rational.” Hence the King James rendition, “Your reasonable service.” This means your reasoning is involved, your thinking. Your mind is more important to your worship of God than your voice, especially when you remember that worship is so much more than singing. However, singing is a part of worship for everyone. God blesses His people with gifts, and for some that is the gift of music. However, this is not to make “non-musical” folks feel inferior, but to prompt them to worship their God. If you can’t hold a tune, then simply make a joyful sound… shout for joy!
We should not constrain singing to our Church services, nor should we limit it to the vocally gifted. We should be at ease singing in each other’s company at all times.
Next, we’ll look closer at what not singing together says about our fellowship.
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
- Ephesians 5:19
In part 1 we observed that, in New Testament times, singing overflowed from informal Christian fellowship. Singing “in the moment” was natural to them, but is foreign to most of us. I want to draw two points from this. First, that there may be something awry in our spiritual singing. Second (next post), that there may be something awry in our spiritual fellowship.
Worship is not Music
I’m a musician. Being raised in a Charismatic Christian setting I’ve been involved in “worship music” a long time. For most of my life I’ve understood worship to mean spiritual music: if you want to worship God you better have a song in mind. In more recent years I’ve learned from Scripture that worship is nothing less than living the Christ-like life. Our “spiritual worship” is to “present ourselves a living and holy sacrifice” to God (Romans 12:1.) The Church I’ve become a part of refers to singing during a Church service as “worship in singing.” They believe that the entire service is to be worship – from the reading of scripture, to any singing, communion, giving, praying, teaching and preaching. Yes, even preaching is included. Here is a definition of worship by William Temple:
- Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God.
To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God,
To feed the mind with the truth of God,
To purge the imagination by the beauty of God,
To open the heart to the love of God,
To devote the will to the purpose of God.
And all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable.
Worship with Music
With all this emphasis on true worship, however, I think we may have lost a little something in the process. Singing – indeed music – is a vital expression of worship. Time and time again in Scripture we hear, “Sing for joy!” Singing is a unique manner of worship as it brings together the whole person like nothing else. The mind, emotions and body are involved in giving heartfelt praise to God! Whether songs are for thanksgiving, reflection, exaltation, encouragement, they offer the opportunity for us to draw into worship with our whole being. I believe we might have diminished the value of Church singing by relegating it to certain portions of certain organized gatherings. A Christian is a new creation – and this new creature has something to sing about! Listen to John MacArthur’s words from his commentary on Ephesians:
- God’s Spirit in the heart puts music in the heart… The Spirit–filled life produces music. Whether he has a good voice or cannot carry a tune, the Spirit–filled Christian is a singing Christian. Nothing is more indicative of a fulfilled life, a contented soul, and a happy heart than the expression of song.
(If you're stil reading...) Singing is for any time. Furthermore, singing together is for any time.
Sing for Joy – but only if you can
And that’s where some of us get hung up. Many people don’t want to sing in a setting in which they might actually be heard because they don’t feel their voice is good enough. This is especially true if others in the group are talented singers.
The Christian scene today is blessed with many fantastic singers. Whether those voices appear in our Churches or on the CD’s we listen to, we know what a good voice sounds like, and, for most of us, our own voices don’t measure up. Many don’t feel that they can worship as well as these talented individuals, and the idea of singing together would only serve as a reminder of that. This is not right. As MacArthur says so well, vocal quality is not a measure of true worship. It was not even mentioned in Christ’s conversation about worship with the woman at the well. “You must worship God in spirit and truth… but only if you can sing really well.” Not true: worship is primarily a mental, not vocal, exercise. If we are to worship God in truth, then God’s truth must be the basis of our worship. However, truth must also be articulated in our worship. Peter Masters, pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, says emphatically that, “Worship is words! Worship is words!” Worship music must be a cognitive activity, one in which our minds are focused on the truth revealed in God’s word – “Your Word is truth,” said Christ.
Back in Romans 12:1 the Greek word for “spiritual” (as in “your spiritual service of worship”) is “rational.” Hence the King James rendition, “Your reasonable service.” This means your reasoning is involved, your thinking. Your mind is more important to your worship of God than your voice, especially when you remember that worship is so much more than singing. However, singing is a part of worship for everyone. God blesses His people with gifts, and for some that is the gift of music. However, this is not to make “non-musical” folks feel inferior, but to prompt them to worship their God. If you can’t hold a tune, then simply make a joyful sound… shout for joy!
We should not constrain singing to our Church services, nor should we limit it to the vocally gifted. We should be at ease singing in each other’s company at all times.
Next, we’ll look closer at what not singing together says about our fellowship.
Comments