Several years ago I observed the power of singing in a remote village in South India. Following my sermon several people responded to the Lord’s invitation to be baptized. It was the dry season so we had to walk for almost an hour before we came to a small lake where the baptisms were to be performed. During our long, hot, and dusty walk I observed that one elderly man sang to a young woman (about 35 years of age) almost continuously. I inquired from one of the local brethren why the old man had done this. The answer surprised me immensely! The old man was an Elder in the church. He had sung the Gospel story to the woman as we walked. As soon as the baptisms of those who had responded to my preaching were completed that young woman asked if she also could be baptized! The old Elder had accomplished through his singing what I had hoped to do in my preaching.
One of my early remembrances in our work in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal is of brother Charles F. Scott coming into a hotel room crowded with fellow preachers and saying in his wonderful, uplifting, and booming voice, “Anybody have a song? Let us sing to the Lord!”
There is power in a song. Songs easily change our moods from sadness to joy; from a feeling of hopelessness to a sense of “I can do anything with Jesus”; and, a song may lift us from a pit of shame, uncleanness, and sin to reassure our consciences that God has cleansed us from every sin and He awaits for us in Heaven, Our home forever more. Songs teach, admonish, offer thanksgivings, and praise to God. Whose heart is not touched when we sing, “O To Be Like Thee”, or “Just As I Am” or, “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah!” or, “Bring Them In?” Consider our lifetime with the church hymnal: From our childhood we learned to sing…Jesus loves me! This I know; for the Bible tells me so. In young adulthood and middle age with their accompanying responsibilities and pressures for obtaining an education, followed by marriage and caring for a family, with duty and work and service in the church all on our shoulders, we sing: Take Time to Be Holy, the World Rushes on. And, as the twilight years have begun, we now sing with a new depth of meaning the refrains of…We are Going down the Valley One by One.
A songbook helps to unite us in our praise and unifies us in the doctrines of Christ. The old favorites sung often give one a sense of well-being and a feeling of belonging which is essential to fellowship in a growing congregation. God is pleased to be praised by the human voice singing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs to Him. Among the many references to singing found in the New Testament, I would refer you to the following two passages:
Be filled with the spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Colossians 3:16
It is the habit of many to sing spiritual songs to the accompaniment of musical instruments. The above passages call that habit into question. Below is a chart which asks and answers the question, “Should we use instrumental music in our worship to God?”
|
PURPOSES OF SINGING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH: |
CAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FULFILL THESE PURPOSES? |
CAN THE HUMAN VOICE SINGING ALONE (WITHOUT THE USE OF ANY INSTRUMENT) FULFILL THESE PURPOSES? |
|
TEACH |
NO |
YES |
|
ADMONISH |
NO |
YES |
|
OFFER THANKSGIVING |
NO |
YES |
The chart shows that the inventions of man, musical instruments, cannot fulfill any purpose God desires in Christian worship. On the other hand, the creation of God, the human voice, can do everything God wants done in singing-worship to Him. Therefore, we would ask, “Why would anyone add musical instruments to aid their worship to God?” When we gather as a church we are seeking to worship God, not to attend an activity for our entertainment. The purposes of singing are to teach, admonish, give thanks, and to praise God in song. There is not one word in the Scriptures directing or in any way suggesting that we gather in worship to be entertained.
Several years ago I observed the power of singing in a remote village in South India. Following my sermon several people responded to the Lord’s invitation to be baptized. It was the dry season so we had to walk for almost an hour before we came to a small lake where the baptisms were to be performed. During our long, hot, and dusty walk I observed that one elderly man sang to a young woman (about 35 years of age) almost continuously. I inquired from one of the local brethren why the old man had done this. The answer surprised me immensely! The old man was an Elder in the church. He had sung the Gospel story to the woman as we walked. As soon as the baptisms of those who had responded to my preaching were completed that young woman asked if she also could be baptized! The old Elder had accomplished through his singing what I had hoped to do in my preaching.
“Anybody have a song? Let us sing to the Lord.”