Our singing workshop is coming up next weekend. Is this really that important? Is it really necessary for us all to really try to be present? How important is congregational singing anyway? May two reminders be offered for your consideration?
Congregational singing draws the children of God closer to our Heavenly Father
James 4:8 reminds us that as we draw near to God, He in turn draws near to us. In the preceding verse, James says that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. All acts of worship are intended to help us separate from the world and the things of the world and be drawn closer to God. In singing, we are drawn closer to God and the bonds between His children are made stronger. Colossians 3:16 is often known and cited in articles and sermons on the command for congregational singing, and so it should be. In that verse the command is given for members of the Lord’s church to teach and admonish one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God. However, just two verses prior, Paul has spoken these words, “Above all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity,” (Colossians 3:14). There is a bond that is to exist as God’s children and singing should draw us closer to one another and ultimately to our Heavenly Father.
God has given each of us our own musical instrument
Ephesians 5:19 says, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” God designed the musical instruments within each of us and He desires to hear them make melody in His presence. Have you ever been to a concert with a band or orchestra? Have you been there early enough to hear them warming up and tuning their instruments? Before every concert, there is ‘fine-tuning.’ From Colossians 3:14-16, we learn that proper worship involves three “strings” that need to be tuned. They are the strings of love, peace, and the word of Christ. All three attach themselves to the instrument that God has given us – our hearts. Because of our love for God and each other, and because of the peace that we find only in Jesus and with each other, and because of the word of Christ dwelling in our hearts – we should be led to praise God in song! We should have a great desire to use the instrument that God has given to us to sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). As we sing, we are building each other up and glorifying God. With our hearts in tune we will be able to declare with the Lord, “In the midst of the assembly I will sing Your praise,” (Hebrews 2:12). Let’s plan to be present to give attention to this very important aspect of our worship to God.
-Adam Orr
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