Why do you sing on Sunday mornings? Those on the platform are not there to perform for our entertainment. They are there to help us--the congregation--sing to the Lord. But, why are we singing? Do you sing out of mere habit? Do you sing because that's what everyone else is doing? Because you think think it's expected of those at church? Or, maybe you don't actually sing at church. Maybe you are content to stand and listen to everyone else around you?
So far in our series on Sunday Morning Disciple-Making we have thought about the need for it, speaking God's word for it, and welcoming others for it. Now, we want to spend a few minutes thinking how our singing can be a means of disciple-making. To do so, we need to think about why we sing on Sundays. Here, I want to provide two reasons.
Sing to Praise God
Singing is good gift meant to help us praise God. We see this truth throughout the Psalms where we are commanded to sing in order to worship the Lord (e.g. Pss 9:11; 30:4; 47:6; 92:1; 68:4; 98:4; 147:7). Worship and praise is more than singing. All of life is meant to be worship (Rom 12:1). But singing is a unique way we are commanded to give praise to God: "For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting" (Ps 147:1).
The truth is that we may not feel like praising God on any given Sunday. Yet, singing has a way of helping us move from complacency to sincerity. It frees us to express ourselves with a kind of vulnerability and authenticity that sometimes doesn't come easy. And such singing often means the song lyrics become the words of a praying heart. What we sing becomes our earnest prayer to God.
Thus, we should sing on Sunday mornings because 1) it's commanded, 2) God deserves it, 3) and it's good for us. But there's another reason we should sing on Sundays.
Sing to Encourage Others
Remember that what happens during the Sunday morning gathering is different than what happens when you're alone; you are with God's people. The prayers are in the plural for a reason. We are doing something together that we cannot do individually. We are worshiping the Lord as his gathered body. That means that when you sing, your mind and heart must go beyond merely, "This is about me and God." It must start there. But it cannot stay there.
Paul connects singing with proclaiming: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col 3:16). Now, Jesus and the apostles didn't go around proclaiming the gospel in song. But when we gather as a church and sing--assuming the lyrics are faithful to the truth of God's Word!--then we proclaim those truths to one another. We are building up one another in the faith.
Moreover, not just what we sing but how we sing can be an encouragement. Maybe that makes you nervous because you feel hindered by a voice that doesn't seem all that pleasant to the ear. As one who also suffers from this affliction, let me say that the quality of voice is not nearly as important as the sincerity behind it.
When I was in seminary, I had a dear friend who sang terribly. Yet, like David worshiping before the Lord as the Ark was returning to Jerusalem, my friend sang with all his might! At first, it was amusing. But then it was convicting. Here was a young man who passionately worshiped the Lord. It didn't matter if he sang well or not; he sang like he believed it! This doesn't mean that there is some artificial standard for singing--a certain volume, a certain posture, a certain amount of tears, etc. No, it simply means that it should be obvious that you aren't merely going through the motions. You really are worshiping God. You really do believe the truths we are singing.
And that's where the encouragement comes in. As I sing to the Lord on Sunday mornings, I am also singing to his people. I am affirming the biblical truths of the song personally. So, when I sing, I'm saying that I really believe that--
In Christ alone, my hope is found . . .
My soul is purchased by his blood; my life is hid with Christ on high . . .
his perfect love will never change; and his mercies never cease . . .
He will hold me fast. . .
My worth is not in what I own . . .
All I have is Christ . . .
God's truth about still; his kingdom is forever. . . and more!
I can help God's people, even those around me united by covenant promises to live and serve together as a local church, by how I sing. Because when I am seen praising God, affirming truthful statements about his character and promises, committing myself to live faithfully for him by faith in him, then those around me will be encouraged to do the same. They will find themselves provoked to more intently look to heaven and remember their God; to praise him more sincerely. And, ultimately, they will become a little more mature in Christ--the ultimate aim of disciple-making.
So, brothers and sisters, let us sing for the sake of disciple-making!
Comments