Music in church.
What God has created for an awesome expression of praise, worship, solace, joy, meditation, conviction, challenge, surrender, and discipleship is sadly a major source of division in the Body of Christ and has been for centuries.
Continue reading “Get Rid of That Flute! Trash That Trumpet!”
You want to start a possible firestorm in a conversation? Mention the word “music.” Even writing about this causes me to cringe a bit. There is much debate about the kind of music being used today in our churches. May I kindly offer the following?
Often the cry is heard, “We don’t sing the old hymns in our church anymore,” or “I sure miss the old hymns,” or “These old hymns will die if we don’t sing them in church.” No matter whether that is the case or not, may I ask, as I was reminded recently, “Do you sing hymns at home?”
The best place to learn the great hymns of the faith is at home. Sing them at supper. Sing them in the car. Sing them around the fire pit. Sing them during your family devotions. Sing them on the way to church. Sing them while holding your child in your arms. Sing them while washing dishes. Sing them at family gatherings.
On any given Sunday, a congregation may sing around 30 minutes. How many opportunities do you have at home each week? Take advantage of those hours to disciple and worship with your family and guests. Make your home a house of praise! I have a hunch your worship time on Sunday will be more Godward-focused and heart-expressed.
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people (Psalm 9:1).
I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me (Psalm 13:6).
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name (Psalm 18:36).
Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy (Psalm 33:3).
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18).
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16).
Thank the Lord He created music! Sing!!
There are many reasons to be excited about attending church on Sunday and one of those is participating in worship with a congregation that sings!
Music has always been a major part of my life. My mother played the piano for nearly 75 years. My dad loved to sing. I cut my musical teeth on children’s records and long-play albums. The sounds of Jack Holcomb, Helen Barth, Doug Oldam, 16 Singing Men, and many others filled our home every day. We even had a membership with Word Record Company and received monthly sacred albums.
My mom would play the piano in church and Dad would lead the singing. I vividly remember as a little boy that small congregation along the river in Dart, Ohio, singing their hearts out to such songs as “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” “Hear Ye the Master’s Call,” and many, many others.
Believe it or not, the first time I led singing in church was at the age of 12, and I led my first choir at the age of 14.
Some of my fondest memories of music are also connected with a packed out Lodge at The Wilds Camp and Conference Center as a teen singing those great camp songs! Also, how blessed to have attended many, many Southern Gospel concerts with my father-in-law, my wife and our daughters who are musicians.
How absolutely grateful I am that God created music!! Even more, how awesome it is to sing with other believers on Sunday who are gathered in the presence of God, our Heavenly Father, lifting their voices in praise and heartfelt melodies!!
This past Sunday, as I stood at the front row of the auditorium, I could hear the congregation singing behind me. Having led singing for many years in our church, I could only imagine their countenances as they sang, “Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone,” “Come, Christians Join to Sing,” and a new song we are learning, “Jesus, the Son of God.” Many, many times when our congregation sings, I think, “This has to be a foretaste of Heaven!!”
May I encourage you to serve the Lord, to worship the Lord, and minister to all those around you this Sunday by lifting your voice in praise! Ask your worship leader ahead of time what songs will be sung so you can sing them with your family during the week before the Sunday worship gathering. Use those songs in your personal daily meeting time with God in His Word and prayer. Come prepared to Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Psalm 30:4)
Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! (Psalm 47:6)
Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. (Psalm 66:2)
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. (Psalm 95:1)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)
From A Pastor's Heart 