Sing a song…
Hamo asks:
If its not part of his life to sing ‘pre-faith’ should we expect him to do it ‘post-faith’. Is singing an essential biblical requirement for worship or is it a cultural expression that can be taken or left depending on context?…
There is a LOT of singing in the Bible - music has been called the ‘language of culture’ - but must churches sing?
Some have said ‘once you know Jesus you can’t help but sing’. Maybe that’s true. Maybe we should expect new believers to pull in and become like us in this way?…
Do you think?…
Or have we become so attached to our singing that we just can’t conceive of worship taking any other form?
It is a genuine question because I think there is something powerful and engaging about a group of people singing, but should we see it as normative?
Of our seven congregations, only one has singing set in stone as a part of the worship. At least three never do congregational any singing.
One of the things that we experienced a lot of flack about when we were starting our new congregations (both internally and externally) was the idea of having congregations which do not sing at all. One person suggested one of our cafe congregations should visit [insert name of large eastern suburban bible belt church]’s evening service, because they had really good worship.
Another person (who we both really respect) suggested that if we weren’t singing, then we couldn’t really connect with God in worship.
But the fact of it is, in some environments, singing is very unusual. The only place outside of church where I have been involved in singing is the school choir/madrigal/musical or singing the club theme song and the national anthem at the football.
We recall at our wedding our non-Christian friends feeling incredibly out of place and uncomfortable with the singing. I always feel weird when I wind up somewhere with contemporary worship singing. I am now someone who is like a non-Christian in that sense - I don’t know the songs, I am not used to worshipping in that way, and I rarely sing with other people.
And you know what? Sometimes, congregational singing is awful. I have seen contrived, polished and completely heartless performances called worship. And I have seen unenthused, going through the motions singing called worship. And I have seen genuine communal singing which praises God and each other, even where not every note is hit exactly right.
I guess my point is this. Singing can be good, and it can be really off-putting as an element of worship. Singing doesn’t automatically equal worship, any more than lack of singing automatically equals more inviting to non-churched people. At least that I what I think.
April 20th, 2004 at 2:55 pm
singing the club theme song
It would have been a while since you’ve done that wouldn’t it?
April 20th, 2004 at 2:58 pm
Steady on. I must admit that in the last couple of weeks I have had the opportunity of hearing some of the other theme songs a little more. Some of them are quite catchy. Fremantle’s offering is not.
April 21st, 2004 at 9:35 am
Here I am to Worship
Dan made a good post, and all I have to say is that I agree. Singing can be a monumental
April 21st, 2004 at 9:35 am
Here I am to Worship
Dan made a good post, and all I have to say is that I agree. Singing can be a monumental
April 22nd, 2004 at 10:46 am
I agree with Zwingli and get rid of it.
either the words are sound doctrine but the music is awful or like Van the Man the words are poor doctrine but the music is good.
We need modern Wesley brothers!
April 23rd, 2004 at 5:36 pm
As a devout non-Christian, I agree with Dan - I attended a wedding a few years ago and all of a sudden the bride and groom whipped out mics and then a whole heap of other people pulled out mics and they all got right into it.
The row of non-Christians sat there not knowing what to do - perhaps if we’d been forewarned and expecting it we might have joined in, but you know what it’s like. You just don’t know where to look.
April 24th, 2004 at 5:18 am
Sing A Song…….. God’s favourite song…”Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His mercy and loving kindness endures forever”
Over 150 Psalms are designed to be sung; many antiphonally. The ultimate song of all songs “The Song of Solomon” I have spent two years studying this amazing book. King David played his harp & sang to God (a man after God’s heart). Get with the program God loves it God wants it upgrade push through.
April 26th, 2004 at 4:08 pm
God likes singing when it is people’s heartfelt celebration of their relationship with God, or God likes it no matter what, and so requires it from people who don’t want to do it and are not particularly edified by it, and would naturally prefer to express their worship in spoken words, or silence, or dance, or compassionate action, or viewing an icon, or proclaiming the gospel, or binding the powers, or building up the weak, or discussing God’s word, or enacting a ritual etc….?
April 28th, 2004 at 1:25 pm
Very interesting post.
One of my contentions, regardless of whether or not one sings, is that worship has become largely music-driven rather than heart-driven. When the music plays, the worship “begins.” When the music is great, emotions “engage” (which may or may not have anything to do with worship). When the music stops, the “worship” comes to an end.
It is the heart that worships, in many different ways, inspired by the Holy Spirit.