When I was a teenager I remember being at church and hearing a middle aged man belt out a hymn at the top of his voice. His words were clear but he was not really in tune. I remember whispering to the person next to me, ‘He sounds like a dying moose!’ Unfortunatetly, his daughter was nearby and heard. She leaned across and whispered in my ear, ‘At least he is singing to the glory of God…’ I was humbled.
…be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5)
The Bible teaches us several things about music:
- Music is sung for the sake of others and to the Lord (v.18)
- Music begins in the heart before it reaches the lips. (v.19)
- Music is fuelled by genuine thanksgiving to God (v.20)
When Christians do not sing in church we deny Jesus the praise he deserves in the presence of others. When we do not sing at church because we are too self conscious we have to remember it is not about us – songs are to Jesus for the sake of others. When Christians show no passion in our singing it indicates that the truths have hit our minds but not our hearts.
Ironically, it is my turn to be the middle aged man praising the Lord out of tune. Sing so that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Denis Oliver