A Jot From John,
One might say in common vernacular that I am the product of a singing family. Years ago, my family and I would travel in snow with chains on the rear tires just to go to a Sunday afternoon singing. Actually, in truth, all Christians are members of a singing family. Christ as the head of our family, the church, has so commanded that all Christians sing. Paul, in the Ephesian letter, exhorted, “. . . be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:19-20). Paul, also, in a letter to the Corinthians, further explained that singing should contain two important ingredients, spirit and understanding. (1 Cor. 14:15).
Why did Christians sing? As evidenced in the scriptures above we sing to (1) edify each other; (2) praise the Lord in our heart; and (3) give thanks to God. We are told, to be acceptable, once again, this singing must be with spirit and with understanding.
In my opinion, singing adds emotion to well constructed thoughts. For instance, we sing the hymn, The Old Rugged Cross. Emotion is aroused as the scenes of the cross are clearly brought into focus by each individual participating in the hymn. Even those individuals that believe outward emotion is a sing of weakness must feel the tug at the heart strings as they utter the words, “. . . for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.” Christians, in singing, experience nearly all of the human emotions—joy, love, sorrow, etc.
To better understand why God’s people are a singing group, we should listen to the Bible’s most famous singing character, David. David seems to capture the spirit of worship in singing when he states, “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of they righteousness” (Psa. 145:7). To be acceptable to God, we must capture and be filled with the enthusiasm, spirit, and understanding that usually accompany a rousing song. In singing worship to God we must experience the same type of feeling that causes hair to rise on the back of your neck while singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Paul told the Philippians to grow in knowledge and judgment so that they might approve things that were excellent. (Phil. 1:9-10). We, as Christians, should pursue excellence in all facets of our individual worship to God. Most Christians try to follow this guide in all areas except in worship in song. After an unusually good song service, one can hear comments such as, “I enjoyed your singing.” A more appropriate comment would be, “I enjoyed singing with you.”
No group of people more exemplify God’s teaching on singing than children in VBS. Have you ever seen a group of children lacking in enthusiasm and spirit while singing in VBS? There is no embarrassment because the melody sometimes eludes the child who is singing. Generally speaking, all participate in the songs selected. Many times you try to teach children Bible truths and find these truths are soon forgotten. How many times after learning a Bible truth in a song is this truth forgotten?
Thanks to our elders for our fifth Sunday evening song service where young men like Jaxson can learn Bible truths through song while being trained to become a song-leader someday in the Lord’s church.
God in his omnipotence knew the importance of song to his children. As his children, can we afford to fail to practice and improve our worship in song?
Onward Rejoicing,
John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
