Do We Have to Sing in Church?
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For going on a week now, I’ve been fighting off a nasty cold. Stuffed up nose, hacking cough – the works. I probably got it from all the traveling that I’ve been doing the last few weeks, but that’s also meant that I’ve unfortunately had to miss a lot of church. So as I settled onto my couch for virtual church this past Sunday, I was excited for it. I’d missed this time of refreshment and had really seen God working in my life recently. So I was excited to worship Him.
- You don’t like the songs, maybe because they are too old-fashioned, or too modern?
- You don’t want to, thinking nobody will really notice or care either way?
I’ve certainly answered yes to some, if not all, of these questions throughout my life. When the worship leader hits that high note, it’s easy for me to just give up on the song altogether. And who among us hasn’t visited a church at some point and thought “yeuch, this music style is not for me.”
But we need to get down to the “why” behind all of these questions, and ultimately remember one thing: musical worship is not for you. True, it can give you a spiritual experience if you are really connecting with the song, and it can help you to feel closer to God at times. But the reason we sing is to offer praise and thanks to God.
- If you think you aren’t good enough, know that God doesn’t measure talent. He just wants to hear your joy and thankfulness.
- If you think singing is a waste or undignified, perhaps you need to humble yourself. Remember that even the great King David was accused of “undignified worship,” yet he did it anyway (2 Samuel 6:20-23).
- If you don’t like the song, perhaps try focusing on the words, instead of the rhythm. Meditate on what biblical truth the song is conveying, and praise God for the incredible things He has done.
- If you don’t think anyone will care, know that God does! Again, He isn’t up in Heaven cracking His knuckles and waiting to punish you for not singing. But He wants to hear from you!
Do we need to sing in church? No, not really. If you truly feel that there’s a better way for you to worship and thank God, that isn’t born out of vanity, then by all means do that. But there is something special and timeless about lifting up your voice, together with other out-of-key believers, to praise God.
Many of the songs we sing are old hymns that recount incredible truths about who God is and what He’s done for humanity. Many other newer songs are modeled after specific Psalms – and singing the words of Scripture is an incredible way to praise Him.
Whether you sound like a Broadway star or a dying cat, what truly matters to the Lord is what is in your heart. If you are making noise in true worship and thanksgiving, then He will gladly accept it.
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Bethany Pyle is the editor for Bible Study Tools.com and the design editor for Crosscards.com. She has a background in journalism and a degree in English from Christopher Newport University. When not editing for Salem, she enjoys good fiction and better coffee.