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Singing is very personal. The voice is the only musical instrument physically connected to our body. Because of this, it’s only natural that our awareness is heightened when it comes to the quality of sound (or lack thereof) that we make when we sing. Perhaps we even become quite self-conscious.
Singing is very personal. The voice is the only musical instrument physically connected to our body. Because of this, it’s only natural that our awareness is heightened when it comes to the quality of sound (or lack thereof) that we make when we sing. Perhaps we even become quite self-conscious.
Singing is also a skill and talent. While it can be learned and improved upon through instruction and practice, there’s a certain amount of giftedness involved when it comes to singing, and it cannot be debated that some are more gifted in this area than others. For some, singing is enjoyable and comes quite easy. For others, it can be an uncomfortable experience. As human beings, the reality is that we tend to approach the things that we do well with more energy and enthusiasm than the things that we don’t do as well. Again, this is natural.
In this article, we will see how worship is tied to our being a witness of God.
Since the Old Testament days, it has been the honor of God’s people to be a witness for Him. From the time when God made His covenant with Abraham, and then throughout the history of the people of Israel, their worship was meant to be a witness to all the nations that their God was the true and only God, and that He had done wonderful things on their behalf (Exodus 34:10; 1 Samuel 12:24; Psalm 66:5).
One of the most common definitions of worship is “to show reverence and adoration for.” As Christians, we worship only God. In our worship, we express reverence and adoration for God through music, prayer, and moments of reflection and meditation. This need to express to God how we feel about Him is something we should feel compelled to do as His children, and as followers of Jesus Christ.
In his article, “Is All Worship Equally Acceptable to God”, author Tim Barnett reminds us that if nothing else, the stories of Cain & Able (Genesis 4:1-5) and Nadab & Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3) teach us that there is a right way and a wrong way to approach God in worship.
Congregational singing is when a congregation gathers together in the name of God to worship Him through song. As Christians, we are called to be a singing people.
In Colossians 3:16 Paul says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to the Lord.” There are over fifty direct commands to sing in the Bible. Another can be found in Psalm 149:1: “Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints.” Just as we are commanded to love our neighbor, to forgive, and to repent, we are also commanded to sing, and to do so with other believers. Singing, then, is both our pleasure and our joyful duty as Christians.
Consider the following quote: “Not all singing churches are healthy churches, but all healthy churches are singing churches.” Remember the three parts of our stepping forward initiative: health, growth, and completion. This process starts with health. If we want our congregations to be healthy, then it’s important that we understand the value of singing in worship.
It allows various segments and age groups in the congregation to meaningfully worship God when they meet together, without excluding anyone.
Take your time. Transition is a process, not an event. Blended worship won’t happen overnight. Those leading this change need to read the congregation and know when (and pray over how) to move. This change should occur gently, over time, and with exemplary leadership and execution (see next bullet!).
Blended worship is “the coming together of various forms of expression to create diverse and accessible forms of worship.” The purpose of blended worship is to “reach all people,” in support of our church’s mission and vision statements. Everyone should feel at home in our congregations. There are of course many factors that go into this, but music plays a key role. The music selected for a divine service has a direct effect on the atmosphere and on the overall worship experience.
Our congregations are made up of members of many different age groups and with different backgrounds, ethnicities, and life experiences. Subsequently, to offer everyone only one type of worship experience isn’t a healthy option. We need to be accepting of each other’s worship preferences, and those who select songs need to understand that our congregations are filled with members who have likes, dislikes, and needs. Very few of our congregations, if any, are “one size fits all” when it comes to music and worship preferences.
Blended worship, then, is all about variety. There’s variety when it comes to music style (mix of traditional and contemporary), participants (mix of choir and congregational singing, solos and small ensembles), and musical instruments (mix of voices and instruments). There’s a little bit of something for everyone in worship. With blended worship, everyone, at some point in the service, has an opportunity (hopefully many!) to be turned to God through music.
Sometimes, to get a better feel and understanding for what something is, it can be helpful to look at what it isn’t. Given the importance of worship to us as Christians, and the necessity that we understand what it is, let’s take a moment to look at what it isn’t:
Worship is recognizing and expressing who God is—the outward actions and internal devotion that believers offer to the one true God in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
One of the most common definitions of worship is “to show reverence or adoration for.” When we worship God, we humble ourselves before Him in reverence and adoration and then actively respond to His character, words, and actions.
All that we know of God comes to beautiful expression in worship—through music, prayer, service, praise, and thanksgiving. This desire to express to God how we feel about Him based on all that we know of Him should be something that lives and burns within all Christians. It’s something that we cannot, and should not, ignore!
Take David, for example. David knew how to worship God. Very rarely did He praise God the same way twice. His praise was always fresh, creative, and inspired by the fullness of God’s nature. Take a moment to read 1 Chronicles 29:10-13. David takes three verses explaining who God is, and only then does He say “Now, therefore, our God, we thank you.” David shows here a beautiful picture of worship, out of which praise and thanksgiving flow.
There’s often a misconception that worship=music. While music is certainly an expression of worship or a means by which we come to worship Him, worship goes far beyond music. The outward actions and internal devotion that believers offer to the one true God in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is our worship. Therefore, we can worship Him in any and every moment of our lives. By no means is our worship unto God confined to the church building. He is worthy to be worshipped everywhere and always. We have the opportunity to worship (“show reverence or adoration for”) Him in our thoughts, words, and actions every day.
Worship is a behavior. To worship God in all that we do, we must come into His presence and into the knowledge of Him. The more we come to perceive His presence and the more we take time to learn about His character, the more we can be delighted by Him and all that He is. This gives truth and purpose to our worship. As the Chief Apostle Schneider once stated, “God doesn’t need us to worship Him. We’re the ones who need worship.”
In our worship, we are reminded of His promises for us. We are reminded of the goodness He brings to our lives. We are reminded of our sinful nature and God’s grace. When we recall these things, we understand where the writer of Acts was coming from when He said: “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” The more we know about God, the more we can’t help but worship Him.
