More Than A Fan
At almost every sporting event the singing of the national anthem takes place at the beginning. Regardless of what sports team you’re supporting, the national anthem sung by a gifted singer, along with a multitude of Americans in the stadium, providing an opportunity to pause and reflect on the many freedoms we enjoy as Americans. In particular, we often think about the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to protect these cherished freedoms, which many, including myself, sometimes take for granted.
Can you remember a baseball game, football game, or maybe an olympic medal ceremony where you first felt that prick of thankfulness and gratitude on your heart as you and thousands of other Americans, with hats uncovered, sang that song? Nobody handed out lyrics, practiced before they left the house, or felt embarrassed to sing in public. Everyone knows the song. We respectfully place our hands over their hearts and sing — or at least mouths the words. If you are an American citizen, you are participating in this secular congregational singing and music.
Similarly, the church does many of the same things when we come together, however the Person of our Worship is the Almighty God who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for all of mankind so that we might have eternal life.
One could argue that you could worship at home much like you could watch a sports game on tv in the comfort of your own home. The difference is no fan is commanded by law to attend and cheer at a sports game of their favorite team. Again in contrast, Jesus commands His people in Matthew 4:10 to “worship the Lord your God.” Later in John 4:23–24, true worshippers are called to worship in spirit in truth and should not forsake meeting with one another so that we might spur up love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24–25). Proverbs 18:1 says “Beware the man who isolates himself, for he seeks his own desires.” Scripture is clear on many accounts on the need for the church to gather as a means of encouraging and ministering to one another.
In regards to the singing and music, we can look to scripture once more, specifically in Ephesians 5:18–21.
. . . be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
These verses address the need for one another, as members of the body of Christ, to respond in thankfulness to God the Father in worship as we “make music in our hearts to the Lord.”
Another important aspect of congregational singing and music is that God promises us when two or more gather in his name, He is there with us (Matthew 18:20). Furthermore that He will enthrone himself on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). What a promise, to know that God is present when we gather together and that we can expect Him to be present!
Congregational singing and music can not earn anyone salvation or make anyone righteous in the eyes of God. This comes only through receiving the gift of salvation by believing in the life, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ and receiving Him as Lord of their life. In John 14:6 Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.” What it does demonstrate, much like fan at the game of their favorite sports team, is that you are in strong agreement to what is being sung and or said in those meetings and you are following in obedience to the scriptures of the word that call us to gather together, like in Hebrews 10. In his book Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Faith, Donald S. Whitney states:
the New testament describes the church with metaphors like “flock” (Acts 20:21), “body” (1 Corinthians 12:12) and “household” (Ephesians 2:19), each of which implies a relationship between individual units and a larger whole and that despite the blessings of a consistent, high-quality, personal devotional life doesn’t exempt you from worshipping with other believers.
I am blessed to work alongside a Worship Pastor with a passion and scriptural foundation for seeing future generations empowered by the Spirit of God to use their gifts and abilities for His glory and as the means of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and leadership in my life, I have come to this point in my life where I seek to fulfill these truths in my life and in my church.
