The Gift of Congregational Worship
There is something special about gathering in a room with fellow believers and singing songs of truth and hope. This singing is only enhanced by rich melodies and instrumental music that brings tonal life to the living words that we sing. We are blessed to experience this in different forms as we gather weekly for worship. Knowing its value, we try to duplicate this experience in auditoriums, concert halls, arenas and living rooms but we find it to be lacking without the presence of God, fellow believers, and the powerful oral traditions of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Singing and making music to the Lord in a congregation is worship, is an expression of the Gospel faith, and is essential to healthy Christian living.
Congregational singing and congregational music are expressions of worship. We are all created in God’s image and are given gifts and talents. These gifts are given to glorify God and to encourage our communities in faith. When used for the glory of God, whether it be teaching, preaching, writing, building, organizing, singing, creating, etc., these gifts point people to the truth about God and the gospel message of faith and forgiveness through Christ Jesus. When done with the right intention, these gifts also result in actions that exhibit themes of adoration and reverence to God making them acts of worship. We see this clearly in congregational singing and music. We are told in scripture to:
“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150 NIV)
We imitate great artists and people of faith who have come before us when we use congregational singing and music to praise the Lord.
The use of congregational singing and music in the church is also an expression of the gospel faith. It takes a community to believe, grow and change especially in diverse context. Congregational singing is a great representation of that, as it gets more beautiful and more diverse in its representation of God, the more people there are singing together and the more instruments there are playing. One of the things I love most about choir is that no member is the same but all are learning and professing the same truth in the words they sing. Both the music and the text unify the group. Also, it is more challenging and more rewarding when adding new instrumentation and vocal expression. This mirrors the church as the more member, diverse theologies and ideologies, the more rewarding and challenge being one church becomes. However, we know that we are called to encourage one another and we are called to be one. Colossians 3:15–16 tells us to:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (NIV).
Music helps us not only encourage one another but unites us in our wisdom on the things of God.
Congregational singing is essential for healthy Christian living. My life has been most impacted in corporate worship spaces. Here I am not only encouraged and reminded of things God has already written and spoken, but I am encouraging and reminding others of things God has written and spoken to them. Ephesians 5:18–19 says:
“be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)
The best place to not only uphold this truth but to be reminded of it is in the context of the church congregation. Music gives biblical truth a creative platform. Congregational singing and music in worship is both a vertical and horizontal expression and faith that is not only a command but also imperative to the success of the Christian faith walk.
