So nobody is singing at your church? It may not be the music....

Just read yet another blog railing against modern worship music and why people don't sing at church anymore... *sigh*..... here we go...

It's interesting how many people want to put the blame on the worship leaders, musicians, the volume of the music, the style of the music, etc. Bla bla bla bla blaa. Frankly, I'm a little sick of it. There is one really major reason why more people don't participate in corporate praise that nobody ever mentions, and it has nothing to do with music: nobody is preaching about it from the Bible.

Despite the fact that singing is commanded in the scriptures repeatedly, and that music plays a crucial part in biblical congregational worship, almost no one ever teaches it as a mandatory spiritual discipline. It's hardly mentioned and when it is it is relegated to an optional expression for those who enjoy it. That is not what you see in the scriptures. It is not optional. There are nearly fifty verses in the Bible that directly command believers to sing praises to God, as well as four hundred references to singing in corporate worship. Ephesians 5:19 says Christians should be in the practice of "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." Notice it never mentions musical style or personal preference. It never excuses anyone who doesn't like the volume level or the spectator-style layout of the auditorium (never mind the fact that almost every concert ever is set up with the band on a stage and the audience facing them; it never seems to discourage anyone from singing along if they really want to).

In our church almost everyone sings because we teach singing as a command of scripture and an expression of love and joy. They may not like every song but they love every expression of adoration towards Christ and are eager to participate. Why? Because the leadership values it and has taught the congregation to value it from the scriptures.

Take Colossians 3:16 for example, "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 God." Sounds like a command to me, with all the same authority of the Word of God behind it as any other command. I wonder if we taught obedience in the area of congregational singing from the pulpit the same way we teach obedience in the area of tithing or praying or sexual purity, we just might see some people begin take it more seriously.

If people aren't singing at your church, it might not be because the music is too loud. It might not be that no one knows the songs (it takes like 5 seconds to learn a pop song off the radio; I think we can handle a new chorus or two every now and then). But it just might be because the leadership of your church doesn't teach it as a command to be obeyed. Maybe we should quit blaming the band and the worship leader and start looking to the pulpit for a change.

(ok, deep breath.) I'm good now. Whew. For more on this perspective, here is a great blog on the biblical approach to congregational singing.