Articles
Why Sing?
Why do we sing? Like so many things common to every day experience, it is easy to take singing for granted.
We sing because, well, we just do.
Singing is a curious ability, when you think about it. Have you heard a child singing with tune and words known only to them as they awake in their crib or as they are at play? Most parents have experienced this with their young children. It is an amazing and humbling thing to hear. Where does it come from?
What other creature can creatively combine tones, intelligent thought and emotion to produce the effects which our singing brings? Birds may ‘sing’ beautifully but these songs are simply programmed in. Within their own families they all sing the same song. Their music requires no learning or understanding. Their songs evoke no emotion and do not derive from a creative and spiritual mind. These songs impart no thought or teaching. As beautiful as it is, their music will not be taught from one generation to the next.
Among all of God’s earthly creation only our singing involves understanding, emotion, creativity and teaching because these abilities are artifacts placed within us by our Creator. No instrument and no lesser creature can express this kind of music.
Some may not appreciate singing as much as others because we can’t ‘hear’ or follow the melody as we think others can. We conclude that singing is not one of our talents. Others who can hear the notes, chords and rhythms sometimes focus too much on these aspects and not enough on the message, teaching and emotion involved. Our interests may be more on the technical and less on the thinking side. But the tones, chords and rhythms are just a part of the music God has placed within all of us.
A few may sing in our assemblies because we think that not doing so would be to oppose the ‘command’ to sing. Where in the New Covenant is singing referred to in the context of command? We rather see references to singing in the context of approved examples. The New Testament texts seem to assume that we naturally and willingly sing. And why wouldn’t singing be natural, if placed within us by God?
I believe most do not sing in our assemblies just to satisfy a command or to get all the notes right or only to speak the words. We see singing as a beautiful combination of what God placed within us – the melody, thoughts, emotions, praise to God, and exhortations to one another.
Let continue to exercise the unique ability. It is important. It is pleasing to Him that we sing. Singing spiritual songs helps us get to heaven.
Wherever we fall on the scale of enthusiasm concerning the music of the church, likely none of us appreciate it as much as He who created us does. So let us sing praises to the Lord! Let us sing because we are happy. Let us sing to encourage, to teach, to admonish one another, and to exhort one another toward faithfulness and the attainment of eternal life.
If the word of Christ dwells in us richly, let us be eager to express it in song:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col 3:16)
