By Adam Faughn
Have you considered the importance of our
singing in worship? I would suppose that, for many people,
singing is their "favorite" part of the service because
music has a way of touching our minds and hearts that very
few other things can.
That said, we do not sing just because it
"feels good" to us, or simply because we enjoy it. Our
enjoyment (or lack thereof) is never to be the determining
factor in whether or not we engage in an avenue of worship.
Scripture alone is to be our guide, and the New Testament,
in multiple places, makes it clear that we are to sing as we
worship the Lord (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; cf.
Hebrews 13:15).
To what end, though? Are we just to sing
in order to fulfill that command, or is there something
more? While the Bible gives multiple reasons we are to sing,
let us take a moment to briefly examine two that are found
in one passage. In Colossians 3:16, Paul, by inspiration,
wrote,
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.
While there are myriad lessons to be
found in that singular verse, just take note of the phrase
"teaching and admonishing" and consider how they relate to
our singing.
Teaching
We learn so much from singing! If you do
not believe me, the next time I ask in a sermon for you to
turn to Galatians or Philemon, how many people are "humming"
the books of the New Testament in their minds? (The preacher
may even be doing that sometimes!) Even more elementary, we
learn our ABCs and other basic foundational principles
through singing. In Pew Packers, we are planning on learning
some Bible facts very soon that come through song.
As we grow and mature, however, we still
teach so much through the lyrics of songs. For example, take
the time to read the lyrics to a hymn like "The Church's One
Foundation." You could examine each line – individually – of
that hymn and develop a Bible lesson from each lyric!
For some people, they know a Biblical
principle better – or with more depth—because of a song that
has helped cement that truth in their mind. While we must
always be certain that what we are singing is the truth, if
it is, then a well-written song can help us put that truth
in our minds in a memorable and helpful way.
But we also teach others, not just
ourselves, when we sing. When you are singing a timeless
truth from God's Word, you are helping to cement that truth
in the mind of a brother or sister in Christ, one who might
even be struggling to grasp that truth! So, while you may
not preach a 30-minute sermon each week, you are teaching
dozens of truths with the lyrics about faith that you sing.
Admonishing
This is an interesting concept because it
is an interesting term. It has a somewhat wide range of
meaning. The original word comes from two roots that, when
you put them together, literally mean "to put to mind." As
it was used in the First Century, it basically could be used
of building someone up with something or to warn someone of
something.
So, we sometimes sing to build up or to
encourage. So many of our songs do just that through lyrics
that cause us to be more joyful and peaceful due to our
faith in God. How many of us have been lifted up from grief
or even just gotten a little "spring in our step" simply by
the words of a great hymn sung by faithful children of God?
I know I have many times, and I have no doubt you likely
have, as well.
Did you notice, though, that the word
"admonish" can also mean "to warn?" There are some songs
that warn us of not following the ways of God and of the
punishment to come if we fail to repent. "There's a sad day
coming" begins a verse that clearly is meant to warn. While
it may be somewhat more rare that we sing lyrics like that,
we need to heed those warnings when they are sung because it
is clearly a Biblical concept. Look carefully at the lyrics
of many of our "invitation songs," and you will see warnings
from time-to-time.
Tied to that, however, we also need to
remember that "I" am included in that "one another," so I
should be encouraging and encouraged, and I should be
admonishing and admonished! Singing, as it pertains to a
congregation, is a two-way street, and we should be grateful
to have the opportunity to be doing both the teaching and
the learning when we sing.
So, with every lyric we sing, examine to
make sure it is the truth. If it is, fulfill your duty in
full faith by teaching and admonishing and be thankful that
the Lord has given you this duty and this tremendous
privilege.
And now, let us sing...
