Christianity is a Singing Faith

This week our vocal ministry participants spent time discussing the role of singing in the life of the Christian and church. Here are some thoughts I assembled based on the four benefits of singing I found in the hymn stories devotional entitled “Amazing Grace” by Kenneth W. Osbeck.

- - - -

A New Testament church should always be a singing church, for sacred song is the natural outpouring of joyous Christian hearts. Of all the world’s religions, Christianity is the only religion where singing is a mandatory expression of worship within the gathered community of faith.

Ephesians 5:19: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

So what are some of the benefits of worshiping God through song?

It glorifies God…

Psalm 69:30-31a: I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD…

God is glorified and pleased when we lift our praise and thanksgiving to Him in song. Song engages our affections in worship and; therefore, affords us the pleasure of enjoying God’s goodness uniquely and passionately.

It instructs people…

Colossians 3:16-17: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We learn many important spiritual truths about God and His word when we sing. For many of us, our first awareness that God loves us was gained through a song sung at our mother’s knee or in the Sunday school nursery. If we have been Christians long, there are numerous songs we can likely recall that God has used to teach us doctrine or about His various attributes such as holiness, righteousness, grace, mercy, etc...

It encourages us in suffering…

Isaiah 49:13: Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Music encourages those who are suffering in powerful ways. We can likely all name times in our life when God has used meaningful hymns or songs to encourage us in the midst of suffering. All one needs to do is attend a Christian funeral to experience the immense comfort that can be found in musical worship.

It prepares us for heaven…

Revelation 5:13-14: Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Worship is what we were created for, and the singing of praise to God will be a medium of worship enjoyed for all eternity. It is by God’s grace that we can enjoy this “foretaste of heaven” in both personal and community worship.