Musical worship seems an unquestioned, integral part of Sunday worship services no matter what denomination of Christianity you belong to, but why do we do this? Why do we have a time of singing aloud together (an uncommon practice to those outside of Christian worship circles and concert-aficionados) during Sunday worship service? When asked, most church-goers would answer that singing is the way they prepare their hearts for a sermon.

Our own church members offered up various answers. Many stated the reason above. Some sang to “get in the mood” or “mindset” to enter God’s sanctuary and stand before a holy God. Some sang because it was what they’ve always done in church; it was a habit ingrained in them since they were little, and it was “wrong” if they did not sing. Some sang because they loved to sing, and they felt the joy of worshiping the Lord when they sang aloud. But many also chose not to sing aloud. When asked why, some responded that they simply don’t like singing. Some added that they don’t feel confident with their voice or that the song’s key was too high. Some chose not to sing because they didn’t know the songs and couldn’t join in. Some even bluntly stated that they did not like the songs chosen by the liturgist. Some shared that there are days when they do not feel like singing. Some responded that the sermons they hear help encourage them to sing (especially when the sermons are “solid”), but some were honest with sharing their apprehension to sing when the weekdays leading up to Sunday had been particularly difficult. Unfortunately, some shared that it is sometimes made more frustrating after a confusing or otherwise “irrelevant” sermon. Some opted not to sing because they could not bear the incongruence they see in the words of the songs with their reality. That incongruence varies in degrees beginning with not feeling much love for God when singing “I love you, Lord”, all the way to not believing that God is a “good, good Father” who remains good even when He allows us to go through trials. Some reluctantly shared that they do not feel belonging to this church and felt it difficult to sing with others in service because the act of singing the same song with other church members in one voice made it even more apparent that this church still did not feel like home. Some shared that singing makes them feel vulnerable; to them, the very act of singing symbolizes entering union with the rest of Christ’s body and by singing together, they are agreeing to be accountable to brothers and sisters of the faith for living out the truths of the songs they are singing. The act of lifting our voices in song is not a private act; however, it seems to hold a deeply personal meaning to our congregation members.

Interestingly, the Bible mentions the act of God “singing” over us. —

The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

And we, the saved and redeemed, are exhorted to sing of His salvation. –

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
Psalm 96:1–2

One of the marks of being saved is the indwelling of the word of Christ in us and the act of singing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. —

16 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.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Colossians 3: 16-17

Though the act of worship doesn’t only come in the form of singing, singing seems to occupy a special place in the lives and faith practices of God’s people. Ultimately, all acts of worship that are pleasing to the Lord are for the praise and glory of His name, and despite what we feel, the truth that God is deserving of our songs and praises remain. But that does not mean that the act of singing is not surrounded by the heaviness and complications resulting from our fallenness. How does this inform your view of singing in worship service? What about you? Do you sing aloud in the congregation on Sunday worship services? Why do you sing? And if not, why?