Why Sing in Church?

If you say “I don’t need to sing in church. I can worship God in my thoughts.” my response is this: “Don’t be so selfish.” The people around you can’t hear your thoughts! Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col. 3:16, NASB) Your singing is primarily for your Christian brothers and sisters, not for yourself. Their singing is for you! This is important to understand. Our society is conditioned to think automatically about personal benefit. Singing in church is not about you! When you sing and otherwise participate in worship, you are “teaching and admonishing” your fellow Christians, giving them comfort in trouble, and guidance and strengthening in the Faith. When you sing and otherwise participate in worship, you are fighting Satan with the same weapon Jesus used against him: God’s Word. When you sing and otherwise participate in worship, you are, through the Word, actually wielding the boundless power of the Holy Spirit, who is Almighty God, to the benefit of Christians, and to the destruction of Satan and his kingdom! Hyperbole? No! Quite the opposite. I don’t believe it is possible to describe in human language the glory and power of a group of Christians who are singing God’s Word. I think we will be amazed when we join the Church Triumphant to learn what power we wielded while yet on earth. And yet, while on earth, we are sometimes allowed glimpses of this power and glory. The solidarity and joy experienced by a group of singing Christians is such a glimpse. Nothing can touch them. Satan flees before the power of God’s Word in their voices. The time is growing short. The days are increasingly evil. The powers of darkness are amassed against us. But you have God’s Word. You have the Holy Spirit. And you have your voice. Now go and do battle!