One thing that always comes to mind about churches - and may seem a bit strange to our unbelieving neighbors - is that we are a singing people. Why is that? This may seem a silly question, but humor me: Why do we sing? Do we sing merely because we are told we have to? Do we sing because it’s what we’ve always done? Or do we sing because “the Gospel is so good that it has to be sung!” (1)
Keith Getty (2) gives us a few reasons why we sing:
Because God is worthy of our praise.
If we do not understand this fundamental truth, all of our songs will be empty of any substance. God alone in all the universe is right and loving to demand our praises. If anyone else were to come along and say: “Hey, you over there: sing a song about how great I am!”, it would be delusional. Wicked. Evil. But God alone is worthy of all praise. We were created to image him - that is: to reflect his glory, his awesomeness, to the world. And one way we do that faithfully is by singing praises telling of the greatness of God.
Because we are commanded to sing.
It is one of the most issued commands in Scripture. Scripture is chock-full of commands to sing praises to the Lord. One can hardly open the book of Psalms, which is the Bible’s song book, without stumbling across the exhortation to Sing Praises to the Lord. But this command isn’t merely relegated to the song book of the Bible, the book of Psalms. It is ubiquitous, it is everywhere. Paul tells the church in Ephesus that they are to ‘speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (Eph 5:19). Our Lord Jesus even assured us that if his people were to be silent, that the stones would cry out in song! (Luke 19:40). There is something intrinsic to our existence that compels us to be a singing people.
Because we love to sing and it fulfills our joy.
If God were to command our praises, and our obedience to that command were to leave us feeling empty, then perhaps the argument could be made that it were an unloving command. But the truth of the matter is: worshipping hearts are the most joyful hearts. Even grieving hearts who worship the greatness of God are promised to find a deep joy in that praise (3). Making much of God will fulfill us and making much of ourselves will leave us feeling empty. It comes down to what we find our enjoyment in. And who better to find enjoyment in than the Supremest of all beings in the Universe. C.S. Lewis said: “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.” (4) Singing is the appointed consummation of our hearts delighting in the supreme goodness of God, even amidst the turmoil of our lives.
Because our singing is edifying for those around us.
Keith Getty answers this simply by saying: “...because my kids are beside me watching me and I want them to know that I am more excited for Sunday morning church than Sunday evening Superbowl…”. And it is true. There is nothing more beautiful than a unified song rising up out of a congregation. Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in harmony (Psalm 133:1).
This is a helpful reminder for us for why we sing. However, it is important to remember that the only reason we know any of these things is because, first and foremost: God has revealed his glory to us. We merely respond. The pattern is always Revelation then Response. Those two activities are not symmetrical. Our response is not separate from God’s work, as if to say: God reveals and we respond, simple as that. No, our response is empowered and affected by God. We were dead in our trespasses and sins. He must ‘open our taste buds’ (5), if you know what I mean, otherwise we wouldn’t taste and see that the Lord is good.
In summary: Why Do We Sing? Because God has revealed himself to us and we cannot but help to respond by rejoicing.
“The living God is so wonderful that he is not truly known where he is not worshiped and heartily adored.” (6)
The next post will ask the question: What Do We Sing? Stay tuned…
References:
(1) Matthew Westerholm - Doxology and Theology Podcast #32
(2) Getty - Family Life Today Authentic Worship Podcast
(3) Horatio Spafford wrote It is Well With My Soul after losing his family in a devastating accident. Perhaps there is no sweeter example of a grieving Christian resting in the joy of the Lord.
(4) Lewis, C.S. Reflections on the Psalms.
(5) Indebted to Matthew Westerholm for this analogy.
(6) Reeves, M. Rejoice and Tremble.