What do you sing in your Church?

Leave aside what you should sing outside of Church. I don’t have the energy to discuss that issue at this point, but I do have a few observations about music in the Church. I am not arguing for the superiority of a particular genre, though I think a good case could be made for favoring one genre over another. Rather, in this post I am arguing for the necessity of a robust conversation about music in the Church.

But now bring me a musician. When the musician played, Yahweh’s hand came on him.

The Bible speaks eloquently about music. Music exorcises and terrorizes evil powers. It offers a platform for God’s people to speak to God. Yahweh demands that we sing to Him new songs. The combination of this remarkable testimony illustrates the majestic musical experience between God and man in sacred history. If we were to speak more theologically, we could say that God sung the world into existence and thus created a musical people for His own possession.

The Church is a singing community. It is elevated by voices that exalt and sing to her Lord.

Since music plays such a central role in the life of God’s people, why has music been so minimized in Church life? Of course, certain ecclesiastical expressions make music central in worship, but that music is typically set aside for talented musicians; a form of musical elite. And while in these congregations parishioners do sing, they are not encouraged to sing. The congregation itself is not put in the uncomfortable position to be sanctified by music because music is given to rather than participated in.

Sing praise to Yahweh, you saints of his. Give thanks to his holy name.

Music needs to be participatory. It needs to be challenging. It needs to be sanctificational. Tell me what you sing in Church and I will tell you what you believe.<>уникальность контента аоптимизация работы а