KeithLancaster.com
  • Home
  • About
    • KEITH'S BIO
  • My Blog
  • My Photos
  • My Travels
  • My Garden
  • My Music Hobby
  • MEDIA
  • Store

HEARING  VOICES

Does God want every Christian to sing?

2/19/2016

24 Comments

 
Picture
 Does God want every Christian to sing?

It depends. If singing were an issue of training, technique, vocal range, comfort, or preference, most of us would be wise to keep our mouths shut. The world would be a more pleasant and happier place.  Why sing when so many are more gifted and seem to enjoy it more than we do?

Here’s why. Your voice, along with all the other voices in your church, has been redeemed by the Savior.  As we sing, he presents our song to the Father for his glory and our joy. “The human voice, given over to Jesus, and found in company with other voices given over similarly, produces a dignified and worthy song from storefront church to cathedral,” says Harold Best. “Singing is not an option for the Christian; no one is excused. Vocal skill is not a criterion.”

No one is excused. Not even those with zero musical ability.  The critical question is not Do I have a voice? but Do I have a song? And if you’re a true worshiper, forgiven and reconciled to God through the atoning work of Christ, the answer is a a resounding yes.  It’s not a song we originated or created.  We can’t add to it, change it, or improve upon it.  It’s the song of the redeemed for their great Redeemer.

It’s a song we were never meant to sing alone.  And it’s a song God’s people have been singing together for thousands of years.   ——  Bob Kauflin,  author of True Worshipers
24 Comments
Keith Lancaster link
2/19/2016 08:14:17 am

Bob is not from an a cappella church, but his words are spot on for all believers! I highly recommend his books on worship, including one for worship leaders entitled, Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God

Reply
Ryan Christian
2/19/2016 09:18:38 am

Amen! Thanks for passing this along to us, Keith. Worship Matters is one of my top books for worship leaders to read. I look forward to getting Kauflin's new book.

Reply
Kent link
2/19/2016 10:31:32 am

YES! Sing it again. Sing it again!

Reply
Netagene link
2/19/2016 12:19:58 pm

Preacher Luther Blackmon used to say that he had a singing voice that sounded like "an alligator eating Post Toasties" ... but he sang! One lady I knew carried a tune excellently, but her voice was gravel-ly ... but she sang heartily!

Reply
SALUTER24
5/28/2016 05:10:22 am

Love your comment!

Reply
amanda
2/19/2016 02:39:30 pm

i attended church from the time i was a newborn until about the age of 13 and never felt comfortable singing , always been a shy person. was baptized at the age of 7. we stopped attending church during my teen years. started back to church around the age of 20 with my now husband, and have never felt comfortable singing at church all these years either, i'm now 33. sometimes i feel like singing but might just hum instead. i have 2 small children and dont want to be a bad example but i guess i just wish i had made myself do it from the start and now that it has been this long i think it would be even more awkward if i start, it makes me sad and makes my husband upset too, but i cant get myself to just do it.....i dont know why i'm sharing this, maybe you can just pray for me.

Reply
Keith Lancaster link
2/19/2016 03:45:52 pm

Amanda, I appreciate you sharing your struggles. I realize that church environments vary greatly, and I sincerely wish that more congregations would enjoy singing that is so loud (participatory), it would make it pleasingly "contagious" -- and very easy for people to join in without feeling self conscious. Singing is a beautiful community and mutually-edifying activity. Of course, it's God whom we are trying to please. I pray you will find peace and strength in offering the fruit of your lips in gratitude to Him. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
amanda
2/20/2016 01:13:55 am

thank you, i appreciate it.

Des
2/24/2016 08:45:31 am

Start by just moving your lips and mouthing the words. At some point the Lord Will bring a sound from your soul :-)

Kent
2/19/2016 10:37:55 pm

Hello Amanda, One thing that helps me in my singing is listening to a cappella music in my car and at home. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I sing along. Once singing becomes more of a part of my every day life, it begins to feel natural, and I know the songs by heart. Maybe give it a try some time and see if it lifts you up as it has me.

Reply
Keith Lancaster link
2/20/2016 06:33:22 pm

What a great idea, Kent. That makes sense. Once it becomes part of your every day (private) life, it could become much easier to participate in the public gatherings.

diane
4/7/2016 10:16:35 am

When I was a little girl there was a lady in our congregation who sang really loud & out of tune. I remember thinking to myself she's singing straight up to God & I always thought it was beautiful. The song is in the heart & is to have meaning. The song soothes one's soul & is to be sung up to God, not to man. The lady was a wonderful example to me! In our worship we are commanded to sing(Ephesians 5:19). Sometimes man puts too much pressure on what it sounds like. The song can sound beautiful to man & have no meaning whatsoever if it doesn't affect the soul & praise God. I pray for you to find a way to sing out & enjoy the precious gift of singing that God gave all of us. I pray my words are uplifting.

Reply
Myrt
2/19/2016 07:24:59 pm

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!!!!!!

Reply
Kent Berman
2/19/2016 10:38:39 pm

"Gelineau likened congregational singing to a meadow of flowers. The meadow is beautiful even though many of the flowers are still in the bud while some are faded. Perhaps only a few would look well by themselves in a vase, but in the company of others of lesser stature the total effect is more beautiful. So it is with individual voices in a congregation." -Jack Boyd, Leading The Lord's Worship

Reply
Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:22:56 pm

The beauty in community!

Reply
Dell Hoover
2/20/2016 08:43:00 pm

I have sung all my life. I count it one of God's best gifts. Every emotion brings to mind a song. On a person's birthday, I like to get their answering machine and sing to them...not necessarily "The Birthday Song." I enjoy singing hymns with a CD ... often Acappella. Early in the morning singing for ten minutes makes a difference in my day. I am so thankful for gifted songwriters from hundreds of years back down to the present. Praising my wonderful God in song brings joy and I feel His Presence.

Reply
Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:23:46 pm

Yes, it's a wonderful way to feel His presence!

Reply
David Denman
2/21/2016 07:07:33 am

One of my favorite chapters is Luke 15, as it states that there is more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 just persons who need no repentance. One of my favorite songs is Favorite Song of All, written by Dan Dean and made popular by Phillips, Craig & Dean, which states that God, more than hearing the harmonies of His inorganic creation praising, loves to hear the praises of a newly reborn soul singing "I've been REDEEMED!" My favorite line in the song is that God "...lifts His hand for silence when the weakest, saved by grace, begins to sing". We need to understand what an uncommonly awesome experience true repentance is and how it is valued by the One who justly requires it, patiently waits for it and excitedly rejoices over it! The original PCD cd note referenced Psalm 107:2 which states, Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO! And I think it's even more powerful when they SING so!

Reply
Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:25:02 pm

Yes, let the redeemed sing so! Sounds like my friend, Kirby who wrote a book with that title.

Reply
Shelda Floyd
5/28/2016 01:50:27 pm

I love the thoughts here! Thanks for sharing that. I also think of the song with words from Psalm 3:3. "Thou oh Lord art a shield about me. You're my glory. You're the lifter of my head." When we sing those words I picture God raising my head up to look full on my face as you would a small child. Awesome!

Reply
Mark Miller
2/22/2016 01:31:49 pm

It helps circumcision of the heart.

Reply
Judy trammell
2/22/2016 06:31:53 pm

A as a woman singing allows me to fully participate in worship

Reply
Keith Lancaster link
2/25/2016 09:12:16 am

I can't recall a post garnering over 1,000 likes! I appreciate how Bob Kauflin articulates the value of everyone's participation and the importance of singing in worship. I hope you'll read his books.

I also hope that churches will begin classes and education programs to encourage and teach every member to sing. It is essential that all song leaders and worship leaders receive advanced training. This is precisely why Sharon and I focus our attention on weekend workshops to equip churches as well as the annual song leader Institute (WLI) for leaders.

Reply
Netagene link
4/7/2016 12:10:05 pm

From the Facebook wall: "I'm fed up with bad church music", someone wrote, "In a master class, a wise teacher told the cantors this: "sing to God's glory with all your heart. If He chose to give you a 'bad' voice, He knew you'd be using it in song to worship Him. Do so with as much gusto as you can".

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I believe that the human voice is the greatest instrument of music ever created. Harmonizing hearts and voices in praise to the Creator is the highest calling of mankind.  Host a Praise & Harmony Workshop for your church and sponsor leaders to attend the Worship Leader Institute
    PraiseAndHarmony.com

    Archives

    May 2022
    July 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    January 2017
    December 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    June 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    Acappella
    Congregational Singing
    Events
    Human Voice
    Music Training
    Scripture Songs
    Tulsa Workshop

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
    • KEITH'S BIO
  • My Blog
  • My Photos
  • My Travels
  • My Garden
  • My Music Hobby
  • MEDIA
  • Store