As long as humans have been alive, they have been singing. We sing happy birthday to celebrate another year; we sing in the car to a favorite song; we sing our alma mater at a high school graduation to show respect for our school (if we can remember the words). We sing the national anthem to honor our country and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” during the 7th inning stretch at the Orioles game just to have fun. Singing is not unique to Christians; it is part of the human experience.
Christians sing for all the reasons mentioned – celebration, honor, unity, joy – with even greater purpose and meaning. Singing with others at church may feel like an odd or uncomfortable activity for those who are not musical or don’t like their voice, but we are called to sing. You might be someone who mostly comes to church for the sermon and mingles in the hallway for all the singing, but there are hundreds of references to singing in the Bible we can’t ignore! There are good, biblical reasons for Christians to sing together. We can summarize those reasons into three categories:
We sing for God.
The Psalms call us to sing praises to the Lord – to praise him for his strength, his love, his marvelous works, and his abundant goodness (59:16, 98:1, 145:7). You may not always feel like singing, but God always deserves to hear your praises. He is always worthy. Our King is always owed our thanksgiving and honor, and one way we can show him is with our songs.
Psalm 47:6-7 – “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!”
We all have days when instead of singing out, it takes all our energy just to quietly mumble along to the song. And while that is probably better than nothing, again and again the Psalms call us to “sing for joy to the living God” (84:2). Even when you feel down, distraught, or discouraged – there is joy to be found in who God is and what he has done for us!
Psalm 95:1-2 – “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
As we see in this Psalm, the invitation and command to sing is a call to gather together in the assembly of God’s people – because we don’t just sing for God, we sing for others as well.
We sing for others.
Singing doesn’t just honor and bless God, it blesses the people around us. As you sing together with others, you build unity and connection with the Body of Christ. When we sing life-changing, gospel-centered, biblical truth, we encourage the entire congregation. As we praise and give thanks to God, we impact the people around us. Children who can’t yet read learn biblical truth. New believers hear about God’s character. Experienced Christians are reminded of their need for Christ. The New Testament shows us that when we sing to God, we address, encourage, and admonish others as well.
Ephesians 5:18-20 – “…be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
Colossians 3:16 – “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.”
But even beyond the church service, our singing can be a testimony to an unbelieving world. Paul and Silas sang together in jail and the other prisoners listened (Acts 16:25). A life committed to praising God – singing and declaring his great salvation – will extend out and make an impact on people in the world.
Psalm 96:1-3 – “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. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”
As many people have experienced, singing isn’t just a way to worship God and encourage others; it is good for your own soul as well.
We sing for ourselves.
Have you ever walked into a church service tired and grumpy – yet when the people of God start singing your heavy heart was lifted? And then, Lord willing, you started singing along and before you knew it, your heart was filled with the joy and hope of Jesus! You may not always feel like singing – just like you may not always feel like reading your Bible or praying – but when you act in obedience, the Spirit of God will meet you. Singing when you don’t feel like it isn’t faking it; it’s an act of faith! Just as other people are impacted by your singing, you are encouraging your own soul as well. So come into God’s house, join with the crowd, pour out your soul, and watch as you are lifted up!
Psalm 42:4-6 – “These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. ”
So, whether you like to sing or not, whether you are in the mood to sing or not, whether you have a beautiful voice or sound like a quacking duck – you have reason to sing!
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