With Voices of Angels
By Garrett Craw
Copyright © 2005

I was preaching in a small Reformed church in down-state Missouri recently and it got me thinking about what is possible for a small church in worship. This particular church has only been constituted for one year and yet I was struck by the beautiful singing that came forth from the congregation during the worship service. Even the toddlers had a part to sing (I kid you not). Their secret, I am sorry to have been
ignorant of this practice which has been common through the history of the church, is that they practice their parts after church on Sunday. It seems strange at first, as we are typically used to coming in just as we are without prior thought to what we are going to sing or even knowing the tune, but the practice that I saw at this little church is just the completion of the Puritan catchphrases we so often utilize: "We are the choir." Yes we are the choir but we sure don't sound like one. "Make a joyful noise" often means just making noise which isn’t very joyful especially when its sung in low, almost imperceptible tones.

When I was a reformed Baptist we used to constantly argue against using choirs on the grounds that it violated the Regulative Principle. I now think that bad, unprepared singing does so as well. After all, we all agree that there is some propriety necessary in our attitude and appearance on Sunday morning. We are meeting with the King of Kings are we not? And yet we roll in singing with mousy, horrible voices, hymns that we are vaguely familiar with. Our king deserves better, and frankly, we, the great body of Christ deserve better.

So here is what could be done. Once a month, the congregation meets for fellowship and spends perhaps 20-30 minutes working on two or three new hymns. The congregation is divided into Sopranos, Altos, Tenors, and Bass, and briefly works on their parts. After a year the church has 25+ hymns down and they are sung well. Now you are the choir, at least a choir that is seeking to be fit for presentation to a king.

Why?

One more thought for the naysayer who says "that's way too much work." Too much? Hopefully you are in a church that you intend to spend some serious time in...perhaps the rest of your earthly life? It is the community of God and the family of God. If that’s the case, why not learn to sing in a manner that reflects the renewed heaven and earth that we are headed for. We are, after all, already in the choir of the New Jerusalem and the church on earth should be a direct (though imperfect) reflection of the church in heaven.

Often in evangelical circles we tend to focus on the theocentric (on/to God alone) nature of singing in worship to the exclusion of all else. But notice where the focus is at in Colossians 3:16 (ESV):

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.”

The focus (even more explicitly in the NAS) is on teaching and admonishing one another through singing. Furthermore, there is nothing exotic about the three forms of singing in the Greek: (1) Psalmas (Psalms) (2) Humnos (Song/Hymn of Praise) (3) Odace (an ode). So, if this is the focus, how should we do it? We should do it clearly and well. It should be glorious. After all when we are taught and admonished through the preached word should the pastor roll in unprepared and say whatever comes to his mind?

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