The Music Exchange

I’ve just returned from helping on a Christian holiday party, where I was given the week off providing music for the main meetings.

For once I could enjoy just singing without having to worry about intros, links, keys, bridges, split fingernails and wobbly music stands. It reminded me that we need to keep it simple, so here it is — the main thing we need to focus on when singing: sing to your heavenly Father and sing to each other.

Those are the two main things the Bible tells us to do (from Colossians 3.16, Ephesians 5.19, and plenty of the Psalms). However, if you feel like you’re capable of multi-tasking, then here are a few more things that are important to think about as we sing together:

Mind

This is the most important part of us to engage as we sing. We are warned against engaging with God with our minds switched off (1 Corinthians 14.14-15). Using our minds will involve trying to understand the words as we sing them so that we are affected by the truths instead of the emotional state we may find ourselves in at that particular time (our praises to God are useless if our minds are still replaying the moment we pranged the car on the parking meter). Using our minds will also help us to remember the words so that we can feed off them during the week.

With our minds we need to discern if the song is one of praise to God, one of confession or one of encouragement to other Christians. Also, if it comes after the sermon, our minds need to think how the song can be used as a response to the Word of God personally and corporately. Our minds then will inform our spirits.

Spirit

This is our spirit with a small ‘s’ — our emotions or feelings. We trust that the Holy Spirit (big ‘S’) is revealing the Word of God to our minds and moving us to praise and obedience, but it is important then to think, ‘how should I respond with my human spirit?’ ‘Does this truth I’m singing about move me to gladness (e.g. for salvation), fearfulness (for those without Christ), humility (in the light of God’s holiness)?’ etc. Dry, emotionless singing as a response to the truth betrays the fact that our minds haven’t understood what we’re singing about. However, if our minds and spirits are engaged, then we can think about the rest of our bodies.

Eyes

For some songs (like songs of confession and those with lots of ‘I’s in) people feel as if they should close their eyes to cut out the distraction of looking at others. There may be a case for this, but the whole idea of coming together is to enjoy corporate worship, where we confess our sins (however personal) and sing to God together, not on our own. We’re no closer to God (neither is our singing more acceptable to him) if our eyes are closed. Having said that, last week I confess to shutting my eyes once or twice, so I’m hardly going to tell myself off, am I?

While I’m on the corporate thing, it’s a good thing to look around as we sing too. If you can’t face looking at anyone else in the congregation, why not look back at whoever’s leading the singing? Singers are always encouraged when they find people smiling back at them and engaging with what they’re singing.

Ears

Listen to the musicians who are helping lead the music. This helps to keep us all singing the same words at the same time rather than a creating a complete cacophony. Listen to those around you in the congregation too. If you can’t hear anyone else singing you’re either too loud or you’re singing a solo.

Mouth

Two things here. First, make sure it’s open! Not much sound can come out if your mouth is shut. The only excuses for shut mouths are unbelief or disagreement with the theology of the song (or maybe that your neighbour’s complained about your bad breath). Second, try smiling — not one of those lottery winner beams, but one that is genuinely glad to be singing God’s praises. It will also give an encouraging lift to other believers, as well as helping non-believers see that we actually love the Lord to whom we’re singing.

Hands and arms

Up to individual choice on this one. The key thing for those who don’t like raising hands or clapping is not to look disapprovingly at those who like to raise hands when they sing.

The key thing for those who do like raising their hands and/or clapping is not to feel awkward. If you do feel awkward, it’s more likely to be due to an over-realised sense that everyone is looking at you. The solution is to sit on the back row. There no one can really make you feel awkward as it’s hard to draw attention to yourself when no one can see you.

Head

Try and lift your head up, especially if your church uses song sheets or hymn books rather than showing the songs on a screen.

This way your voice carries much better than being swallowed up by the person in front’s jersey.

So, there are loads of things we could be thinking about when singing to our Father and each other.

Sing up for the sake of God’s praise and for the encouragement of believers and non-believers, and only take your foot off the gas if the people in the row in front keep looking round at you, pointing and laughing.

Keep it simple, stupid