June/July 2005
This issue of Abundant Life is also available in Adobe's PDF format.Worshiping in Song
by Rusty Miller
What does the Bible have to say about singing? As Christians, we have spent many hours in debate, sermons and teaching sessions discussing Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, and rightly so, for they are the dominant passages regarding God’s instruction for us to sing in worship. Unfortunately, most of our discussion of these passages has centered on what is not in the passages, namely instrumental music. Because of false religious practices, those discussions have been necessary, but we should never let our understanding of God’s word be limited simply to what it does not say.
Help! I Can’t Sing!
by Robert Turner, via Plain Talk, April 1970
What comes to mind when you think of singing? We have all probably known or observed someone who does not do a very good job of actively joining in the song service during worship. A majority of the time, the phrase “Help! I can’t sing” really translates into “I sing out of tune,” or “I cannot read music.” While those might be valid reasons in our secular world for not singing, they do not excuse our responsibility to sing in worship. In the same way, we might not be very good offering prayer, but does that mean we stop praying? If this becomes our collective approach, then the singing, or worship for that matter, is unacceptable. God deserves our best. We must not lose focus and allow selfishness and pride to supercede our purpose for singing. Let’s consider a few things regarding our purpose and duty to sing, as well as ways to improve our singing to the Lord.
Evaluating New Songs
by Mark Roberts
For the longest time it seemed brethren were fairly certain Sacred Selections contained just about every hymn that needed to be sung. Like it or not, that has certainly changed. Many congregations are now using some other hymnal other than Sacred Selections. Many congregations have also added a “supplemental” book (often paperback) that contains all kinds of new hymns. Several brethren are actively writing and publishing new hymns, with an emphasis on songs of praise. All of these new song books and new songs have dramatically expanded the options in our singing, but is that a good thing? Just how do we go about evaluating all these decidedly newer songs?
What Congregations Wish Song Leaders Knews
by Sewell Hall
Of course, congregations differ. A majority in some congregations just want to have fun. Given the opportunity to choose songs, they choose those with the most moving parts, the strongest beat or after-beat and the opportunity for showcasing their vocal talent with leads and obbligatos. They judge the quality of singing by how loud and fast it is. This determines what they want their song leaders to know. Our concern is not with such preferences as these.
What Song Leaders Wish Congregations Knew
by Steve Garrett
I was standing in the auditorium after directing a rousing worship in song in Concord North Carolina when the mother of the cutest set of ten-yearold twin boys I had ever seen approached me. With tears in her eyes, she handed me a visitor’s card which one of her boys had taken from the back of a pew and on which he had scrawled a note to me. The mother said, “I have never seen this kind of reaction from him during worship - no coloring, no falling asleep, just eyes glued to the podium and mouth wide open, making melody to the Lord!” The message read: “Good Job up there! Your Singer Bradley!”