SINGING IN WORSHIP-----1

Singing In Worship (Part 1)

     Singing has a very definite place in worshipping God in spirit and in truth.  We glorify God in our singing praises to His name.  There are only nine scriptures in the New Testament which specify the kind of music in the worship of the church that God wishes in order for us to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  They are as follows:
(1) Matthew 26:30, "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives";
(2) Acts 16:25, "But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God";
(3) Romans 15:9, "For this reason I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name";
(4) 1 Corinthians 14:15, "I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding";
(5) Ephesians 5:19, "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord";
(6) Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord";
(7) Hebrews 2:12, "In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You";
(8) Hebrews 13:15, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name";
(9) James 5:13, "Is any among you suffering?  Let him pray. Is any cheerful?  Let him sing psalms."
  

     All without exception specify only singing.  Mechanical instruments of music in the worship of the church are not mentioned in the above scriptures or anywhere else in the New Testament because God has not authorized them.  Those who do not respect God's word do not respect God.

     God has commanded us to sing.  That means each one of us.  When people just sit through the song service and never attempt to sing (unless they can't sing) they are not obeying God.  Or when people just sit and listen to a choir sing they are not obeying God’s command to sing.  They are not "offering the fruit of our lips".  Can someone else worship for us?  I think not.  There is no Biblical authority for a choir.  Congregational A Capella singing is the only kind of music divinely authorized by the Lord for Christian worship.  If we follow only what God has authorized in our singing in worship, then the whole congregation will sing without mechanical instruments of music.