When we gather as a church for worship, why is singing part of what we do together? Singing and music – they’re wrapped up in our humanness. Music connects us together in special ways and it connects within us in special ways. God designed it that way, because singing comes from God. Since we believe the origin of singing and music is God Himself, we also believe He intended for us to use it to edify one another and to glorify Him.
When we are filled with the Spirit and not the things of this world, what is going to come out? We are going to address one another in song, give thanks to God, & submit to one another (Eph. 5). Paul lists various types of music – psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs. We believe this gives room for musical variety when the church gathers, not to do whatever we wish, but to build up the body through Scripture-focused creativity.
Edifying others through our singing in the church is precisely one of the ways we glorify God. By singing together we call our brothers and sisters to delight in His beauty and treasure Him. But we don't sing our opinions. The Word of Christ is to be the content of our lives and the content of our songs. When we come to church and don’t feel like singing a word, we are reminded that no matter what is happening in our lives, the One we’re singing to has not changed. As a church we sing unchangeable truths about Jesus Christ.
If music is from God and is to be used to give Him glory, we should sing songs that focus on Him.