Saved to Sing

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, - Ephesians 5:18-20 

Why do we sing and use music in corporate worship? While the question may seem obvious at first, I think it is more difficult for us to pinpoint the exact reason why we sing in corporate worship. It is fairly normal in most church settings to sing and play music in America and in the global church, so we can assume that it isn’t just a product of our culture. At the same time singing and music aren’t required in any way to worship. Paul is very clear in 1 Corinthians 10, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Why then do we sing?

            The mouth and tongue are very powerful weapons in the life of a believer. They can be used for strengthening, building up, and exalting or they can be used for weakening, tearing down, and destroying. James says, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell… It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:6, 8) Paul picks up on this same thought in chapter 5 of Ephesians. This muscle in our mouth should not be used for – filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking, deceit, empty words, shameful topics, or getting drunk. Instead Paul tells us that along with our hearts, our mouths and tongues have been changed. They have been restored for a much higher purpose. They have been redeemed to sing.

            In verse 18 of Ephesians 5 we Paul tells the church at Ephesus to be filled with the Spirit, and this filling with the Spirit of God evokes a response in us that doesn’t fill our mouths with excess amounts of wine but psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We sing because we have been filled with The Spirit. It is the natural response to our soul being made alive in God. Before Christ our mouths and tongues were only used for evil, but in Jesus it can now be redeemed for the praise of the Creator. We sing because it is the gift God has given us to use as the acclamation of God’s work to save us through the gospel. We sing because we’re saved!

Singing is mentioned over 400 times in God’s word and 50 of those times are direct commands to us to sing. There is an entire book of the Bible filled with poems and songs that are meant to be sung. When God created Eve, Adam sang a song. (Gen. 2:23) When God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians through the Red Sea, Moses responded with a song. (Ex. 15) When Jesus comes again, we will join with our brothers and sisters from around the world and sing. (Rev. 5:9-10) Bob Kauflin pretty much sums it up when he says, “[God] makes it pretty obvious what He wants us to do in Ps. 47:6: Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!”

Now we do need to clarify that not all music and singing are worship, and I am not talking about those who are tone-deaf. Music doesn’t necessarily reveal God’s presence, bring us closer to God, sanctify or morally change us, preach propositional truth, or save us. Only the Holy Spirit working in and applying the finished work of Christ to our hearts can do those things. However, in music and song we can use the words, songs, truths, and ideas that He inspired in His word and by His power to declare and proclaim as one, the praises of our God. Music and song bring unity to the body of Christ as we sing together the same truths every week. The rhythm, melody, and words of songs also help us remember the truths we proclaim in amazing ways. We see this especially in times of great joy or great sorrow when the only words we can seem to find or relate with are found in your favorite songs.

This Sunday we will gather again with the people of God, to declare and proclaim the praises of God. We will praise through the avenues of serving, preaching, giving, communion, and song. We will sing the truths of scripture about God’s greatness, our sin, Christ’s love and forgiveness and God’s mission. We will sing about the gospel, and we will sing with our family. With one voice we will affirm and confess together what makes us the church. With our hearts full of God’s love and grace, our mouths will be full of His praises and our tongue will be quick to thank Him. Come this Lord’s Day with singing for you haven’t been filled with wine but with the Spirit. We have been made new and our tongues have been redeemed – so sing!