“The Only Instrument You Need”

The church has battled the “music wars” for a long time. Sometime in the 1900s, the addition of the drums to Sunday morning worship caused quite a controversy, with many Christians having passionate reasons for why they should be included or not included. I don’t have a dog in that fight, though I do like the drums. I do believe that some of the choices we make regarding music in church do arise from preferences as opposed to convictions. I don’t have a conviction about the drums, but I do have conviction about another instrument. Now this other “instrument” really isn’t an instrument in the normal sense. It’s not a piano or a violin. This is the only instrument you need during Sunday morning worship. What is it? It’s one’s own voice.

The Bible commands us to sing in both Testaments. In the OT we have Ps 149:1 which says, “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly.” In the NT we have Col 3:16 that says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . . singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” The book of Revelation gives us several pictures of the saints singing in heaven. Revelation 5:8–9 reads, “And they sang a new saying, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God.” Other instruments are wonderful. We should have them, and I am thankful for them. However, as you survey all of Scripture’s teaching on how the saints should engage in music, the consistent emphasis is upon the saint’s praising God thru song.

Church family, one area where we can improve our church is in our singing. We need to sing louder, happier, and confidently. Don’t we have something to sing about? Don’t we have someone to praise? Yes and yes! Namely, our God who has conquered death through Christ, and we have the Spirit within us, moving us to testify to the greatness of Christ. If you’re the quiet type, let me challenge you to consider the consistent teaching of Scripture to sing. The people of God are known in the Bible as those who sing praises to their God. Let’s get after it. Sing!

Pastor Chance Sumner