When one attends the services of the Lord's church, he often notices things about these services that are different from the services of denominational churches. One thing that some people notice and sometimes inquire about, is the fact that we do not make use of a choir in our services. By this, I mean that there is not a special group of singers to perform "church music" for us. Instead, the music used in worship is accomplished by all joining in and singing together, what some call "congregational singing."
Why do we not use choirs in our worship? Is it because we fail to see that by using a group of our "best singers" that the song service might sound better and be more pleasing to the ears? No. Is it because we do not see the need for presenting the best service possible to our God? No. What then is it? It is because we only want to follow a form of worship that is authorized by our God through His revelation. Sure, we should want to render the best service possible to our Lord. Sure, we should want our singing to sound as good as possible. But we must always keep in mind that we want most to please God and not ourselves. Choirs may please us, but they do not please God.
What kind of song service pleases God? It is a service in which we "teach and admonish one another." (Col. 3:16). It is one in which we "speak to one another." (Eph. 5:19). Paul said of his service, "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." (1 Cor. 14:15). The context of each of the passages mentioned above suggest to me that the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is a duty that is imposed upon each individual Christian. It is not something that should be delegated to a select group. Just as another cannot partake of the Lord's supper for you, cannot give into the Lord's treasury for you, and cannot fulfill any other individual responsibility toward God for you, another cannot sing for you. The Lord expects each Christian to fulfill his responsibility in teaching and admonishing others in song. We must not delegate that responsibility to others.
Some may feel that since they lack any "talent" for singing that it would be best to let others do it for them. What many fail to realize is that it is not the quality of the one from one's mouth that pleases God, but the quality of the sentiment of one's heart. As long as one is singing with "grace in his heart," he is pleasing to God regardless of his lack of musical "talent." This does not mean that we should not strive to develop what little musical "talent" we might have, but we need to get away from an over emphasis of this aspect of our singing. There are many who work very hard to make the song service more appealing to the ears of the worshipers, but do little to improve the attitudes that are exhibited when singing. We need to put more emphasis on singing with the spirit, with the understanding, and from the heart. For us to benefit from our song service, we must understand what we are singing. In order for God to be pleased with our singing, it must proceed from the heart.
The reason that some churches have choirs or other special singing groups performing during worship is that they have lost sight of the purpose of singing in New Testament worship. When one understands its purpose of teaching and admonition and not of entertainment, then one realizes that each individual has a responsibility to sing in worship before God. Choirs and other special singing groups have as their purpose the entertainment of men and not the pleasing of God. Let us all join in and offer the sacrifice of praise to God by singing to Him in worship as He would have us to do.
--Edward O. Bragwell, Jr.