To sing or not to sing—that is the question

          I’m a musician.  I love music.  I started playing instruments when I was seven years old.  I have been involved on the platform in some musical fashion, pretty well all of my life.  That position translates into this:  I have spent the majority of Sundays looking at congregations during worship.  I keep asking myself a question—so now I want to ask it out-loud.  ‘Why do people not sing?’  Are they bored?  Don’t they get it? Don’t they understand public worship?  I’m not sure.

          However I want to tell you about my two favourite singers.  I’m going to change their names to protect the guilty—I’ll call them Frank and Herb.  They are my favourite singers because they are — well—awful.  I’m a musician—I have an ear for music.  I can tell if someone is—kind of close to the note that is suppose to be sung.  These two guys are a mile off.  They sing their heads off—in church—and sound hilarious to a musician.  If the song calls for the note ‘F’ they are singing a ‘Z.’ (Which, for non-musical people—is NOT a note). But I want to tell you why they are my favourite singers.  The answer is quite extraordinary.  You see I know Frank and Herb—they are simply lovers of Jesus.  They, for what ever  reason—see public worship as an opportunity to —worship!  They aren’t interested in listening.  They are not interesting in voting on whether they like the song or know the song—they are interesting in loving Jesus.  So, they bellow it out!   It sounds fantastic!

Which leads me back to my dilemma— why do people sit or stand like bumps on a log during worship?  Allow me to make a few plausible answers.

1.  They can’t sing.  Well, neither can Frank and Herb—that doesn’t stop them.  So, if you can’t sing—sit with Frank and Herb and start a choir.  Believe me—practice will be unnecessary.

2.  They don’t know the song.  Well, in my musical opinion, if you don’t know the song—learning it requires opening your mouth and trying.  Okay, let the band do it once—but once is enough.

3.  They don’t like the song.  Well, if you’re in a concert you bought tickets for—walk out and ask for a refund.  If you are in a public worship service—remember the key word here—worship.  Worship is the focus not musical preference.  

4.  It’s too loud.  Put an ear plug in one ear.  This will help deaden the sound—but it will also increase your ability to hear you.  Your voice is lovely to Jesus!  Plus speaking from experience—if you want loud—go to Cuba or Africa and attend church.  THEN you will find out what loud is!

5.  It’s too long.  Sit down for a while.  Go to the foyer and have a coffee or smile at other disgruntled people—and go back in.  

6.  It’s not like it use to be.  I hope with that thinking, you don’t have a cell phone.  Plus.. how are you reading this ‘blog?’ 

Public worship is the key.  I attend public worship which translates into worshipping together, singing together, croaking together—and loving Jesus together.  This has absolutely nothing to do with likes, dislikes, nor preferences.  It has nothing to do with my musical ability. It has ONLY to do with joint worship.  Sitting, standing, maybe dancing or at least tapping toes—with brothers and sisters—who together make a joyful noise to the LORD.

So—open your mouth and sing (or croak)—Jesus will love it!